Parliamentary questions

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

9. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his telephone conversation with the UK Prime Minister. [41977/19]

EU Issues

Brendan Howlin

20. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the President of the European Council. [41980/19]

EU Issues

Brendan Howlin

22. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the European Council on 17 and 18 October 2019. [43182/19]

Health Services Staff Data

Brendan Howlin

192. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists in each of the hospitals in the south-east area (details supplied); the criteria determining the numbers in each hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42696/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

2. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee C, European Union, including Brexit, last met. [41979/19]

Citizens' Assembly

Brendan Howlin

7. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on progress towards a citizens' assembly on a directly elected mayor for Dublin. [38490/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

11. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the UN General Assembly and UN Climate Action Summit. [39284/19]

Statute of Limitations

Brendan Howlin

129. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Bill 2018, as it relates to thalidomide survivors and unacknowledged thalidomide survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42489/19]

Substance Misuse

Brendan Howlin

180. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if correspondence has been received from a pharmacist (details supplied) regarding the abuse of codeine products; if he has considered the contents of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42490/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

1. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with church leaders on 4 July 2019. [37446/19]

Departmental Functions

Brendan Howlin

6. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [38481/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

13. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the environment last met. [41978/19]

Estimates Process

Brendan Howlin

174. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the Supplementary Estimates required for 2019 by Department, Vote and expenditure programme in which the additional expenditure is required; if the details of these additional Estimates is outlined in the budget documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42052/19]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Howlin

8. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has jurisdiction over the inner six mile zone around Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40623/19]

Dormant Accounts Fund

Brendan Howlin

39. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the value of the dormant accounts fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40726/19]

Newborn Screening Cards

Brendan Howlin

289. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the status of plans to introduce expanded newborn screening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40987/19]

Fishing Industry Data

Brendan Howlin

333. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated amount of mussel seed available for fishing in the waters of the State in each of the years 2016 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40612/19]

Fishing Industry Data

Brendan Howlin

334. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the location of mussel seed beds; the specific restrictions that apply in each area, such as the closed fishery in a location (details supplied) or other impediments to the fishing or transportation of mussel seed such as the detection of parasites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40613/19]

Fishing Industry Data

Brendan Howlin

335. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of mussel seed fished here in each of the years 2016 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40614/19]

Fishing Industry Data

Brendan Howlin

336. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated amount of mussel seed available for fishing in waters in Northern Ireland in each of the years 2016 to 2018 according to his departmental advice or records; the amount fished in each of those years; if his attention has been drawn to restrictions that apply to the beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40615/19]

Fishing Industry Data

Brendan Howlin

337. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total allocation of mussel seed by him in 2018, by aquaculture sites located here, excluding the Foyle area, Northern Ireland, and the Foyle area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40616/19]

Common Fisheries Policy

Brendan Howlin

338. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the definition of the joint management of mussel stocks; if it is still in operation; the legislative basis for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40617/19]

Fishing Industry Data

Brendan Howlin

339. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the restrictions on the amount of mussel seed allocated to aquaculture farms in Northern Ireland that can be fished in Irish waters; the process by which such allocation is controlled; if it is linked to the total available mussel seed resource in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40618/19]

Fishing Industry Data

Brendan Howlin

340. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or his officials has an input into the way in which the relevant authority in Northern Ireland limits the total amount of mussel seed allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40619/19]

Fishing Industry

Brendan Howlin

341. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a vessel from the UK and Northern Ireland needs to hold an allocation of mussel seed given by him to an aquaculture site here in order to fish legally under the Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2019; if such a vessel will be permitted to fish an allocation of mussel seed given to it by an authority in Northern Ireland in the territorial waters of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40620/19]

Fishing Industry

Brendan Howlin

342. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a vessel from the UK and Northern Ireland will be permitted to fish an allocation of mussel seed given to it by an authority in another part of the UK such as Wales to fish mussel seed in the territorial waters of the State under the Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2019; if a fishing vessel owned by a Welsh company will meet the criteria of owned and operated in Northern Ireland to fish an allocation under the 2019 Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40621/19]

Fishing Industry

Brendan Howlin

343. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the basis for an effective pooling of the mussel seed resource of the State in a system of joint management with a state that has no mussel seed resource in relation to a judgment (details supplied); the basis in law for a process which facilitates alienation of Irish mussel seed resource to the benefit of aquaculture sites in the UK; if he has sought the advice of the Attorney General on the matter; and if not, his plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40622/19]

Fishing Vessel Licences

Brendan Howlin

344. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the definition of the term owned and operated in Northern Ireland in relation to fishing vessels; the way in which is it defined in Irish law; if the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Naval Service will take responsibility to ensure foreign vessels are licensed in accordance with EU regulations as adopted by the control authorities for Irish vessels in cases in which foreign vessels are operating in the territorial waters of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40624/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

3. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the US Vice President, Mike Pence. [37445/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Brendan Howlin

228. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there has been an advance in the position for providing a mechanism to secure a pension for community employment supervisors or to provide an ex gratia payment to those supervisors about to retire or recently retired; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39999/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

4. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the British Prime Minister. [37444/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

15. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social policy and public service reform division of his Department. [38479/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

17. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social policy and public services will next meet. [38489/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

20. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [38480/19]

HSE Reviews

Brendan Howlin

311. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the weighting percentages to be used as part of the upcoming HSE FreeStyle Libre review decision making process that will be given to criteria (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39291/19]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Brendan Howlin

312. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if the reimbursement dataset will cover only current HSE funded users of FreeStyle Libre or if the health technology assessment review will simply compare total blood glucose strip usage spend year on year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39292/19]

Illness Benefit Applications

Brendan Howlin

590. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a claim for illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) will be processed to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39392/19]

Illness Benefit Applications

Brendan Howlin

592. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a claim for illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) will be processed to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39429/19]

Disability Allowance Applications

Brendan Howlin

601. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39675/19]

DEIS Data

Brendan Howlin

86. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of capitation costs for DEIS schools at primary and secondary level, for level 1 and 2 DEIS status in each case in a tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39143/19]

Aquaculture Licences

Brendan Howlin

151. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the disappointment expressed by a company (details supplied) on receipt of the aquaculture and foreshore licences issued to it by his Department; if negotiations will be opened with the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39139/19]

Social Welfare Fraud

Brendan Howlin

6. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the anticipated cost of her compliance and anti-fraud strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38879/19]

Public Services Card

Brendan Howlin

45. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to proceed with the second generation of the public services card in view of the recent report by the Data Protection Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38880/19]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Brendan Howlin

16. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has met the Taoiseach to discuss the Public Sector Pay Commission report on the Defence Forces published on 4 July 2019. [29750/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

1. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the special meeting of the European Council from 30 June to 2 July 2019. [29287/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

2. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the agreed candidates to hold the key EU posts following the European Council meeting held from 30 June to 2 July 2019; and if he has met or spoken to them since then. [29753/19]

British-Irish Council

Brendan Howlin

3. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the British-Irish Council in Manchester. [29286/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

5. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he has met the leader of the DUP, Mrs. Arlene Foster, or the vice president of Sinn Féin, Ms Michelle O'Neill, recently. [29749/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

2. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the number of times Cabinet committee A, economy, has met to date in 2019. [28111/19]

Cybersecurity Policy

Brendan Howlin

6. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on cybersecurity policy in his Department. [29288/19]

Departmental Policy Reviews

Brendan Howlin

8. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the social media policy of his Department. [29751/19]

Middle East Issues

Brendan Howlin

40. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has written to or engaged with the Israeli Government to strongly condemn the recent statement by incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would permanently annex parts of the West Bank territory of Palestine if he is re-elected as Prime Minister in the Israeli legislative election on 17 September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37563/19]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Howlin

55. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role of his Department in supporting the special envoy to the US Congress on the undocumented; and the resources available to the envoy. [28113/19]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Brendan Howlin

381. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the growing waiting lists and the pressures upon families, hospitals and community care nationally due to delays in accessing fair deal and transitional care funding support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37194/19]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Brendan Howlin

426. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if funding for a further podiatrist in County Wexford will be made available to support persons with diabetes; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is only one senior podiatrist based in St. John’s Hospital that is servicing the whole of the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37449/19]

Property Registration Authority

Brendan Howlin

669. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position with regard to the digitisation of Land Registry maps; if all maps have been digitised; when it is expected that the process will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37212/19]

DEIS Expenditure

Brendan Howlin

629. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual cost of the DEIS programme; the additional funding provided to DEIS schools by primary and secondary band and the location in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019; if the specific financial supports are made available to such schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34477/19]

School Costs

Brendan Howlin

630. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department collects data on the payments collected by individual primary and secondary schools from parents; the circulars that advise on same; his plans to conduct a national survey in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34478/19]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Brendan Howlin

631. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and secondary schools that do not operate a book rental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34479/19]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Brendan Howlin

632. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average book rental payment by parents at primary and second-level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34480/19]

Physical Education Facilities

Brendan Howlin

633. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of second level schools with no physical education hall; the number that require replacement halls; the number of new halls or facilities that will be built in 2019; the number he expects to fund in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34481/19]

Community Policing

Brendan Howlin

954. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí at present; the cost of each additional community garda by rank; the number of community gardaí at present by the six Garda geographical regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34482/19]

Garda Data

Brendan Howlin

955. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of serving gardaí; the number expected to retire by the end of 2019; the number of new gardaí that will enter the force by the end of 2019; the number of new recruits that are projected to join in 2020; if funding is in place to support new hires in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34483/19]

Better Energy Homes Scheme

Brendan Howlin

2178. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason the allocation of homes for retrofitting to community based organisations under the SEAI better energy warmer homes scheme has now ceased; if this is as a result of reaching the allocated budget; if so, the measures he plans to take to ensure that skilled staff are not made redundant or community based organisations are forced to close down; his views on whether such actions will have a detrimental impact on building capacity within the sector to achieve the Project Ireland 2040 objective of 45,000 domestic retrofits per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31855/19]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Howlin

1. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the June 2019 European Council meeting. [26282/19]

Climate Change Policy

Brendan Howlin

13. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the role of his Department in delivering the Climate Action Plan 2019 and his plans for a climate action delivery board. [26283/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

26. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken in June 2019 to Prime Minister May regarding progress in the Northern Ireland talks. [27637/19]

Student Assistance Fund

Brendan Howlin

191. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the allocations respectively in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019 and the expenditure outturn for each year, for the student assistance fund, the fund for students with disabilities and the programme for access to higher education in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30333/19]

Student Universal Support Ireland Data

Brendan Howlin

192. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the SUSI grant income thresholds by 5%, 10% and 20% respectively, for 2020; the estimated full-year cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30334/19]

School Staff

Brendan Howlin

193. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of improving the staffing schedule in primary schools to reduce class sizes by one point in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30335/19]

Capitation Grants

Brendan Howlin

194. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first full-year cost of increasing the capitation paid to DEIS schools by 50%, by primary and secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30336/19]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Brendan Howlin

195. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first full-year cost of decreasing the pupil-teacher ratio in DEIS schools by one point respectively for both primary and secondary schools; the current staffing ratios for DEIS schools in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30337/19]

Capitation Grants

Brendan Howlin

196. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing primary and post-primary school capitation rates by €10 per child; the estimated overall cost of a 5% increase to capitation rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30338/19]

School Staff

Brendan Howlin

197. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first full-year costs of increasing the substitution provided to primary schools with teaching principals sufficient to ensure that all teaching principals can avail of one full day of administrative duties each week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30339/19]

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Brendan Howlin

198. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reinstating postgraduate student grants; the projected full-year cost on the basis of the previous system that was in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30340/19]

School Services Staff

Brendan Howlin

199. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools with either a secretary or caretaker directly employed by his Department in 2019; the number in each of the years 2000 to 2018; the criteria that apply to the allocation of these posts; the number of staff employed in schools under the ancillary services grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30341/19]

Third Level Charges

Brendan Howlin

200. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first and full-year cost of reducing the student contribution rate by €250, €500 or €1,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30342/19]

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Brendan Howlin

201. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first and full-year cost of decreasing the non-adjacent rate of third-level grants from 45 km to 24 km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30343/19]

Direct Provision Data

Brendan Howlin

225. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in direct provision by number of years they have been there, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30358/19]

IDA Ireland Data

Brendan Howlin

233. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the IDA made to south County Kildare and Athy over the past five years; the number of additional jobs and investments secured in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30328/19]

IDA Ireland Data

Brendan Howlin

234. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the IDA made to counties Carlow and Kilkenny over the past five years; the number of additional jobs and investments secured in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30329/19]

IDA Ireland Data

Brendan Howlin

235. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the IDA made to County Waterford over the past five years; the number of additional jobs and investments secured in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30330/19]

IDA Ireland Data

Brendan Howlin

236. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the IDA made to County Wicklow over the past five years; the number of additional jobs and investments secured in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30331/19]

IDA Ireland Data

Brendan Howlin

237. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the IDA made to County Galway over the past five years; the number of additional jobs and investments secured in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30332/19]

Health Services Expenditure

Brendan Howlin

286. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of extending access to the counselling in primary care service to all 16 to 25 year olds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30348/19]

Hospital Charges

Brendan Howlin

287. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the status of the €100 fee for those seeking post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PEP) here through emergency departments; if the fee will be waived; when this will come into effect; if his Department has been consulted on this for legal advice by the HSE; if he will waive the fee for non-EU nationals accessing the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30349/19]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Brendan Howlin

288. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the status of the recruitment of a clinical lead in sexual health; the length of time the position has been advertised since the announcement in October 2018; when the role will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30350/19]

Motorised Transport Grant

Brendan Howlin

289. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the status of the health (transport support) Bill; the projected costs of reintroducing a mobility allowance and motorised transport scheme to new applicants in 2020; the status of work in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30351/19]

Health Services Staff Data

Brendan Howlin

290. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the full-time equivalent number of staff positions in the health services whose role is to process payments in relation to private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30352/19]

Health Insurance Data

Brendan Howlin

291. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the amount recovered in a full year from private health insurers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30353/19]

Health Insurance Data

Brendan Howlin

292. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the amount recovered in a full year from private health insurers as a percentage of the amount owed by private insurers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30354/19]

Home Help Service Expenditure

Brendan Howlin

293. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year cost of providing an additional 2.2 million hours of home help; the estimated cost of providing 8,000 extra homecare packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30355/19]

Home Care Packages Expenditure

Brendan Howlin

294. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of meeting the outstanding demand for homecare packages and home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30356/19]

HSE Agency Staff Expenditure

Brendan Howlin

295. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the spend to date and projected full year spend by the HSE on agency staff by position and grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30357/19]

Public Service Obligation Levy Payments

Brendan Howlin

346. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the 2018 and 2019 PSO subvention allocated respectively to each transport body and public service provider by the National Transport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30319/19]

Public Service Obligation Data

Brendan Howlin

347. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of providing an increased subsidy to each public transport provider to reduce fares by 5%, 10% and 20%, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30320/19]

Road Projects Status

Brendan Howlin

348. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of progress towards delivering the Galway city bypass since approval was provided in 2018; the spend on the N6 Galway city transport project to date; the annual capital allocations for 2019, 2020 and 2021 for the project; the estimated completion date; the estimated final cost of the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30321/19]

Affordable Childcare Scheme

Brendan Howlin

362. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated first and full year cost of increasing the universal childcare subsidy from 50 cent an hour to €1 per hour or €2 per hour respectively; the estimated impact such an increase will have on other income assessed subsidies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30344/19]

Affordable Childcare Scheme Data

Brendan Howlin

363. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of families with children in full-time childcare that will not be eligible for an additional subsidy for childcare in autumn 2019 under the national childcare scheme due to their income exceeding the threshold of €60,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30345/19]

Parental Leave

Brendan Howlin

395. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the new paid parental leave benefit as announced at budget 2019 for parents will be available; when the application process will open; the number of parents she expects to avail of the new benefit in the remainder of 2019; the estimated number of applicants in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30322/19]