Parliamentary questions

Home Loan Scheme

Brian Stanley

976. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the figures for Rebuilding Ireland home loan approvals to date in counties Laois and Offaly; the number of applications pending; and if funding is available to fund those that may be approved. [23744/19]

Tax Credits

Brian Stanley

53. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the policy regarding personal tax credits (details supplied). [22339/19]

Legal Aid Service Reform

Brian Stanley

141. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department will be carrying out a review of the threshold for eligibility for legal aid services (details supplied); and his plans to raise this threshold. [22349/19]

Telecommunications Services

Brian Stanley

343. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to use a cable (details supplied) to benefit communities across the west of Ireland. [22286/19]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

49. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will seek a full cost-benefit analysis of all State owned alternative models to deliver the national broadband plan. [21700/19]

Post Office Network

Brian Stanley

57. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views regarding the relocation of post offices from town centres to the outer fringes of towns and thereby accelerating the doughnut effect of towns. [21705/19]

Bord na Móna

Brian Stanley

73. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has discussed with Bord na Móna plans to develop alternative energy sources into the future and to maintain job creation in respect of the decarbonisation of the environment and reaching emission reduction targets; and the progress made in relation to same. [21704/19]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

80. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which the State subsidy towards the national broadband plan is structured over the course of the 25 year contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21702/19]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

83. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the authority he has to control the future ownership of the national broadband network; and the consequences for a company (details supplied) in the event of a sale. [21703/19]

Appointments to State Boards Data

Brian Stanley

89. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of members the State will appoint to the board of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21701/19]

Bus Services

Brian Stanley

585. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to ensure that there is an adequate bus service on the Borris-in-Ossory and Mounthrath to Portlaoise route; and when the tender will be completed for same. [21960/19]

Road Projects Status

Brian Stanley

586. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the completion of the N7 motorway road widening works. [21961/19]

Bus Services

Brian Stanley

594. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to ensure that there is an adequate bus service on the Borris-in-Ossory-Mountrath to Portlaoise route; and when the tender will be completed. [22056/19]

Home Help Service Provision

Brian Stanley

117. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the position regarding home help cover for elderly persons when the regular home help is on annual leave; if home help cover is provided in these circumstances; and if there are variations between counties in respect of same in view of the fact that some persons are being left without cover in areas of County Laois. [21225/19]

Garda Deployment

Brian Stanley

221. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to Portarlington Garda station each year for the past ten years. [20549/19]

HSE Staff Recruitment

Brian Stanley

279. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the recruitment of physiotherapists in counties Laois and Offaly; if there is a freeze on recruitment or a freeze on appointing those that have successfully gone through the recruitment process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20339/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Brian Stanley

232. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding a pension scheme for community employment supervisors; if a scheme will be put in place for them; and his plans to deal with this issue. [19114/19]

Autism Support Services

Brian Stanley

335. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if finance has been provided for ASD units at schools (details supplied); and if the necessary staff will be in place for September 2019. [19307/19]

Vaccination Programme

Brian Stanley

631. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the meningitis B vaccine will be extended to children over six years of age who have a disability and hold a medical card. [18494/19]

Hospitals Policy

Brian Stanley

851. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the facilitator has been appointed for the consultation process on Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; when the process will commence; and the expected completion date. [19309/19]

Home Loan Scheme

Brian Stanley

1556. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to consider changing the criteria in condition 1 of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme (details supplied). [19311/19]

Disability Services Provision

Brian Stanley

116. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive the required services and intervention. [17007/19]

Local Authority Housing

Brian Stanley

83. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he is taking to reduce the length of time that local authorities have to wait for final departmental approval to proceed with housing schemes that are built within their functional area. [16293/19]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Brian Stanley

95. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he is taking to accelerate the building of social housing provided by local authorities. [16294/19]

Hospitals Data

Brian Stanley

160. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgeries and procedures cancelled, by specialty, at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, in each month in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, by patient did not attend, self-cancellation and cancellation by hospital. [15560/19]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

47. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress with regard to completion of the tender for the national broadband plan; and if it is decided not to progress with the tender, the alternative course of action being considered. [14277/19]

Post Office Network

Brian Stanley

49. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the future of An Post retail and mail delivery and sorting businesses in the context of the retention of the universal social obligation. [14278/19]

Waste Disposal

Brian Stanley

59. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to consider introducing a mattress and armchair amnesty across the State as an anti-dumping initiative. [14004/19]

Bioenergy Strategy Implementation

Brian Stanley

64. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to consider introducing a support to develop biogas here as an indigenous source of renewable power. [14005/19]

Waste Management Data

Brian Stanley

70. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated number of households here without a waste collection service; and the actions he is taking to help address this issue. [14007/19]

Renewable Energy Projects

Brian Stanley

80. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to consider initiatives, or if his officials have worked with other Departments, on establishing an indigenous biomass crop supply chain to the peat plants in the future and to complement biomass currently being used for electricity generation to help maintain security of supply. [14006/19]

Nuclear Waste

Brian Stanley

93. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the communications he has made in recent months with officials in Britain regarding their plans to place nuclear waste material on the island of Ireland. [14008/19]

Pharmacy Regulations

Brian Stanley

901. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if a decision on signing the draft new rules on temporary cover for pharmaceutical assistants into law will be paused in order to consider amending the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019 to deal with this issue; and if amendments (details supplied) will be considered [13944/19]

Pensions Data

Brian Stanley

1311. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress on the reviews of the entitlements to contributory pensions for those born after 1 September 1946; and when same will be completed and the revised rate issued. [13833/19]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

10. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if a facilitator has been appointed to conduct a consultation process on the future of services at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise. [11938/19]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

69. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the status of plans for the provision of emergency department services at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; and if such plans are dependent on the outcome of a consultation process on the future of services. [11939/19]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Brian Stanley

92. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a new site and premises for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11335/19]

Naval Service Operations

Brian Stanley

72. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the case of a vessel entering Irish waters recently carrying nuclear waste material and a Naval Service vessel being sent out in consequence of the incident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11242/19]

Naval Service Operations

Brian Stanley

73. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if vessels carrying nuclear waste material approaching Irish waters are monitored; and if so, the number recorded in the past five years. [11243/19]

Nuclear Waste

Brian Stanley

254. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if vessels carrying nuclear waste material travelling close to Irish waters are monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11244/19]

Hospitals Data

Brian Stanley

321. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgeries and procedures cancelled by specialty at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise and the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore for each month in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10570/19]

Motor Insurance Costs

Brian Stanley

33. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to end the practice of insurance companies charging excessive premiums for cars over ten years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9843/19]

Insurance Costs

Brian Stanley

34. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance his plans to implement measures to tackle the growing problem of rising insurance costs on motorists and businesses; and the progress on reducing insurance costs following the recent report on insurance. [9844/19]

Tax Code

Brian Stanley

116. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance if VAT on natural gas bills is calculated including the carbon tax or minus the carbon tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9041/19]

Brexit Preparations

Brian Stanley

438. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to put a proposal to the EU Commission regarding a package of market supports for beef farmers who are experiencing particular difficulties at present due to the fluctuation in sterling and the uncertainty caused by Brexit. [9010/19]

Suckler Welfare Scheme

Brian Stanley

439. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to amend the supports in relation to the suckler cow scheme to help alleviate the weakness in the sector. [9011/19]

Beef Industry

Brian Stanley

440. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he held or plans to hold discussions with the beef processing industry to raise with it the problems farmers are experiencing within the sector. [9012/19]

Site Acquisitions

Brian Stanley

91. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the acquisition of land for a school (details supplied) will be completed. [8878/19]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Brian Stanley

92. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the overrun in cost for the national children’s hospital will impact on the new building for a school (details supplied). [8879/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brian Stanley

93. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the tendering and construction of the new building for a school (details supplied). [8880/19]

Approved Housing Bodies

Brian Stanley

25. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the terms of the payment and availability scheme for approved housing bodies; and the amount paid out to housing bodies under the scheme. [8289/19]

Rent Controls

Brian Stanley

44. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the actions he is taking to alleviate the escalating rents in the private rental sector in counties Laois and Offaly. [8290/19]

Fisheries Protection

Brian Stanley

497. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the average number of adult salmon returning annually; the number that come from hatchery-ranched fish; and the origin of the fish returning annually. [7691/19]

Fisheries Protection

Brian Stanley

499. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the average number of adult wild salmon returning annually. [7710/19]

Waste Disposal Charges

Brian Stanley

174. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeframe for the introduction of the bin charge waiver as announced in budget 2017 for households that have to dispose of incontinence wear; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7295/19]

Commission for Communications Regulation Remit

Brian Stanley

569. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the analysis conducted in regard to the number of online scam practices; and if there has been analysis carried out on the way in which this affects vulnerable groups. [6302/19]

Commission for Communications Regulation Remit

Brian Stanley

570. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration has been given to providing additional powers and resources to the Commission for Communications Regulation to address regulation of online scams being experienced in view of the policy to move persons to online use of public services. [6303/19]

Angling Sector

Brian Stanley

571. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he or his officials have met angling club representatives in recent months; and if not, the reason therefor. [6309/19]

Waterways Ireland Expenditure

Brian Stanley

770. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding spent by Waterways Ireland on canal clearing ensuring navigation is retained effectively each year for the past five years; and the parts of the canal navigation system on which it was spent. [6320/19]

Waterways Ireland Data

Brian Stanley

771. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of times Waterways Ireland conducted clearing in the Grand Canal through County Offaly to ensure open navigation per annum in the past five years. [6321/19]

Teachers' Remuneration

Brian Stanley

109. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the new PAYE modernisation scheme which came into effect on 1 January 2019 will be utilised by his Department (details supplied). [6077/19]

Sugar Industry

Brian Stanley

50. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken and actions carried out to re-establish a sugar beet industry; and the progress in this regard. [5579/19]

Renewable Energy Generation

Brian Stanley

55. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of plans to create an indigenous supply of biomass to supply material for power generation. [5578/19]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Brian Stanley

84. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the steps taken to address the crisis in recruitment and retention in public hospitals. [5028/19]

Hospitals Building Programme

Brian Stanley

134. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital (details supplied); the timeframe for the project; and when funding will be ring-fenced. [5029/19]

Rent Supplement Scheme Data

Brian Stanley

260. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount paid out in rent supplements in 2018. [4531/19]

Homeless Accommodation Funding

Brian Stanley

278. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount paid out for emergency and short-term accommodation, including the cost of family hubs, to house those who are homeless. [4532/19]

Local Authority Housing Data

Brian Stanley

279. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of local authority housing units completed by local authorities in 2018, in tabular form; and the number completed by each local authority. [4533/19]

Housing Assistance Payment Data

Brian Stanley

280. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount paid out by local authorities in housing assistance payments in 2018. [4534/19]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

2. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress in relation to completion of the tender for the national broadband plan; and if an alternative model, for example, the use of State-owned infrastructure has been given consideration. [3358/19]

Electric Vehicles

Brian Stanley

10. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the policy initiatives that have been developed in terms of expanding and the future ownership of the public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. [3353/19]

Energy Prices

Brian Stanley

11. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration has been given to providing a policy direction to the energy regulator to investigate the increasing price of household energy bills in view of the fact that under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 he has the power to issue a policy direction to the regulator. [3354/19]

Television Licence Fee

Brian Stanley

14. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration has been given to the expenditure of the licence fee by RTÉ; and if legislative change has been considered in order to establish a greater level of accountability in the expenditure of the licence fee. (details supplied) [3357/19]

Waste Management

Brian Stanley

32. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration has been given to examining the franchise model for household waste collection to replace the side by side competition model. [3355/19]

Bioenergy Strategy

Brian Stanley

55. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration has been given to the manner in which indigenous biomass supply can be grown to maintain security of energy supply and used to replace peat in peat electricity power plants. [3356/19]

Home Help Service Data

Brian Stanley

198. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that have been granted home help hours; and the number still on the waiting list that have not received hours to date. [3610/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brian Stanley

41. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied); and the actions that will be taken to progress the new building for the school. [2550/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brian Stanley

57. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding funding being available for a school (details supplied). [2551/19]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Brian Stanley

68. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to review the income thresholds to qualify for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1295/19]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Brian Stanley

102. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there has been an assessment in recent years of the qualification criteria needed to qualify for social housing in particular in regard to income thresholds applied by local authorities. [1296/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Brian Stanley

714. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be scheduled for a knee replacement. [1169/19]

Road Projects Status

Brian Stanley

919. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding which has been allocated and the estimated cost of the southern distributor road; and if funding will be allocated for it in 2019. [1104/19]

State Pension (Contributory)

Brian Stanley

1064. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the new system of calculating PRSI contributions for the State pension (contributory) will be in place; and if years in which a person was unable to work outside of the home due to childcare responsibilities will be credited. [54337/18]

Ambulance Service

Brian Stanley

372. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the tender contract for private ambulance services expired in September 2015 following an extension of three years; and if so, the reason the contract was not put out to public tender in the intervening period. [53852/18]

Ambulance Service

Brian Stanley

373. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the reason the tender for private ambulance services was not advertised as required under public procurement rules during the period of the past three years and four months. [53853/18]

Alternative Energy Projects

Brian Stanley

47. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the new technologies that can be ready for incorporation into the electricity system to address directly the use of fossil fuels in view of the report from the Climate Change Performance Index which placed Ireland last in terms of action on climate change in the European Union. [53131/18]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

73. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has an alternative model for the national broadband plan if the tender process cannot find a feasible bidder. [53126/18]

Energy Policy

Brian Stanley

83. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to use powers under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 to issue a policy direction to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities regarding energy supply markets and its resultant effect on prices for householders. [53129/18]

Postal Services

Brian Stanley

87. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding changes to the An Post retail and mail delivery businesses in the context of the retention of the universal social obligation. [53130/18]

Bioenergy Strategy

Brian Stanley

93. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which indigenous biomass supply to maintain security of energy supply will be ensured in view of plans to convert peat plants to the use of biomass. [53127/18]

Alternative Energy Projects

Brian Stanley

102. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the potential of ground-mounted and rooftop solar power to address some of the energy needs here; and the changes to regulations and planning needed to establish such energy sources. [53128/18]

Bus Services

Brian Stanley

26. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the policy of fully devolving to local authorities the role of providing bus shelters as provided in local government legislation. [51956/18]

Bus Services

Brian Stanley

51. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will allocate funding directly to local authorities to provide bus shelters in their functional areas in which they are deemed appropriate. [51957/18]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

43. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if a facilitator in respect of the consultation process on the future of Portlaoise hospital has been appointed. [50833/18]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Brian Stanley

121. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the plans in place for primary care centres in County Laois to accommodate the growing population in the county. [50832/18]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Brian Stanley

18. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if secondary legislation is necessary to resolve the difficulties regarding data control and storage for community CCTV schemes; and if the statutory instrument will be put in place, if needed. [49584/18]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Brian Stanley

31. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date to resolve the issues regarding data control and storage for community CCTV schemes. [49583/18]

JobPath Data

Brian Stanley

215. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of participants in the JobPath scheme that have been referred back to the scheme for a second time. [49919/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brian Stanley

49. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a progress report on provision of a new building for a school (details supplied). [49324/18]

Home-School Community Liaison Scheme

Brian Stanley

66. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put home school liaison officers into special schools such as a school (details supplied). [49323/18]