Parliamentary questions

Energy Schemes

Michael Colreavy

897. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if window and door insulation is covered by grants under the sustainable energy programme. [28578/15]

Renewable Energy Projects

Michael Colreavy

898. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount the Government has spent in developing renewable energy projects since 2002. [28579/15]

Energy Policy

Michael Colreavy

899. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the level of funding supplied annually towards studying fuel poverty here. [28580/15]

Energy Efficiency

Michael Colreavy

900. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the level of funding provided towards raising public awareness of energy efficiency. [28581/15]

Community Employment Schemes Cessation

Michael Colreavy

264. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the next move community employment scheme, which has been successfully run in County Sligo for several years, was suddenly withdrawn with effect from 3 July 2015 and applicants for the course have been advised that this course has ceased because of financial cutbacks. [28031/15]

Livestock Inspections

Michael Colreavy

105. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [27914/15]

Home Renovation Incentive Scheme Data

Michael Colreavy

72. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications that were made under the home renovation incentive scheme; the amount that was awarded in value added tax returns; and the number of homes renovated under this scheme. [26536/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Michael Colreavy

659. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the element of the national broadband plan that requires State intervention is likely to reduce significantly following Eircom’s announcement to roll-out fibre broadband to 300,000 premises which had been included in his Department’s national broadband plan, given that Eircom had participated in the national broadband plan mapping exercise within the past year which had agreed that these 300,000 premises were not likely to benefit from commercially-driven broadband investment; and his views on successive announcements by Eircom to deliver fibre to the home over recent months, totalling some 800,000 homes since autumn 2014, when as of June 2015 only about 150 of those homes have actually been connected with fibre by Eircom. [25931/15]

Energy Efficiency

Michael Colreavy

660. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the obligations on energy providers to promote energy efficiency and microgeneration in domestic, commercial and industrial buildings. [26048/15]

Inland Fisheries Regulation

Michael Colreavy

664. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the process and cost for angling clubs in issuing day permits to visiting anglers. [26350/15]

HSE Investigations

Michael Colreavy

170. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no independent mechanism to investigate a relative's allegations (details supplied) of serious psychological, emotional and financial abuse of a vulnerable person while in the care of the Health Service Executive. [25501/15]

HSE Investigations

Michael Colreavy

171. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive refuses to arrange an independent assessment, as suggested by a qualified clinical psychologist, on foot of a relative's allegations (details supplied) of serious psychological, emotional and financial abuse of a vulnerable person while in the care of the executive. [25502/15]

Unfinished Housing Developments

Michael Colreavy

242. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Fairways estate in Ballygawley, County Sligo, will receive funding under the unfinished development special resolution fund. [25446/15]

National Postcode System

Michael Colreavy

258. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 25 March 2015 and in view of the findings made by the European Commission, dated 16 October 2013 and 20 November 2013, if he remains of the view that the postcode procurement process was conducted in accordance with public procurement requirements, and other criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25433/15]

National Postcode System

Michael Colreavy

259. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the finding made by the European Commission, dated 16 October 2013 and 20 November 2013, to the effect that the postcode procurement process was not conducted in accordance with public procurement requirements (namely Article 47(3) of EC Directive 2004/18/EC and Department of Finance Circular 10/10), the steps which he now proposes to take to address the fact that the postcode procurement process failed to comply with the terms of his statutory consent for the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25434/15]

National Postcode System

Michael Colreavy

266. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he proposes to take in order to rectify the shortcomings in the postcode tendering process, as identified in the investigation reports of the European Commission, dated 16 October 2013 and 20 November 2013, in particular, the Commission confirmation that his Department made an error in the use of certain selection criteria of the postcode tender process, the effect of which was to deny certain sized firms the opportunity to participate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25435/15]

National Postcode System

Michael Colreavy

267. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in respect of the postcode tendering process, he accepts the finding made by the European Commission, dated 16 October 2013 and 20 November 2013, to the effect that his Department did not follow best practice in the design of the tender, specifically by failing to split the contract into suitable lots, and by providing adequate information in the prior information notice, to allow small and medium-sized enterprises prepare for the tender, as recommended in Finance Circular 10/10; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25436/15]

National Postcode System

Michael Colreavy

268. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of plans by those involved in the delivery of the national postcode contract to launch an alternative code simultaneously to address key functionality that the contracted code does not provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25437/15]

Postal Codes

Michael Colreavy

269. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a company (details supplied), which was awarded the postcode oversight contract in 2014 has, at this point, assessed the proposed Eircode postcode as fit for purpose, as required under that contract and, if so, the criteria used for that assessment; if the assessment will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25438/15]

Energy Policy

Michael Colreavy

102. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the focus there will be on tackling fuel poverty in the upcoming White Paper on energy. [23467/15]

Post Office Network

Michael Colreavy

105. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the workings of the Post Office network business development group and when a report on its findings will be available. [23468/15]

Energy Conservation

Michael Colreavy

112. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there will be a proposed increase in funding for retrofitting, as part of the energy White Paper. [23136/15]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Michael Colreavy

116. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of homes estimated to have no access to high-speed broadband. [23140/15]

Inland Fisheries

Michael Colreavy

120. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there has been any further development in restocking Irish rivers with eels, or if compensation will be made available to eel fishermen. [23142/15]

Renewable Energy Exports

Michael Colreavy

126. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there has been any move to renew talks on the export of renewable energy from Ireland to Britain. [23139/15]

Commonage Framework Plans

Michael Colreavy

384. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the commonage framework plan enacted in 2002 still applies; and if there are proposals for a new plan to be devised. [20097/15]

Better Energy Homes Scheme Data

Michael Colreavy

518. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a breakdown, by county, of money awarded under the better energy homes scheme since 2009. [19624/15]

Job Creation

Michael Colreavy

333. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will establish a multiple-agency task force, with responsibility to respond to recently announced job losses in County Sligo, by designing and implementing immediate supports for the retention and creation of jobs in the Sligo area. [18390/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Michael Colreavy

353. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the delay in processing payments under the agri-environment options scheme to farmers following a penalty review; whether the delays are being attributed to computer overload; and whether departmental staff are unable to confirm the number of weeks or months it will take to process these payments. [18391/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Michael Colreavy

364. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will receive payments. [18543/15]

Building Regulations

Michael Colreavy

598. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the better energy rating that must be applied to current social housing; and the better energy rating that must be applied to future social housing. [18558/15]

Gas Exploration Licences

Michael Colreavy

2. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied with the Environmental Protection Agency progress report on unconventional gas exploration and extraction; and his views that the report provides enough information on the research carried out, as outlined by the terms of reference. [16438/15]

Energy Efficiency

Michael Colreavy

5. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the efforts that have been made at European level to ring-fence funding for energy efficiency measures; and the position the Government has taken. [16494/15]

Electricity Grid Connection Fees

Michael Colreavy

8. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to establish a scheme to allow micro generation units to provide electricity to the national grid, and to compensate the providers for the electricity that they produce. [16291/15]

Postal Services

Michael Colreavy

14. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when a report will be forthcoming from the post office business review group. [16294/15]

Broadband Service Expenditure

Michael Colreavy

16. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the estimated cost for the broadband mapping process, and the projected estimated cost of the fibre roll-out under the national broadband plan. [16290/15]

Electricity Transmission Network

Michael Colreavy

24. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a review of the north-south interconnector is planned, considering changes made to the GridWest and GridLink projects. [16293/15]

Hydraulic Fracturing

Michael Colreavy

31. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there is a conflict of interest by a study by a company (details supplied) into hydraulic fracturing on behalf of Environmental Protection Agency. [16292/15]

Medical Card Applications

Michael Colreavy

238. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a general practitioner card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16264/15]

Septic Tank Inspections

Michael Colreavy

425. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the number of septic tanks that have been inspected in County Westmeath, since the introduction of legislation requiring registration on 1 February 2013. [16637/15]

Septic Tank Inspections

Michael Colreavy

426. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the number of septic tanks that have been registered in County Westmeath. [16638/15]

Septic Tank Inspections

Michael Colreavy

427. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the total income to the State, so far, from septic tank registrations. [16639/15]

Septic Tank Inspections

Michael Colreavy

428. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the number of septic tanks inspected that have received grant aid to address the issues that came to light from inspections [16640/15]

Septic Tank Inspections

Michael Colreavy

429. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the total amount provided in grant aid for septic tanks; and if he will provide a breakdown, on a county basis. [16641/15]

Septic Tank Inspections

Michael Colreavy

430. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government that due to the fact that the National Inspection Plan provided for 1,000 inspections of septic tanks by July 2014, the sanctions against local authorities who fail to meet this target. [16642/15]

Septic Tank Inspections

Michael Colreavy

431. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the facility in place for any owner of a septic tank, who suspects a problem, to obtain a local authority inspection; if the local authority are failing to meet the target of the National Inspection Plan. [16643/15]

Local Authority Finances

Michael Colreavy

440. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will immediately authorise the payment of the €750,000 balance of the 2014 local government fund grant in view of Sligo council's significant and ongoing efforts to meet the extremely challenging criteria set down by his Department in respect of the financial plan. [16730/15]

Local Authority Finances

Michael Colreavy

441. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that the criteria being demanded by his Department in respect of Sligo council's financial plans for 2015 and subsequent years will not be so challenging that they would effectively render the council unable to provide sustainable services for the persons of the county. [16731/15]

Petroleum and Gas Exploration

Michael Colreavy

170. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of capped oil and gas wells currently in Irish waters; the timeframe a prospecting licence holder is entitled to hold on to these wells; and if there is any charge levied on licence holders for capped wells. [15869/15]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Michael Colreavy

29. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the criteria laid down by her Department regarding the implementation of community employment schemes; and the reason an existing scheme could close because it fails to meet new criteria. [14096/15]