Parliamentary questions

Public Procurement Regulations

Mick Wallace

5. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which he plans to strengthen, by legislation or statutory instrument, the procurement oversight role of his Department in view of the lacuna in his powers of oversight identified recently by the IMF and in view of the projected costs overrun for the national children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18004/19]

Data Protection Commissioner

Mick Wallace

130. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to appoint additional commissioners to the Data Protection Commission as provided for in section 15(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018 in view of the large workload increases for the commission in terms of enforcement, investigation and supervision post the general data protection regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18148/19]

NAMA Transactions

Mick Wallace

44. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he has had discussions with NAMA officials or his officials with regard to the UN special rapporteur letter on Ireland which stated that 93% of NAMA assets have been sold to foreign investors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17801/19]

NAMA Investigations

Mick Wallace

58. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider suspending the work of NAMA immediately pending the final report of the Cooke commission of investigation into Project Eagle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17800/19]

VAT Exemptions

Mick Wallace

88. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if there have been discussions on VAT rates payable for legal services specifically for family law; his plans to conduct a review to examine the idea of providing a VAT exemption or reduction for legal advice for family law proceedings with a view to removing some of the financial burden placed on families experiencing marital breakdown or a change in relationship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11992/19]

National Children's Hospital Expenditure

Mick Wallace

144. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the value of fees paid to a company (details supplied) for the national children’s hospital since 2013 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17864/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Mick Wallace

156. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 7 February 2019, his plans to fulfil the identified assessed needs of the 64 adults with an intellectual disability in County Wexford on the waiting list for residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17891/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Mick Wallace

157. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 7 February 2019, the number of the 19 adults with an intellectual disability in County Wexford on the waiting list for residential care in 2010 that were also on the waiting list for residential care in 2018 and therefore were included in the number of 64 on the waiting list for 2018. [17892/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Mick Wallace

158. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 7 February 2019, the number of the 19 adults with an intellectual disability in County Wexford on the waiting list for residential care in 2010 that have since accessed residential care; and the number no longer on the waiting list for other reasons of those that have not accessed residential care. [17893/19]

Disabilities Data

Mick Wallace

159. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of adults with intellectual disabilities in residential care in County Wexford. [17894/19]

Disabilities Data

Mick Wallace

160. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of adults with an intellectual disability in County Wexford who will be placed in appropriate needs based residential care settings by the end of 2019 and 2020, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17895/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Mick Wallace

57. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the most recent discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 8 April 2019 on recent developments in Libya; the stance taken by representatives of Ireland at those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17603/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Mick Wallace

87. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his decision to support a person (details supplied) will be reconsidered with regard to the interim presidency of Venezuela; if he will consider working for a peaceful solution to the developments in Venezuela; if he will raise a case for this approach at the next Foreign Affairs Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17604/19]

Speech and Language Therapy Waiting Lists

Mick Wallace

268. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for six, nine, 12, 18 and more than 18 months, respectively, for speech and language therapy by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17210/19]

Respite Care Services Availability

Mick Wallace

281. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if the adult respite service for persons with intellectual disability at a centre (details supplied) in County Wexford will be made available for families outside the county; if so, the plans the HSE has to ensure that families in the county do not receive a decreased service due to additional demand created by opening the service up to persons outside the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17280/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Mick Wallace

294. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the wait times for a MRI scan in Wexford General Hospital; and the number of MRI scans carried out on average in the hospital per week. [17318/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

Mick Wallace

296. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times for shoulder arthroscopy operations in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019, by county in tabular form. [17347/19]

Occupational Therapy Data

Mick Wallace

339. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if the HSE maintains separate waiting lists for paediatric occupational therapy for primary care and for disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17513/19]

Overseas Missions

Mick Wallace

21. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has had consultation with a person (details supplied) following recognition by the President of the United States of America of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights; if so, the details of the interactions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16896/19]

Middle East Issues

Mick Wallace

35. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights by the President of the United States of America may affect the UN mission in the Golan Heights and involvement by the Defence Forces in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16895/19]

Vacant Sites Levy

Mick Wallace

68. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to publish the 31 progress reports on the implementation of the vacant site levy he has received from local authorities; if he has considered changes or amendments to the vacant site levy further to the information contained in such reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16352/19]

Homelessness Strategy

Mick Wallace

96. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether housing policy may be contributing to the increased number in homelessness; if he will consider re-examining the recommendations made by the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16354/19]

Private Rented Accommodation

Mick Wallace

101. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the increased number of bulk sales of apartments by developers to REITS or investment funds; his plans to counter this and the effect it has on the first-time buyer and rental markets; if he has had discussions with his colleague, the Minister for Finance, with regard to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16351/19]

Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports

Mick Wallace

110. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has considered the report, Safe As Houses? A Report on Building Standards, Building Controls and Consumer Protection, by the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government; his plans to implement a redress scheme supported by an industry levy, interest-free loans or tax deduction with regard to building deficiencies in apartment blocks as suggested by the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16353/19]

Vacant Sites Levy

Mick Wallace

117. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has considered examining reducing the 0.05 ha minimum site size threshold for the vacant site levy given that over 160 sites were identified by Dublin City Council as being vacant but were under 0.05 ha; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16350/19]

National Children's Hospital Expenditure

Mick Wallace

431. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health when he expects a report (details supplied) on the national children's hospital overspend will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16544/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Mick Wallace

47. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces study group convened to review the standards of height for entry have presented their report to him; if so, if he will publish the report; if not, when the report will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15780/19]

State Airports

Mick Wallace

18. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of applications made for exemptions for the transportation of munitions or weapons of war through Shannon Airport to date in 2019 under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, SI 224 of 1973; the number of these applications which were granted and denied, respectively, to date in 2019; the reason given for each decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15121/19]

State Airports

Mick Wallace

24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of US troops that have passed through Shannon Airport to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15122/19]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Mick Wallace

288. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the status of progress on the new child and adolescent mental health services centre in south County Wexford; the eTender details for the project; the proposed date for the opening of the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14935/19]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Provision

Mick Wallace

290. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for six, nine, 12, 18, 24 and more than 36 months, respectively, for primary care child psychology services, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14942/19]

Rental Sector

Mick Wallace

586. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of improvement notices issued by each local authority as a result of non-compliance with minimum standards for rental accommodation, as prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017, in each of the years from 2015 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14999/19]

Rental Sector

Mick Wallace

587. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of prohibition notices issued by each local authority pursuant to section 18B(1) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 in each of the years from 2015 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15000/19]

Rental Sector

Mick Wallace

588. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the percentage of rented units in each local authority registered with the RTB that were deemed non-compliant with minimum standards for rental accommodation, as prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017, following inspection in each of the years from 2015 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15001/19]

Rental Sector

Mick Wallace

589. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of rented units that were deemed not compliant with minimum standards for rental accommodation, as prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017, and which did not achieve compliance via follow-up inspection in each local authority in each of the years from 2015 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15002/19]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mick Wallace

60. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the carbon emissions projections if and when the three peat-fired electricity generating stations here complete their planned transition to biomass combustion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14247/19]

Renewable Energy Projects

Mick Wallace

92. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if renewable energy projects are in place or at the planning stages to match the projected increase in national electricity consumption that will come directly from data centre projects coming online between March 2019 and 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14248/19]

Hospital Staff Data

Mick Wallace

180. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the details of staff on duty in Wexford General Hospital's emergency department and St. Joseph's ward on 29 and 30 January 2019 by staff category (details supplied). [14319/19]

Hospital Staff

Mick Wallace

181. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if there is an advanced nurse practitioner for cardiac nursing in Wexford General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14320/19]

Food Exports to Iran

Mick Wallace

59. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or his officials have had discussions with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or with Iranian officials regarding the possible resumption of exports of beef and lamb to Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13956/19]

Brexit Issues

Mick Wallace

90. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether Brexit is an opportunity to commence the diversification of the agriculture sector here away from the concentration on beef and dairy production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13957/19]

Vacant Sites Data

Mick Wallace

1401. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of vacant site levy implementation progress reports received from local authorities to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13376/19]

Vacant Sites Data

Mick Wallace

1402. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of sites on vacant site registers; the number of local authorities that have not listed sites on their vacant site register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13377/19]

Counselling Services Provision

Mick Wallace

72. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans to address waiting times for access to counselling in primary care services. [12393/19]

National Children's Hospital Administration

Mick Wallace

100. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if a public benchmarking analysis was completed prior to the issuing of the tender for the national children’s hospital; if so, the person or body that conducted the analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10616/19]

Mental Health Services

Mick Wallace

179. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the increase in recent years in the number of antidepressants being prescribed and the dosages consumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12394/19]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data

Mick Wallace

226. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the status of progress to recruit a consultant paediatric psychiatrist for CAMHS Wexford south; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12664/19]

Public Services Card

Mick Wallace

342. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 616 of 26 February 2019, if the correspondence that was sent to those persons selected to take part in the survey to assess customer satisfaction regarding the public services card to invite them to take part in the survey was sent to those selected by her Department or by the survey company (details supplied); if the correspondence was sent by the company, the basis for the sharing of customer addresses between her Department and the company; if other personal data via the SAFE 2 verification process such as telephone numbers were shared with the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12572/19]

Protected Disclosures Data

Mick Wallace

15. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the work of the panel of barristers examining protected disclosures within An Garda Síochána; the number and names of counsel employed to date on the panel in tabular form; the fees paid to counsel to date; if he is satisfied with the work of the panel to date; if he has had discussions with the Garda Commissioner about same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11995/19]

Prisoner Welfare

Mick Wallace

17. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners who have died in prisons since 2011 to date; if he is satisfied that the Irish Prison Service is adequately funded to deal with prisoner welfare; if he is satisfied that the best international practice is in place in prisons here to assist prisoners with mental health difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11993/19]