Parliamentary questions

Road Safety

Catherine Martin

515. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he plans to provide a new national pedestrian safety action plan in view of the fact the existing publication is out of date. [50075/19]

School Patronage

Catherine Martin

206. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the patronage process for the new post-primary school for the Kilcoole and Greystones area is due to be finalised; when the patron is due to be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48799/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Catherine Martin

116. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 251 of 5 November 2019, if he has explored the possibility of the provision of an ASD unit in the present location of the school in the event that the new school building is delayed due to planning appeals. [47876/19]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Catherine Martin

176. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health his plans in relation to a centre (details supplied) in County Dublin which has reported a funding shortfall of €7 million since 2012 due to the gap between funding from the nursing home support scheme and the significant costs of meeting the high dependency needs of persons living with dementia and has indicated it will need to close its day care facility at the end of 2019. [47878/19]

Electric Vehicles

Catherine Martin

248. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce supports or grants for small businesses to install electric vehicle charging points on their premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47877/19]

Ministerial Meetings

Catherine Martin

367. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of occasions on which she or her officials met with a club (details supplied) between 9 August and 16 October 2019, and the details of the said meetings. [47879/19]

Ministerial Meetings

Catherine Martin

368. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of occasions on which she or her representatives met with stakeholders in animal welfare and conservation between 9 August and 16 October 2019, (details supplied); and if the details of the said meetings will be provided. [47880/19]

Animal Diseases

Catherine Martin

369. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the definition of the term "areas unaffected" in respect of designation of areas impacted by the RHD2 virus; if this is exclusively on a county basis; and if not, if there are other divisions of classification. [47881/19]

Third Level Funding

Catherine Martin

34. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for medium and long-term funding for third level education in view of the increasing demographic demand and the effect of substantial per capita reductions in investment in the sector in recent years; his timeline for receipt of the economic analysis of the Cassells report in view of the first funding major benchmark from the report in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47825/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Catherine Martin

140. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to encourage the provisions and uptake of apprenticeships in green skills, for example those required in retrofitting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47826/19]

School Accommodation Provision

Catherine Martin

204. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to expand capacity at a college (details supplied) and the associated timelines; if the modular classrooms due for March 2020 are to cope with the current overcrowded conditions; his further plans for expansion beyond 2020. [47636/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Catherine Martin

205. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the progress of his Department on providing a permanent building for a school (details supplied); and the planned timeline for delivery of a permanent school. [47637/19]

State Examinations

Catherine Martin

206. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all the examiners of the 2019 leaving certificate papers were qualified teachers and registered with the Teaching Council. [47638/19]

School Fees

Catherine Martin

207. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures put in place to ensure that schools are abiding by section 9 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 regarding the prohibition of application fees; if there are schools in contravention of this section; the action that should be taken by a person whose attention has been drawn to a school acting in contravention of this section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47639/19]

Cycling Facilities Funding

Catherine Martin

559. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expected spend on urban cycling as a percentage of the total capital expenditure recently announced for his Department in budget 2020; the amount of the €114 million that will be spent on urban cycling measures, excluding greenways, BusConnects measures and active travel such as walking; the amount of the €114 million will be spent in the next financial year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47632/19]

Greenways Development

Catherine Martin

560. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if all new greenway projects funded through his Department through the National Transport Authority will be designed around a path width of at least four metres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47633/19]

Cycling Facilities Provision

Catherine Martin

561. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the plans of the National Transport Authority to set up a dedicated office to concentrate on delivery of cycling infrastructure in the greater Dublin area; if it will provide support to Dublin City Council or to the other Dublin local authorities; if it will be providing staff resources only or if it will also provide funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47635/19]

Childcare Services

Catherine Martin

583. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she will take to ensure that the level of remuneration received by childcare practitioners in crèches reflects the level of responsibility they hold as carers and educators; the further steps she can take to make careers in the field of childcare increasingly attractive to new and existing practitioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47634/19]

State Examinations Appeals

Catherine Martin

78. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that sat their leaving certificate in 2019 that had their appeals fee refunded subsequent to a successful re-check of an exam paper. [46964/19]

School Accommodation Provision

Catherine Martin

110. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to arrange for the provision of crèche facilities on the site for a new primary and post-primary school (details supplied) alongside the schools in view of the need in the area for childcare places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46728/19]

Schools Data

Catherine Martin

207. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools that are not designated feeder schools to a post-primary school; the way in which he plans to ensure that primary schools are each a designated feeder school to at least one post-primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46591/19]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Martin

211. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the access persons living in direct provision have to further and higher education with their local education and training boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46597/19]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review

Catherine Martin

390. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health when the report on the fair deal scheme for nursing homes will be published. [46592/19]

Departmental Strategies

Catherine Martin

596. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if Ireland was represented at the European peatland strategy workshop in Bonn on 28 and 29 October 2019; if so, the Departments or agencies in this regard; if Ireland supported the attendance at the workshop of civil society representatives; and if so, the organisations in this regard. [46587/19]

National Children's Hospital

Catherine Martin

146. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the form of insulation materials being used in building the national children's hospital; and if they are fully compliant with standards required for fire safety in buildings over eighteen metres in height [45855/19]

Bord na gCon Expenditure

Catherine Martin

167. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new care fund of Bord na gCon was set up; the initiatives and programmes the new fund will cover; the amount spent on each initiative and programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45858/19]

Cycling Facilities Funding

Catherine Martin

192. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 224 of 24 October 2019, the details of the allocated €91 million to the two principal active travel funding programmes under budget 2020; the specific projects it is planned to cover; and the breakdown between walking and cycling. [45856/19]

Cycling Facilities Funding

Catherine Martin

193. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 224 of 24 October 2019, the breakdown of the €48 million towards the two principal active travel funding programmes; and the projects covered. [45857/19]

National Training Fund

Catherine Martin

229. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reserve surplus in the national training fund; the projected reserve surplus year-on-year over the next five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44590/19]

Schools Amalgamation

Catherine Martin

249. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to meet and engage with representative committees (details supplied) which represent stakeholders from schools and wish to engage productively with his Department to avoid the closure of two schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44920/19]

School Accommodation Provision

Catherine Martin

250. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the need for a new secondary school in Midleton, County Cork has been assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44921/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Catherine Martin

251. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will have an ASD unit in place for second-level students by the commencement of the 2020-2021 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44922/19]

Medicinal Products Availability

Catherine Martin

612. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that pharmacies are experiencing a shortage of certain types of medication, particularly Micardis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44923/19]

Brexit Preparations

Catherine Martin

613. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health his plans to prevent medicine shortages in the event of a hard Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44924/19]

VAT Rate Application

Catherine Martin

60. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Finance his plans to change the VAT rate on food supplements as previously reported; the engagement he has had with business and civil society on such an increase in view of the potentially negative impacts on small businesses, persons with disabilities and other groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43922/19]

School Accommodation Provision

Catherine Martin

104. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has identified a permanent site for the new secondary school which is planned for the Blanchardstown village and Blanchardstown west planning areas; when the school will open; if the school will initially be in temporary accommodation; if so, the location of the temporary accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43926/19]

Cycling Facilities Funding

Catherine Martin

219. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the projects and timeframes covered by the expenditure of €9 million on greenways and €146 million on other cycling infrastructure which was mentioned recently. [43928/19]

Cycling Facilities Funding

Catherine Martin

224. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated by his Department towards cycling infrastructure and cycling projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43923/19]

Greenways Funding

Catherine Martin

225. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding available to connect greenways to local towns they pass close to along their routes. [43929/19]

Aviation Industry Regulations

Catherine Martin

226. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the consideration national policy has given to the differential impacts of aviation emissions on the climate depending on the time of day and year when they are omitted; and the actions taken or under consideration by his Department or agencies under his aegis to reduce the climate impacts of aviation emissions by taking the time of day and year and weather conditions into account in the timing and routing of flights. [43930/19]

Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund

Catherine Martin

350. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the projects to which LIHAF funding has been allocated and not drawn down, in full or in part, in addition to the amount involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43924/19]

Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund

Catherine Martin

351. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to reallocate LIHAF funding not drawn down; and if so, the details of same. [43925/19]

National Parks Projects

Catherine Martin

360. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans with respect to the creation of a Liffey valley national park; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43927/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Catherine Martin

118. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a schools building project request by a school (details supplied) to go to tender for special classes for ASD; the timeline for a decision to be made on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43768/19]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Catherine Martin

199. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to make a change to the eligibility criteria for the SUSI grant to deal with situations such as that of a person (details supplied); the measures he plans to undertake to improve the fairness of the SUSI grant eligibility criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43156/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Catherine Martin

202. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) is planned to have an ASD unit in place by the start of the 2020/2021 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43192/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Catherine Martin

231. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the construction of a permanent building for a school (details supplied); the reason for the delay in progressing the project in view of the fact that planning permission was granted in December 2018 and construction is not due to commence until quarter 2 of 2020 and in further view of the fact that the school has been more than 20 years without a permanent building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43561/19]

Budget 2020

Catherine Martin

41. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional core funding has been provided for the third level education sector in budget 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42439/19]

Budget 2020

Catherine Martin

43. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional funding provided for higher level student supports in budget 2020, in particular for SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42440/19]

Online Safety

Catherine Martin

56. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeline for the introduction of legislation for a digital safety commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42274/19]