Parliamentary questions

Tax Data

Willie Penrose

136. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the estimated full-year cost if the income tax standard rate of €35,300 was increased to €36,350 for a single person and from €44,300 to €45,850 for a married one-earner couple; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46706/19]

Ministerial Meetings

Willie Penrose

137. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the bilateral meetings he has had with his EU counterparts to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46707/19]

Proposed Legislation

Willie Penrose

277. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the explosives Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46702/19]

State Bodies Data

Willie Penrose

494. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of positions on each board in respect of agencies, including commercial State agencies, under his remit in tabular form; the quorum required for a board meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46705/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Willie Penrose

599. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of additional staff appointed in her Department and agencies under her remit in 2019; the estimated cost of hiring the additional staff, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46701/19]

School Services Staff

Willie Penrose

77. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 97 of 26 September 2019, the steps being taken to ensure that the appropriate wage structure of €13 per hour is paid out by the schools in respect of caretakers employed by voluntary secondary schools and whose wages are funded by way of capital grants paid to the school; when the new agreement that will replace the current arbitration agreement, which expires on 31 December 2019, will come into force; the sanctions available to caretakers if the schools employing them have failed to implement the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45889/19]

School Services Staff

Willie Penrose

78. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the 10% increase that was recommended by the arbitrator for the payment of caretakers by voluntary schools between 2016 and 2019 was implemented; if caretakers that did not receive the graduated increase between the years are now entitled to arrears and backdating of their pay to cover the period between 2016 and 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45890/19]

School Services Staff

Willie Penrose

79. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an assessment of the conditions of caretakers in secondary schools will be carried out to ensure that the disadvantages that they have sustained over a number of years will be remedied and that the appropriate work and conditions applicable to all employees nationwide, such as entitlement to overtime or other such benefits are catered for in new agreements that will be reached; if the direct employment of caretakers in schools will be considered rather than leaving the issue of remuneration such employees directly to the schools themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45891/19]

School Services Staff

Willie Penrose

80. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount made available to pay caretakers in the respect of the scheme introduced in 2009, which provided extensive capitation grants to voluntary schools to employ caretakers and came into being following the withdrawal of the original employment scheme in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45892/19]

School Services Staff

Willie Penrose

81. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of voluntary secondary schools and private schools that receive assistance by way of capitation grant to provide for secretarial caretaking services; the system used to allocate to each school the particular amount to enable them to meet their particular needs in these areas; the supervision in place to ensure that persons employed in roles such as caretaking are paid the appropriate rate and have the relevant employment conditions appropriately applied in each situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45893/19]

Artists' Remuneration

Willie Penrose

29. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to research by an organisation (details supplied) into pay and conditions for performing artists that showed that a third earn less than the minimum wage and that working in the performing arts is characterised by poor conditions and precarious employment; her plans to address same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45457/19]

Abbey Theatre

Willie Penrose

63. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans and the proposed timeline for the renovation of the Abbey Theatre; the funding allocated to the theatre arising from budget 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45456/19]

Road Improvement Schemes

Willie Penrose

183. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided to finance the construction of realignment works along the N55 between Ballymahon, County Longford, and Athlone, County Westmeath; when Transport Infrastructure Ireland will be in a position to fund developments and improvements on this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45685/19]

Tax Credits

Willie Penrose

131. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance his plans to ensure that the correct tax-free allowance is granted to a person (details supplied) who is on emergency tax basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44599/19]

School Admissions

Willie Penrose

277. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures available to parents to have their child enrolled in secondary school for the academic year commencing September 2020, and in which it has been indicated that the child has been placed on a waiting list, which indicates he or she may never be admitted in view of being significantly down the waiting list; the remedies or solutions available to such parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45416/19]

HSE Correspondence

Willie Penrose

529. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 18 September 2019, the steps he will take to examine the reason the HSE has still not replied to urgent correspondence (details supplied); if same will be dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44591/19]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Willie Penrose

1048. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if carer's allowance will be granted to persons who care for incapacitated children or persons; if same will be granted automatically to carers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44598/19]

Disability Allowance Applications

Willie Penrose

1109. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position in relation to an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied); if same will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45415/19]

Planning Issues

Willie Penrose

1130. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding land that has been rezoned; the period of time within which building thereon must take place; the penalties that arise for failure to utilise zoned land that has been specifically zoned for residential purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44433/19]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Willie Penrose

306. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide the insurance contribution record of a person (details supplied); the level and amount of arrears that would be payable to the person due to their mistake; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44052/19]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Willie Penrose

44. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase the income disregard means test for carer’s allowance, which has not changed for 11 years further to her decision in budget 2020 to increase the number of hours that a family carer can work to 18.5 hours; the number of carers projected to have their allowance reduced in 2020 and 2021, respectively, if they work more hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43851/19]

Army Barracks

Willie Penrose

106. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when upgrade and refurbishment works to the cookhouse and dining hall at Custume Barracks, Athlone, will commence and be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43616/19]

Air Corps Recruitment

Willie Penrose

107. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a new recruitment campaign for pilots and air traffic controllers will be launched before the end of 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43617/19]

Tax Code

Willie Penrose

160. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the tax exemption available to a single person under 25 years of age; the income a person can earn which is totally exempt from tax as a single person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43614/19]

Technological Universities

Willie Penrose

233. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received an application from Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology to come together to form a new technological university for the region pursuant to the Technological University Act 2018; when a decision will be made thereon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43619/19]

Garda Transport Data

Willie Penrose

262. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda vehicles attached to Athlone and Mullingar Garda districts as of 11 October 2019; the equivalent figures as of 1 January 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43618/19]

Prison Service Staff

Willie Penrose

263. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prison officers who left the Irish Prison Service in 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of prison officers that joined the service in 2018 and to date in 2019; if a new recruitment campaign for prison officers will be launched early in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43622/19]

Knackery Industry

Willie Penrose

448. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if commitments given on the commencement of a bridging scheme to address the financial crisis in knackeries will be honoured in full as per the agreement reached on 16 September 2019 between his officials and an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43167/19]

Environmental Protection Agency Remit

Willie Penrose

516. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has reviewed a judgment (details supplied); his plans to introduce primary legislation to deal with the issues raised therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43615/19]

Litter Pollution

Willie Penrose

517. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated amount it would cost in 2020 if the budget for local authority anti-litter anti-graffiti awareness grant increased by 50%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43623/19]

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Willie Penrose

548. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the qualifying criteria for the large sports capital grant of €2 million; the types of organisations or groups that can apply for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43620/19]

Commencement of Legislation

Willie Penrose

653. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when section 2 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018 will come into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43621/19]

Electric Vehicles

Willie Penrose

59. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has considered the implications for rural areas of the target of 1 million electric cars by 2030; if so, if it is planned to offer a range of additional incentives, particularly aimed at rural communities, to encourage motorists towards electric vehicle ownership as recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30435/19]

Rural Development Programme

Willie Penrose

91. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has communicated with the Minister for Rural and Community Development regarding the low allocation of TAMS II funding under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020; if so, his plans to re-allocate this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30466/19]

Sheepmeat Sector

Willie Penrose

504. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of live lambs imported on a weekly basis since 1 January 2019 from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42329/19]

Sheepmeat Sector

Willie Penrose

505. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of live lambs imported in 2018 from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales; if all were destined for direct slaughter in Irish meat processing plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42330/19]

Food Labelling

Willie Penrose

506. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the controls that are put in place to ensure that live lambs imported from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales are correctly labelled according to EU country of origin regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42331/19]

Sheepmeat Sector

Willie Penrose

507. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if live lambs imported direct for slaughter are not eligible for the Origin Green status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42332/19]

Railway Stations

Willie Penrose

572. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in the context of the recent climate action plan announced by the Government together with various proposals announced in budget 2020 to promote decarbonisation and a response to climate change, he will request Iarnród Éireann to take steps to review its decision not to reopen the railway station at Thomastown, Killucan, County Westmeath, which would facilitate and accommodate the thousands of passengers weekly who leave this region in an eastward direction to work in Dublin and the commuter belt, which can lead to substantial gains in terms of carbon reduction and which would cost less than €2 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42333/19]

Home Care Packages Data

Willie Penrose

32. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the regional variations in the eligibility and allocation of services relating to publicly funded homecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30437/19]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments

Willie Penrose

281. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she will take to ensure that a person (details supplied) is paid the appropriate compensation for cessation of turf cutting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41513/19]

Work Permits Data

Willie Penrose

39. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons currently on work permits and attached to a singular employer and-or sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38877/19]

Property Tax

Willie Penrose

74. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to an anomaly by which if a self-employed person that files an income tax return and has not paid their local property tax, the Revenue Commissioners apply a 10% penalty to their total tax liability (details supplied); if he will make appropriate adjustments to the legislation in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40487/19]

Home Care Packages

Willie Penrose

239. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the progress been made regarding the development of a new statutory scheme for home care since his most recent statements on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40448/19]

Home Care Packages

Willie Penrose

240. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health when the next stages of consultation will commence in the development of homecare regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40449/19]

Home Care Packages

Willie Penrose

241. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the provisions regarding nutrition and hydration to be included in the statutory scheme for homecare to ensure that those in receipt of homecare packages receive good nutritional care,including screening for and management of nutritional deficits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40450/19]

Budget Submissions

Willie Penrose

61. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he received a submission from as association (details supplied) in relation to the necessity of putting in place a pilot training programme in 2020 as the commencement of a modern and sustainable continuous professional programme for all private agricultural consultants and advisers here; if the matter will be given consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39113/19]

Carbon Tax Implementation

Willie Penrose

62. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he will review a proposal (details supplied) from a haulage operator that deals with the issue of carbon taxes and the necessity to ensure that climate change issues are tackled in a planned way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39152/19]

School Services Staff

Willie Penrose

97. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the situation in which some caretakers in secondary schools are in a similar situation to school secretaries (details supplied); if an assessment of their conditions will be carried out to ensure that the perceived disadvantage they are now suffering will be remedied without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39209/19]

Social Welfare Code

Willie Penrose

191. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to relax the 15 hour rule, which applies to persons in receipt of carer’s allowance and-or carer’s benefit (details supplied); if same could be increased to 19 hours in line with criteria applicable to such participation in other social welfare schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39153/19]