Parliamentary questions

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Joe Carey

534. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce a new sports capital programme this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6740/15]

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Sandra McLellan

535. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the next round of sports capital grants will be open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6754/15]

National Driver Licensing Service

Peter Fitzpatrick

536. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the quality of service of the driving licence centre in Drogheda, County Louth by either extending the opening hours on Saturday or opening one or two late evenings to facilitate those who work full-time and cannot avail of the service during the week (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6814/15]

Roadworthiness Testing

Denis Naughten

537. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the powers the Road Safety Authority has to enforce scheduled maintenance inspections, at regular intervals, on owners of commercial vehicles; the legislation which confers such powers; the reason the authority is insisting such inspections can only take place at approved centres; the reason some inspectors are enforcing inspections, based on a period of time rather than mileage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6815/15]

Roads Maintenance Funding

John Lyons

538. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding can be sourced to provide traffic lights at a junction (details supplied) in Dublin 11 within the current budget for 2015 as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6930/15]

Taxi Regulations

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

539. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of the new taxi regulations; if persons who previously had convictions will now be suspended, even if they already have served a period without a licence, due to the conviction, on applying first; his views that this amounts to two penalties for the same conviction, and over and above whatever penalties or sentence that were applied by the courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6959/15]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Billy Timmins

540. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding haulage licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7021/15]

Cycling Facilities Provision

Michael McCarthy

541. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe on the completion of a greenway cycle route (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7042/15]

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Brendan Smith

542. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the sports capital programme will be open for new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7058/15]

Roads Maintenance Funding

Sean Conlan

543. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding that has been awarded to both Monaghan County Council and Cavan County Council since 2011 in respect of roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7135/15]

Bord Údarás na Gaeltachta

Éamon Ó Cuív

544. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén líon ball d’Údarás na Gaeltachta a ainmníonn comhairlí contae; cén líon atá ann faoi láthair; cé mhéad folúntas atá ann i láthair na huaire do bhaill a ainmníonn comhairlí contae; cén uair atá folúntais ann agus cén uair a rinne an chomhairle contae atá i gceist duine a ainmniú leis an bhfolúntas a líonadh; cé chomh fada is gur féidir leis an Aire fanacht gan an té atá ainmnithe ag comhairle contae a cheapadh ar an mBord; an bhfuil aon teacht aniar ag an gcomhairle contae i gcás go ndiúltíonn an tAire an té atá ainmnithe acu a cheapadh; cén fáth go bhfuil moill leis an duine nó na daoine atá ainmnithe ag comhairli contae faoi láthair a cheapadh; an bhféadfadh an tAire moill a chur ar cheapachán mar nár réitigh sí le polaitíocht an té atá ainmnithe in aon chás; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [6678/15]

Wildlife Regulations

Tom Fleming

545. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will reduce the prohibition on hedgerow-cutting, from 1 March 2015 to 31 July 2015, by one month, in view of the fact that research has shown that birds have left the nests by the end of July and as the continued growth in this month creates hazardous traffic conditions, especially in the county road network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6836/15]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

546. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received a payment in respect of the cessation of turf cutting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6841/15]

Wildlife Regulations

Patrick O'Donovan

547. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if members of the Irish Farmers Association with designated lands have been, or will be, part of the body that will take part in the threat response plan, initiated by her Department, under section 39 of Statutory Instrument No. 477 of 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6844/15]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Seán Kyne

548. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a process exists for de-designating existing special areas of conservation or natural heritage areas; if such de-designations have taken place here; the legislation under which such designations occurs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6870/15]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Frank Feighan

549. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of bog owners affected by special area of conservation designation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6962/15]

Wildlife Protection

Brian Walsh

550. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total amount paid out each year under the mink bounty scheme, since it was introduced in 2012; a breakdown of that amount, by county, of where the mink were located. [7045/15]

Easter Rising Commemorations

Sandra McLellan

551. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures her Department has taken to pro-actively consult the public since the Government launched its 1916 commemorative programme; the number of formal submissions that have been received to date. [7090/15]

Easter Rising Commemorations

Sandra McLellan

552. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of meetings she has undertaken directly since the Government launch of developing the State 1916 commemorative programme; and the stakeholders, external to her Department, who attend these meetings. [7091/15]

Commemorative Events

Sandra McLellan

553. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the budgetary resources and the number of staff, she has allocated to the commemorations unit within her Department for 2015 and 2016. [7092/15]