Parliamentary questions

Departmental Contracts

Mick Wallace

67. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures his Department has in place to ensure that the contracting out of public employment services to private companies, Turas Nua and Seetec, will not push claimants into low-paid, low quality and temporary employment; if he has read the report The Impact of Sanctions (details supplied); his views on the reported negative impact of financial sanctions on unemployed persons if they do not enter into employment or take up an internship quickly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2776/17]

Rent Controls

Mick Wallace

9. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will introduce measures to define market rent; if he has considered taking the example of the mietspiegel arrangement in Germany, whereby local rents are calculated by local government on the basis of square metre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2172/17]

Vacant Sites Levy

Mick Wallace

14. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will bring forward the implementation of the vacant site levy and commence it immediately; if he will raise the vacant site levy to 10%; his views on the recently published vacant sites register for Dublin in which all of the entries were left blank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2174/17]

Housing Provision

Mick Wallace

24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider initiating discussions with the Minister for Finance with a view to suspending the proposed NAMA plan to build 20,000 houses by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2173/17]

Rental Accommodation Standards

Mick Wallace

38. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the measures his Department has taken or planned in order to improve the enforcement of standards in the rental sector in response to the National Oversight and Audit Commission's report, Rented House Inspections - a Review of Local Authority Performance of Private Rented Houses Regulations Functions, which was published in October 2016; if his Department plans to introduce a type of NCT for rental properties as recommended by advocacy groups (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2170/17]

House Sales

Mick Wallace

43. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the growing proportion of new housing purchases made by investment funds and REITs, and the fact that financial companies now control 90,000 of mortgages and the effects of this on the housing and rental markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2171/17]

School Staff

Mick Wallace

34. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the criteria for appeals by one-teacher mainland schools to obtain an additional teacher with regard to the staffing schedule circular 0007/2016 and the provisions in budget 2017 are overly burdensome on the schools in question, in view of the fact that in order to make an application a school must have at least 15 students across at least six class groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1819/17]

Special Educational Needs

Mick Wallace

40. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the sections of the EPSEN Act 2004, which deal with provisions relating to an individual right to assessment and individual education plans, will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1818/17]

NAMA Operations

Mick Wallace

81. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider suspending all operations of NAMA pending the outcome of all current investigations into the sale of Project Eagle by NAMA, including those by the National Crime Agency, Securities and Exchange Commission, the FBI and the Committee of Public Accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1720/17]

Tax Data

Mick Wallace

84. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an estimate of the tax loss to the Exchequer for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015; the details of the persons or bodies that hold section 110 tax status in relation to the NAMA policy of selling loan portfolios to investment funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1719/17]

Commercial Rates

Mick Wallace

106. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a company's properties (details supplied) will be charged commercial business rates. [41458/16]

Tax Collection

Mick Wallace

234. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the progress the Revenue Commissioners have made in recovering tax arrears since May 2014 on earnings from renting out rooms or entire apartments or houses through the Airbnb online service; the value of the tax arrears recovered; if the Revenue Commissioners ensured that Airbnb hosts charge VAT at the appropriate rate and the steps the Revenue Commissioners have taken to ensure this. [41402/16]

Planning Issues

Mick Wallace

474. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has examined the decision by An Bord Pleanála (details supplied); if he has an estimated time when the decision will be made; and his plans to provide statutory planning guidelines to ensure consistency of approach in this area. [41456/16]

Fire Safety

Mick Wallace

475. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider the necessity for fire safety certificates for a company's properties (details supplied). [41457/16]

Waste Management

Mick Wallace

1472. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide concessions or allowances for families that generate more and unavoidable refuse due to health and medical issues in terms of pay by weight charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41303/16]

Protected Disclosures

Mick Wallace

5. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she still has full confidence in the Garda Commissioner, with particular reference to the manner in which Garda personnel making protected disclosures are dealt with in view of the fact that the Garda Commissioner is now in position for over two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40597/16]

Protected Disclosures

Mick Wallace

22. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, in the event of an investigation that may be initiated following the report and review relating to two protected disclosures (details supplied), she will consider suspending the Garda Commissioner, in view of the fact that she might have control of much of the information required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40426/16]

Legislative Measures

Mick Wallace

24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to amend the Refugee Act 1996 to allow asylum seekers here to work, particularly in view of the well documented negative effects of enforced unemployment, which according to the HSE can compound mental health issues with boredom, depression, sense of isolation and loss of self esteem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40429/16]

Prison Staff

Mick Wallace

33. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans in relation to the appointment of a new inspector of prisons, following the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40427/16]

Protected Disclosures

Mick Wallace

40. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider including currently serving whistleblowers in any possible follow-on investigation, following the initial report and review relating to two protected disclosures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40425/16]

Direct Provision System

Mick Wallace

64. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce an independent complaints procedure for asylum seekers living in direct provision here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40428/16]

Direct Provision System

Mick Wallace

58. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has satisfied herself with the care of children in the direct provision system and with the work of Tusla in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40016/16]

Child Protection Services Provision

Mick Wallace

59. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her department plans any specific measures to give particular attention to vulnerable children in the Christmas period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40015/16]

Military Aircraft

Mick Wallace

39. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department carries out periodic reviews of defence policy and decisions to ensure they uphold Ireland's stated policy of neutrality; if he has had any discussions with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport regarding the ongoing use of Shannon Airport by the US military as a result of concerns raised by groups (details supplied) over its potential implications for Irish neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39839/16]

European Council Meetings

Mick Wallace

49. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he attended the European Council joint session of Defence and Foreign Affairs on 14 November 2016, at which the implementation of the EU global strategy in the area of security and defence was discussed; his views on the Council conclusions adopted at this meeting regarding the deepening of defence co-operation between EU states, particularly in view of Ireland's stated policy of military neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39838/16]

Direct Provision Data

Mick Wallace

98. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of children under 10 years of age who have been living under direct provision in 2016. [39631/16]

Defence Forces Medicinal Products

Mick Wallace

683. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to his decision to continue the use of Lariam for Defence Forces personnel serving in sub-Saharan Africa, if he will publish the medical advice that informed his decision on the matter; his views on continued use of Lariam, considering that it has been widely discredited in view of its negative psychological effects, which have been acknowledged by the UK Ministry of Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40063/16]

Overseas Missions

Mick Wallace

684. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether the continued presence of the Defence Forces in the Golan Heights as part of the UNDOF mission could make Ireland complicit in a breach of international law by effectively facilitating the illegal occupation by Israel of Syrian land; his further views on whether the expertise and skills of the Defence Forces could be better used in DRC, Darfur or South Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40064/16]

Trade Agreements

Mick Wallace

8. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views regarding CETA's potential negative effects on workers' rights, particularly in view of the notable lack of penalties in the text for countries or companies that violate labour laws, as highlighted by Corporate Europe Observatory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39116/16]

IDA Ireland Site Visits

Mick Wallace

9. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she is satisfied with the number of IDA site visits to County Wexford in the past two years; if she will provide details of long-term measures she has planned in order to counteract economic stagnation in the south-east region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39113/16]

Unemployment Levels

Mick Wallace

22. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on unemployment rates in County Wexford and the south east region, which have been consistently higher than the national average; if she has read the South East Economic Monitor Report from June 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39112/16]

Job Creation Targets

Mick Wallace

26. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of the 40,000 to 45,000 new jobs she expects to deliver in 2017 that will be created in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39115/16]

Jobs Initiative

Mick Wallace

32. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the specific measures, outside of the south east region action plan for jobs, being taken to create jobs in counties with high levels of unemployment and in County Wexford in particular; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39114/16]

Transport Policy

Mick Wallace

52. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider reviewing his Department's focus away from road infrastructure towards a more rail-centred policy approach in view of Ireland's EU 2030 emissions targets and the role of the transport sector in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38767/16]

Rail Network Expansion

Mick Wallace

65. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider upgrading the Rosslare to Connolly Station rail line in order to make journey times shorter and attract more passengers; if the future of the Rosslare to Gorey rail line will be guaranteed in view of current trends of increasing passenger numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38768/16]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mick Wallace

52. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the findings of the SEAI that greenhouse gas emissions here grew by 5% in 2015; his further views on the projections that Ireland will almost certainly miss EU 2020 emissions targets; the expected fines that will be incurred by the State if it fails to meet these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38615/16]

Climate Change Policy

Mick Wallace

65. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his Department's definition of carbon neutrality and sustainable food production, in view of the fact that these terms are often used in tandem with each other with regard to Ireland's climate change mitigation obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38614/16]

Banking Sector Investigations

Mick Wallace

108. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to leaked documents consisting of thousands of emails, internal memos, and policy documents revealed to media organisations (detail supplied) and published by the organisations on 10 October 2016; his views on the validity and independence of reviews based on the leaked documents; his further views on the matter considering the number of Irish SMEs affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38401/16]

Garda Expenditure

Mick Wallace

266. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of the monthly rental costs including penalties incurred on An Garda Síochána's regional headquarters at Harcourt Square, Dublin 2, from January 2011 to date in 2016. [38354/16]

Respite Care Grant Expenditure

Mick Wallace

368. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the amounts spent by HSE Wexford disability services on full-time adult residential placements, both locally delivered residential services and external agencies, in each of the years from 2008 to 2015 and to date in 2016; and the amount by which each annual spend by HSE Wexford disability services on full-time adult residential placements was above or below the allocated central HSE budget for each year. [38739/16]

Respite Care Grant Expenditure

Mick Wallace

369. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the amounts spent by HSE Wexford disability services across all areas of respite care for adults in each of the years from 2008 to 2015 and to date in 2016; and the amount by which each annual spend by HSE Wexford disability services on respite care was above or below the allocated central HSE budget for each year. [38740/16]

Respite Care Services

Mick Wallace

58. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the action he is taking to address the shortage of full-time residential care placements in County Wexford and the issues arising from respite care beds being occupied by service users whose needs would be better served in residential care units; the measures he is taking to provide additional respite care placements in County Wexford; if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 26 October 2016, he plans to allocate specific funding to open the Windrock respite facility in Murrintown, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37773/16]

Health Services Funding

Mick Wallace

104. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health further to Question No. 61 of 18 October 2016, and in view of County Wexford's high suicide rate, if he will consider expediting the introduction of the peer-to-peer support worker positions in acute care in Wexford and Waterford mental health services, which have already been advertised in the three remaining CH05 counties of Carlow, Kilkenny and south Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37774/16]

Medicinal Products Supply

Mick Wallace

213. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if a company (details supplied) which makes Orthotics is available as a service provider via the long-term HSE scheme or medical card scheme; if it was ever available and was removed from either scheme, when it was removed; and the reason it was removed. [38096/16]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Mick Wallace

226. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the status of the work of the clinical nutritional expert group on new applications for additions to the reimbursement list, particularly in relation to phenylketonuria sufferers and free or discounted rate foods. [38127/16]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mick Wallace

9. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent figures released by the Environmental Protection Agency, which indicate that Ireland's agriculture emissions increased by 1.5% in 2015, largely due to a 7.7% increase in dairy cow numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37567/16]

Climate Change Policy

Mick Wallace

12. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will create a roadmap for achieving the agriculture aspect of the 2050 carbon emission targets, as recommended in the first report of the Climate Change Advisory Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37568/16]

Natural Heritage Areas Designation

Mick Wallace

28. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reasons for the planned de-designation of 46 raised bog natural heritage areas; her views on the potential environmental impacts of the de-designation, as highlighted by environmental groups such as An Taisce; if she will provide details of her Department's role in carbon sequestration in peatland areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37390/16]

Arts Funding

Mick Wallace

47. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if any research was carried out by her Department into international best practice in relation to arts policy; if her Department has studied the example of Finland which, since independence, has placed central importance on cultural policy and has invested hugely in arts infrastructure; her views on the centralisation of arts funding here, which, according to the Council of Europe's compendium initiative, is characterised by official neglect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37389/16]

Banking Sector Investigations

Mick Wallace

163. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recent new complaints process and complex fee refund compensation scheme announcement for business customers that were part of a bank's (details supplied) global restructuring group and the access that customers who were part of a division of the bank will have to the complaints process and compensation fund. [37484/16]