Parliamentary questions

EU Directives

Róisín Shortall

87. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with EU partners regarding the overly restrictive nature of the EU VAT directive, Council Directive 2006/112/EC and the inability of member states to respond to emerging needs of their population through significant VAT reform; if Ireland has adopted a formal position on seeking greater flexibility; and if so, if he will outline this position. [31344/16]

VAT Registration

Róisín Shortall

88. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 13 October 2016, the other measures that are in place to support businesses supplying services who experience a very significant tax step effect at the VAT entry level. [31345/16]

Social Insurance Data

Róisín Shortall

139. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the way under Vote 37, it is expected that social insurance contributions will increase by 8%, while the Minister for Finance expects aggregate compensation for employees to increase by just 4.9%; and the expected percentage increases over 2016 assumed for employee, employer and self-employed contributions on which this figure is based. [31256/16]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Róisín Shortall

147. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an appeal for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will be made. [31284/16]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

217. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 205 of 6 October 2016, the timeframe for the commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the Act; the steps he is taking to address concerns regarding the interim period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31230/16]

Alcohol Treatment Programmes

Róisín Shortall

220. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a 12-month pilot project called CARE, which provided alcohol treatment to more than 140 persons with addiction problems in three areas of Dublin's northside; if he accepts that this project performed very well on evaluation; and if he will ensure that funding will be provided to enable this much needed project to continue. [31240/16]

Medical Card Administration

Róisín Shortall

229. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the situation in respect of medical card patients' entitlement to chiropody services and if there is any payment required. [31279/16]

Medical Card Administration

Róisín Shortall

230. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the charging of medical card patients for blood tests and if a courier charge applies. [31280/16]

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments

Róisín Shortall

270. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the potential inclusion of fossil fuel divestment amongst the recommendation to the autumn review of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund's strategy; the steps he is taking to ensure the terms of the Paris agreement are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31231/16]

Statutory Retirement Age

Róisín Shortall

298. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to legislate to extend the retirement age; and if such changes would apply to community employment participants. [31326/16]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Róisín Shortall

304. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports open to small businesses to offset the significant tax step effect experienced by businesses supplying services as their turnover rises above the €37,500 VAT registration threshold. [31346/16]

Vacant Sites Levy

Róisín Shortall

80. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if guidelines have been issued to local authorities on the operation of the vacant site levy; and if he will indicate where these are available to the public. [31083/16]

Nursing Staff Remuneration

Róisín Shortall

119. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has given approval to the restoration of the incremental credit for the 36-week clinical placement undertaken by graduate nurses between 2011 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31112/16]

Home Care Packages Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

133. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the average cost of providing a home care package for each CHO area, in tabular form; the total number of home care packages provided within each CHO; the number of persons currently waiting for home care package allocation within each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31073/16]

Vaccination Programme

Róisín Shortall

135. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address serious concerns of parents of girls who are reporting adverse reactions to the HPV vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31111/16]

Fiscal Data

Róisín Shortall

189. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to box one on page C.22 of the budget book, when each of the adjustments to the fiscal space calculation became known to his Department; and the reason these were not flagged as part of the pre-budget process with the budgetary oversight committee or to Opposition Deputies well in advance of the budget. [30620/16]

Fiscal Data

Róisín Shortall

190. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the €155 million adjustment that was made to the carryover effect of budget 2016. [30621/16]

Tax Reliefs Data

Róisín Shortall

191. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the uptake of the special assignee relief programme in each of the years since its inception; and the amount of revenue foregone in each of those years. [30741/16]

Tax Credits

Róisín Shortall

199. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the cost of introducing refundable tax credits. [30862/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Róisín Shortall

267. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the pupil-teacher ratios that will apply in 2017 as a result of budget 2017. [30861/16]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

277. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a 2015 National Development Finance Agency project (details supplied); his views on the fact that this project violates his Department's guidelines on social mix; the reason for his Department's decision to endorse this development as a public private partnership initiative despite violating these guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30580/16]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

292. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 137 of 29 September 2016 and 135 of 6 October 2016, if he will make public the exact data on which the site at a location (details supplied) was selected for development; his views on the fact that this area already has an extremely high concentration of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30579/16]

Housing Provision

Róisín Shortall

300. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will publish the results of the national housing needs assessment; and the reasons for the delay in doing so. [30832/16]

Personal Micro Credit Scheme

Róisín Shortall

324. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to an issue with the It Makes Sense personal micro-credit loan scheme which is being run in conjunction with his Department (details supplied); the status of the nationwide roll-out of the scheme; if he will provide an updated list of participating credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30516/16]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

328. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection when funding will be made available to an organisation (details supplied); his views on the negative impact the uncertainty regarding funding is having on this organisation's ability to provide support to persons with disabilities to secure employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30611/16]

Legislative Programme

Róisín Shortall

383. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timescale he is working to for the taking of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 in view of the fact that it has been published since December 2015 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31113/16]

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Róisín Shortall

473. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent public health nurse posts in the Finglas-Ballymun area for each of the past five years in tabular form; the number of these posts which are currently vacant; the number where staff are on maternity or other leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30581/16]

Home Care Packages Provision

Róisín Shortall

522. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of home care hours that will be delivered in 2017 arising from the total allocation made for this in budget 2017. [30833/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Róisín Shortall

523. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of extra personal hours budgeted for in 2017 arising from budget 2017; and the amount set aside for extra hours in 2017. [30834/16]

Horticulture Sector

Róisín Shortall

602. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to develop an industrial hemp based economic sector and to promote the development of adequate processing facilities for such an industry. [30920/16]

Child Care Costs

Róisín Shortall

670. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the weekly benefit to a family of the universal element of the affordable child care payment under her budget proposals and the eligibility criteria applying. [30835/16]

VAT Registration

Róisín Shortall

33. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider altering the current services threshold for VAT registration in order that the significant step effect for small businesses whose turnover exceeds €37,500 is eradicated. [30122/16]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Róisín Shortall

57. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he plans to increase funding to schoolbook rental schemes as indicated in the action plan for education 2016-2019 despite these schemes not being fully comprehensive or available in all schools and evidence from an organisation (details supplied) to suggest it would cost the State just €40 million to provide all school children with free school books; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30116/16]

Health Care Professionals

Róisín Shortall

393. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns raised by organisations (details supplied) regarding CORU registration for a profession that will allow persons without a bachelors or masters degree in the profession to register as a practitioner; his views on the fact that the registration process as it stands leaves Ireland out of step with other EU states in terms of regulating practitioners in this field to protect patient safety; if he will act to ensure that these concerns are addressed and only suitably qualified practitioners will be allowed register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29438/16]

Housing Issues

Róisín Shortall

627. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been brought to an issue (details supplied); the steps her Department has taken to ensure that this issue does not negatively impact job creation in the greater Dublin area; the specific measures that her Department has taken in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29527/16]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

117. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that funding that has been promised by his Department for the past 16 years (details supplied) is made available to an educational institution in order to complete a vital piece of infrastructural development. [29062/16]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

135. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 29 September 2016, if he will provide the data on which the claim on sustainability regarding social mix is based. [29073/16]

Legislative Measures

Róisín Shortall

205. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 604 of 27 September 2016, notwithstanding the genuine reasons for the necessity for a lead in period for Parts 2 and 3 of the Act, his views on whether the delay and failure to publish a timeframe for commencement is having a negative impact on couples who are currently expecting children; the preparatory work being carried out by his Department in respect of these sections of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29072/16]

Disability Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

228. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on a proposal to establish a pilot programme to provide day care and therapeutic supports to people with acquired brain injuries (details supplied) and if he will consider allocating funding for this proposal in the 2017 service plan. [29168/16]

Universal Social Charge Exemptions

Róisín Shortall

101. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the cost in 2017 and in a full year of addressing the step effect for persons whose income rises from just below the universal social charge entry level threshold to just above it; the number so affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28825/16]

Medicinal Products Availability

Róisín Shortall

201. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will report on recent shortages with the supply of gabapentin; the reason this occurred; and the steps he will take to prevent a recurrence. [28950/16]

Legislative Programme

Róisín Shortall

84. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015; when she expects to bring the Bill to Second Stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28132/16]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Róisín Shortall

402. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the HSE's policy in respect of the provision of mobility scooters and motorised wheelchairs in each of the nine community health care organisations, CHOs; the reason for the variation in these policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28276/16]

Drug Treatment Programmes Funding

Róisín Shortall

417. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a severe funding issue impeding the work of a facility that is the only residential detox service for adolescents (details supplied); his views on the appropriateness of the current funding model that allows this service to function; if he will commit to devising an appropriate long term funding model for this essential service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28336/16]

Bus Éireann

Róisín Shortall

582. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the profit or loss of Bus Éireann's various businesses such as public service obligations, PSOs, expressway services, school transport and other businesses (details supplied) in tabular form. [28279/16]

Social Workers Recruitment

Róisín Shortall

612. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of whole time equivalent social worker posts within each Tusla local area office, in tabular form; the number of posts that are currently filled; the number of posts that are on leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28594/16]

Direct Provision Data

Róisín Shortall

56. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the location of each direct provision centre in tabular form; the name of the companies managing the centres; the amount paid by the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, to each company in 2016; the number of persons currently housed in the centres, whether or not the centres are State-owned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27895/16]

Third Level Charges

Róisín Shortall

107. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost in 2017 and in a full year for every €250 reduction in the third level student contribution charge. [28016/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Róisín Shortall

116. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a special needs assistant, SNA, and appropriate learning supports will be made available to a child (details supplied) with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27871/16]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

137. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a 2015 NDFA project (details supplied); his views on whether this project violates his Department's guidelines relating to social mix; if he will make public the design brief that has been supplied to the chosen architects; the proposals for local consultations if these developments will be subject to fast-track planning regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27854/16]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Róisín Shortall

145. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount allocated to local authorities in 2016 for home adaptation grants with a breakdown by grant type; and the number of households projected to be covered by these grants in 2016 in each case. [28018/16]

Nursing Staff Remuneration

Róisín Shortall

173. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reasoning behind his Department’s decision not to honour the December 2015 agreement reached between the Department of Health, the HSE and the nursing unions; his views on the fact that this has created a significant anomaly whereby 2016 graduates are earning more than those who graduated in the previous five years; and his further views on the fact that this anomaly is contributing to recruitment and retention difficulties with nurses and a resultant high agency nurse bill. [27897/16]

Home Care Packages Provision

Róisín Shortall

186. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will prioritise investment in community and home-based care for persons suffering with Alzheimer's disease in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27875/16]

Prescriptions Charges

Róisín Shortall

187. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the cost in 2017 and in a full year of reducing the prescription levy by 25%, 50% and 75% and of eliminating it altogether. [28015/16]

Home Care Packages Provision

Róisín Shortall

207. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will prioritise investment in community and home-based care for persons suffering with Alzheimer's disease in the context of his Department's discussions on budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27876/16]

Nursing Staff Remuneration

Róisín Shortall

215. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the efforts he is making to reach an agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the recognition of the 36-week incremental credit for all nursing graduates, in line with the December 2015 agreement made with the nursing unions by his Department and the HSE; his views on whether this has created a significant anomaly where 2016 graduates are earning more than those who graduated in the previous five years; his further views that this anomaly is contributing to recruitment and retention difficulties with nurses and a resultant high agency nurse bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27896/16]

Better Energy Homes Scheme Data

Róisín Shortall

259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount allocated in 2016 for home energy grants; and the number of households projected to be covered by these grants in 2016. [28017/16]

Social Insurance Fund

Róisín Shortall

160. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if actuaries have been appointed to date to carry out the actuarial review of the social insurance fund up to 31 December 2015 announced by the previous Minister on 22 March 2016; if appointed, whether he can supply details of the company carrying out the work and the date of publication; to undertake to produce actuarial reports on the fund on a more frequent basis, for example, every three years rather than the statutory maximum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27666/16]

Unemployment Data

Róisín Shortall

63. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach his estimate of the number of persons currently without a job but not included in the live register figures. [24661/16]

Legislative Programme

Róisín Shortall

98. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to bring forward legislation to combat the spread of so-called revenge pornography in line with best international practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26696/16]

Tax Yield

Róisín Shortall

191. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to his announcement on 6 September 2016 regarding a proposed amendment to section 110 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, the anticipated yield from this measure in each of the next five years. [26949/16]

VAT Rate Reductions

Róisín Shortall

205. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the current VAT rate charged for the repair of goods, for example, white goods, bicycles and so on; and his estimate of the cost of reducing the VAT rate charged to the next lowest bracket. [27199/16]

Property Tax Administration

Róisín Shortall

218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the rate of interest applied to persons who defer their local property tax; and the cost to the Exchequer in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively, for every percentage point reduction in this rate. [27525/16]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Róisín Shortall

247. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of secondary schools operating book rental schemes by county, in tabular form; and the efforts made by his Department to encourage the uptake of such schemes. [26660/16]

Education Centre Network

Róisín Shortall

248. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of funding allocations from his Department to an institution (details supplied) in Dublin 9 over each of the past three years; if he will provide details of proposed changes to this years budget as recently indicated by the TES section of his Department; the rationale for these changes; and the implications for existing staff levels and the likely impact on the schools which this centre serves. [26686/16]

School Staff

Róisín Shortall

310. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of English as an additional language, EAL, posts in each county for each school year since 2012-13, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27471/16]

Water Charges

Róisín Shortall

358. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his estimate of the cost of reimbursing those who have paid their domestic water charges to Irish Water, net of the amount already paid to persons under the water conservation grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27367/16]

Disability Allowance

Róisín Shortall

401. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection when a review will be completed of a disability allowance application for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [26934/16]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Róisín Shortall

448. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer for every extra week the fuel allowance is payable at current rates. [27450/16]

Overseas Development Aid Data

Róisín Shortall

464. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the projected cost of increasing Ireland's overseas development aid, ODA, budget to 0.4 %, 0.5%, 0.6% and 0.7% of GNP for 2017 and for a full year, in tabular form. [27207/16]

Departmental Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

498. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extra costs to the Exchequer in 2017 of demographic pressures without any change in current tax or spending policy, with a breakdown by Department. [26646/16]

Departmental Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

499. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the costs to the Exchequer in 2017 of measures that are already committed in 2017, both capital and current and including pay and extra services, with a breakdown of each. [26647/16]

Primary Care Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

545. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an anomalous service provision discrepancy between community heath organisations, CHOs, (details suppled); if he will consider providing a standardised list of items that each CHO must provide to ensure equitable service provision across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26463/16]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Róisín Shortall

546. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of HSE equipment (details supplied) in tabular form. [26464/16]

Legislative Measures

Róisín Shortall

604. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, allowing for the parents of children conceived through assisted human reproduction be listed as parents on their child's birth certificate, will come into force; and if he will provide a timeline for the implementation of same [26662/16]

Domiciliary Care Allowance

Róisín Shortall

622. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the cost in 2017 of providing a medical card for all children in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance. [26734/16]

Home Care Packages Data

Róisín Shortall

723. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for home care packages; the estimated cost in 2017 of eradicating this list. [27284/16]

Child and Family Agency Data

Róisín Shortall

964. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of cases awaiting allocation to a social worker in each Tusla local office area, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27472/16]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Róisín Shortall

55. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to her statement of 22 September 2015 on the migration crisis following an emergency meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers, the steps taken by her Department to ensure that, as per her statement, special priority will be given to the plight of unaccompanied minors in the provision of supports and services; the status of this commitment; the nature of these supports; the number of unaccompanied minors that the State has accepted; if she will commit to accepting more of these vulnerable children as part of Ireland's response the migration crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24841/16]

Garda Deployment

Róisín Shortall

183. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank in each of the Garda stations on Dublin's northside at 1 September 2016, 1 March 2016 and 1 September 2015. [26203/16]

Tax Reliefs Costs

Róisín Shortall

223. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Revenue Commissioners did not include the various provisions of section 110 in the published list of tax expenditures published on their website when the section clearly provides various extraordinary and unusual forms of relief (details supplied); if he will now provide the tax cost of the tax expenditures granted under section 110; and if, in future, the Revenue Commissioners' statistics unit will provide a complete and comprehensive list of tax expenditures and their costings. [24645/16]

Financial Services Regulation

Róisín Shortall

231. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he has yet made a decision to amend section 54BX(3)(b) of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2004 in order that customers who were missold financial products, such as endowment mortgages, are in a position to pursue claims against the sellers of such products within a reasonable period of identifying this misselling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24842/16]

Budget Targets

Róisín Shortall

346. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the projected fiscal space on which he is basing budget 2017. [26336/16]

Insurance Industry Regulation

Róisín Shortall

347. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the status of each of the working streams in respect of addressing the cost of insurance. [26339/16]

Tax Data

Róisín Shortall

348. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer of indexing the entry point to the 49.5% marginal rate of tax to wage growth for every 1% increase in wage growth. [26343/16]

Tax Data

Róisín Shortall

349. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance counting PRSI, income tax and the universal social charge, the percentage of income earners who pay tax on their income at each of the marginal rate bands with a breakdown for employed persons and the self-employed persons. [26344/16]

School Curriculum

Róisín Shortall

497. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timescale for the inclusion of physical education as a leaving certificate exam subject. [26153/16]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Róisín Shortall

532. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the purchase of land at Charlesland, Greystones, County Wicklow for the provision of a new community national school; the size of the land under negotiation; the proposed size of the school; the proposed date of completion; if his Department will be responsible for the build or if it is intended to transfer that role to the Kildare Wicklow Education Training Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26331/16]

Live Register Data

Róisín Shortall

694. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address the problem of persons who are not counted among the live register figures and who do not have access to education, training and activation options of those who are included in the Live Register; and if his attention has been drawn to the social exclusion felt by these persons. [24660/16]

State Pensions

Róisín Shortall

776. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to increase the State pension by €25 over five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25786/16]

Household Benefits Scheme

Róisín Shortall

777. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will commit to reinstating the telephone allowance in the upcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25787/16]

Fuel Allowance Payments

Róisín Shortall

778. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will commit to reversing the cuts to the fuel allowance in the upcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25788/16]

Local Drugs Task Forces

Róisín Shortall

814. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will ensure that his Department is centrally involved and formally represented in each Local Drugs Task Force given the key role his Department plays in activation and training. [26198/16]

State Pensions

Róisín Shortall

820. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer for every 1% increase in social protection payments, with a breakdown of this cost by payment type. [26337/16]

State Pensions

Róisín Shortall

821. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer for every 1% cent increase in the rate of child benefit in respect of children aged 12 years of age and over. [26340/16]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

822. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer if eligibility criteria were altered to allow lone parents in employment whose children are between seven and 14 years of age to receive both the jobseeker's transition payment and family income supplement if they meet the qualifying criteria. [26341/16]

Personal Micro Credit Scheme

Róisín Shortall

823. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the current scope of the personal micro-credit initiative. [26342/16]

Wildlife Protection

Róisín Shortall

966. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will respond to the serious concerns raised by a number of organisations (details supplied) with respect to proposed changes to section 40 of the Wildlife Act that would permit the setting of gorse fires in March and the cutting of hedgerows in August; if she is satisfied that this proposal will not adversely affect the protection and preservation of indigenous flora; her views on the fact that many birds, such as the yellowhammer, nest chicks until well into September; if she is satisfied that these proposed changes do not conflict with the 2007 European Court of Justice ruling in case C-418/04: Commission v. Ireland, which found that the State failed to adequately protect indigenous bird habitats; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25185/16]

Patient Data

Róisín Shortall

1324. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital bed days required by the number of patients undergoing full and partial lower limb amputation procedures in 2014 and 2015 by county; the number of these patients who had diabetes and the number of bed days they required, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25717/16]

Home Help Service Oversight

Róisín Shortall

1342. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to re-orienting the funding stream for home care packages and home help hours to a demand-led model as opposed to the current block grant system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25789/16]