Parliamentary questions

Commercial Rates Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

708. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of counties and local authority areas that have not been revaluated for commercial rates to date; the reason these counties were not revaluated; when they will be revaluated; if some counties were revaluated twice or more whilst other counties were not revaluated; if so, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28168/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

49. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of applications for new school buildings (details supplied); the timeframe for the projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26350/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

78. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made on four school projects (details supplied) in County Donegal; the timeline for the delivery of the school buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26349/19]

Disability Services Funding

Pat the Cope Gallagher

488. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the status of a centre (details supplied); if the capital plan of the HSE will provide funding for a new building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26726/19]

HSE Expenditure

Pat the Cope Gallagher

493. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health if the HSE capital plan for 2019 has been approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26733/19]

Fish Quotas

Pat the Cope Gallagher

533. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to increase the mackerel total allowable catch in line with the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, ICES, advice in view of the new ICES revised advice for mackerel of 770,358 tonnes and the fact that there has been no agreement at the coastal state meeting in London recently; the further steps he will take to amend the incorrect recommendations of ICES for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26299/19]

Aquaculture Licences

Pat the Cope Gallagher

564. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the independent aquaculture licensing review group; if he will report on the recommendations being considered; when the review will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26734/19]

Maritime Jurisdiction

Pat the Cope Gallagher

34. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the implications of the agreement reached between Ireland and the United Kingdom in 2013 regarding the setting of the boundaries of the exclusive economic zone; if the agreement of 2013 has possible implications for the present difficulties between Ireland and Scotland over fishing rights around Rockall either in the present context or future post-Brexit scenario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25532/19]

Rockall Island Ownership

Pat the Cope Gallagher

111. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the implications of the agreement reached between Ireland and the United Kingdom in 2013 regarding the setting of the boundaries of the exclusive economic zone; if the agreement of 2013 has possible implications for the present difficulties between Ireland and Scotland regarding fishing rights around Rockall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25499/19]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Pat the Cope Gallagher

365. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his plans to appoint new laboratory scientists for Letterkenny University Hospital; when appointments will be made; the arrangements in the hospital for blood testing and other testing required through the laboratory in view of the staff shortages within the laboratory; the costs associated with outsourcing testing due to laboratory staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25077/19]

Rockall Island Ownership

Pat the Cope Gallagher

529. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the implications of the agreement reached between Ireland and the United Kingdom in 2013 regarding the setting of the boundaries of the exclusive economic zone; if the agreement of 2013 has possible implications for the present difficulties between Ireland and Scotland regarding fishing rights around Rockall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25500/19]

Irish Coast Guard Issues

Pat the Cope Gallagher

226. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider exploring the possibility that the Irish Coast Guard air sea rescue could assist the Air Corps in dealing with wildfire control in times of absolute emergency; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such arrangements exist in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24363/19]

Calafoirt agus Céanna

Pat the Cope Gallagher

39. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad iad na pleananna atá aici chun feabhas a chur ar Ché na Reannaí, Athphort ar oileán Árainn Mhóir; an dtabharfaidh sí sonraí maidir leis na pleananna chun an togra a thabhairt chun críche agus aon dul chun cinn atá déanta aici ón am deireanach a chuir an cheist seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [24054/19]

Na hOileáin amach ón gCósta

Pat the Cope Gallagher

61. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aici maoiniú a sholáthar d'oileáin i nDún na nGall maidir le bóithre poiblí ar na hoileáin éagsúla; an ndeimhneoidh sí go bhfuil allúntas leagtha amach i mbuiséad na Roinne i mbliana ina leith sin; an mbeidh allúntas breise ar fáil d'oileáin i mbuiséad 2019; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [24053/19]

Housing Policy

Pat the Cope Gallagher

51. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his housing strategy for County Donegal over the next five years; the proposed number of units planned to be built in the county for the five-year period from 2020 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23252/19]

Commercial Rates

Pat the Cope Gallagher

69. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for reforming the commercial rates system in view of the fact that the current system is perceived to be outdated, archaic and an unfair burden on many businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23253/19]

School Services Staff

Pat the Cope Gallagher

208. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to regularise the employment of school secretaries nationally; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that only 10% of school secretaries are employed directly by his Department while the other 90% are paid from school funds that should be otherwise used for running the schools; if the situation will be corrected; if the necessary security of employment and parity of employment as enjoyed by the other 10% of existing school secretaries will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23267/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

217. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants employed in County Donegal; the estimated net increase for the next academic year; the number of SNAs employed in County Donegal in each of the years 2012 to 2018, and to date in 2019, in tabular form, for both primary and secondary school sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23316/19]

Capitation Grants

Pat the Cope Gallagher

240. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the capitation grants for schools in budget 2020; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of schools are struggling financially due to the reduced grants available under the capitation grants at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23487/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

246. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if 18 national schools in County Donegal have experienced cuts in the number of special needs assistants allocated to their respective schools; the reason the cuts have occurred; the appeals mechanism open to these schools; the names of the 18 schools directly affected by his decision to reduce the allocation of SNAs for the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23515/19]

Garda Deployment

Pat the Cope Gallagher

321. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in the Donegal division; the number of gardaí based in the division in each of the years 2011 to 2018; the number of new recruits placed in the division between 2017 and to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23364/19]

Home Help Service Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

443. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours being used in County Donegal; the details of the time delay in approving home help packages from the application date to approval until the applicant is in actual receipt of the assistance in the applicant's home; the number of home help hours in County Donegal for each year from 2016 to date; the new additional hours made available in each of those years, as opposed to home help hours becoming available through natural change in circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23359/19]

Ambulance Service Provision

Pat the Cope Gallagher

444. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the status of his plans to provide a second ambulance for south-west County Donegal; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that at present only one ambulance crew covers the area from Inver to Glencolmcille with a population of over 6,000 persons and an area covering 70 km east to west and 30 km north to south at the furthest points of the geographical area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23369/19]

Hospitals Building Programme

Pat the Cope Gallagher

495. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health when he plans to fund the necessary approval for three community hospitals (details supplied) in County Donegal; if all three community hospitals will form part of the capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23533/19]

Harbours and Piers Development

Pat the Cope Gallagher

724. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the improvement works and pier extension at Killybegs fishery harbour centre; when works will commence; the stage the tender processes are at in the entire project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23330/19]

Statutory Instruments

Pat the Cope Gallagher

725. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a commitment will be given to the representative bodies of the entire seafood sector in addition to the spokespersons for marine of the various parties within Dáil Éireann that he will consult them before he takes his next step in drafting an alternative to Statutory Instrument No. 89 of 2018, which Dáil Éireann rescinded, relating to serious fishing infringements in May 2018; his planned strategy for dealing with the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23331/19]

Sports Capital Programme

Pat the Cope Gallagher

793. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the 2019 sports capital grants will be allocated; the budget allocated for the 2019 round of sports capital grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23336/19]

Road Projects

Pat the Cope Gallagher

795. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the next phases of the N56 in County Donegal; if contractors have been appointed for the next sections of this national secondary road; if additional plans are being prepared for other sections of the N56 in addition to those parts being tendered at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23362/19]

Roads Maintenance Funding

Pat the Cope Gallagher

803. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allocate further funding for the R232 in County Donegal; if his attention has been drawn to the critical importance of the road (details supplied); his further plans to fund the road in order to bring it to the standard required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23475/19]

Wild Fires

Pat the Cope Gallagher

945. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider putting in place new protocols in the instances of the Air Corps being unable to supply air cover to fight wildfires such as the case which occurred recently in County Donegal; if protocols will be put in place by which air cover would be either called in from the private sector, Northern Ireland or western Scotland in the case of fires in north-western Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that further to the publication of the recent report into air cover for wild fires in County Donegal, one of the main reasons air cover cannot be guaranteed is the lack of personnel in the Air Corps at present and it is noted it will take some time to restore numbers to sufficient levels as to guarantee air cover for instances; if he will initiate clear protocols to be established between his Department, the various local authorities and fire services and-or the RAF and-or the Irish Coast Guard, if required, in order to avoid future time delays in providing air cover to fight wildfires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23427/19]

Register of Electors

Pat the Cope Gallagher

963. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for more effective compiling of the Register of Electors; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the system of assembling the register is perceived to be not working effectively and that other more modern mechanisms for inputting electors must be examined in line with other European countries; if public consultation on the matter will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23385/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

66. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the short-listing of contractors for a school (details supplied) has been completed; if firms or contractors in County Donegal have been successful in the short-listing process; the number of firms and contractors in County Donegal that applied to be short-listed for the contract; the timeframe for the next part of the tendering process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21270/19]

Fisheries Offences

Pat the Cope Gallagher

147. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of his efforts to resubmit an acceptable system of penalty points for serious fishing infringements, which Ireland is obliged to introduce as per a European Union directive; the consultation he has had on this matter with the sector since this Deputy last raised the issue with him; the timeframe for introducing his revised proposals; the form in which he plans to introduce them to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21271/19]

Road Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

157. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce a special allocation to fund the entire replacement of Fintra Bridge on the R263 in Killybegs, County Donegal, and the additional 3 km of new road construction (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this project is located on a regional road and will require possible funding of €8 million to €9 million to cover land purchase, CPO costs, bridge and road construction and box-out costs in order to complete the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21272/19]

Brexit Preparations

Pat the Cope Gallagher

7. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline of his interactions with the EU in relation to his submission for assistance for the seafood sector in the event of a no-deal Brexit; the indicative amount of contingency funding he is seeking from the EU in the event of a UK crash-out from the EU; the state of readiness of such assistance should the seafood sector have to avail of it post October 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19852/19]

Brexit Preparations

Pat the Cope Gallagher

28. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent of contingency planning he has prepared in the event of a no-deal Brexit; the submissions he has made to the EU for assistance, should a no-deal Brexit occur, for the entire seafood sector; when such contingencies would come into place in the event of a no-deal; when the assistance packages will be made available to the entire seafood sector; if the state of preparedness in the marine sector is equal to preparations made already for the agriculture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19851/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

31. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills when applications by schools (details supplied) were made for improvement works and or extensions at the respective schools; the interactions that have taken place between his Department and the respective schools in the intervening period of time; the future actions he plans to take in regard to each of the respective applications; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19410/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

32. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding schools (details supplied) which are awaiting sanction for improvement works or extensions; the timeline for the delivery of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19409/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

268. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 7 March 2019, the status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18619/19]

Departmental Funding

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1592. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce an assistance package for those who lost their homes and other property in the recent wildfires in west County Donegal in addition to other parts of the country; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a great deal of hardship and loss has occurred due to these wildfires and many persons are severely disadvantaged through no fault of their own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20017/19]

Fisheries Protection

Pat the Cope Gallagher

434. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea to revise its mackerel advice for 2019 in view of the recently published inter-benchmark report, which shows a large increase in the mackerel stock size; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17432/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

182. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a school (details supplied); the timeframe for the delivery of the project; when he plans to sanction approval for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16031/19]

Road Projects Expenditure

Pat the Cope Gallagher

517. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the expenditure on Fintra Bridge on the R263, County Donegal in 2018; the way in which the grant of €150,000 was spent in 2018; if the entire grant approved was drawn down; the way in which the grant of €150,000 for 2019 is to be spent on the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16032/19]

School Accommodation Provision

Pat the Cope Gallagher

164. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide funding for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this school is depending on a prefabricated building which is in excess of 12 years old and is no longer fit for purpose notwithstanding safety concerns regarding it; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the school has previously applied for funding for an additional room but was refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14950/19]

Brexit Issues

Pat the Cope Gallagher

379. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for the marine sector post-Brexit if no agreement is reached; his contingency plans for fish producers and fish processors with emphasis on the arrangements which are provisionally agreed and are to be put in place should such a scenario arise in the weeks ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15045/19]

Brexit Issues

Pat the Cope Gallagher

380. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contingency support package he has put in place for the marine sector; if Ireland's EU partners have agreed this package in a post-Brexit situation; the additional measures which have been considered should a no-deal Brexit occur; if funding for this package will be additional to existing committed funding under the present EU support programmes; if he is satisfied that all necessary preparatory work for Brexit and the marine sector here have been considered and are provisionally ready should Brexit occur within the next number of months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15046/19]

Harbours and Piers Development

Pat the Cope Gallagher

381. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when works are to commence on the Killybegs Harbour project; the duration of the project; the timeline for its completion; the full extent of the works being proposed as part of the current phase of works sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15047/19]

Hospital Services

Pat the Cope Gallagher

458. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his future plans for dermatological services at Letterkenny University Hospital; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these services were recently removed and relocated to Sligo University Hospital; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this decision has caused considerable disruption to those wishing to avail of these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12305/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

95. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a project brief narrative has been received from a school (details supplied) further to correspondence of 7 June 2018 on an application by a school for a three room ASD suite; if he is satisfied with the brief provided; if the project as applied for will receive further commitment; if the project will receive sanction to commence works on site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11351/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

8. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made on three school projects (details supplied) in County Donegal; the timeline for the delivery of the school buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10651/19]