Parliamentary questions

Home Loan Scheme

Brian Stanley

976. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the figures for Rebuilding Ireland home loan approvals to date in counties Laois and Offaly; the number of applications pending; and if funding is available to fund those that may be approved. [23744/19]

Tax Credits

Brian Stanley

53. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the policy regarding personal tax credits (details supplied). [22339/19]

Legal Aid Service Reform

Brian Stanley

141. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department will be carrying out a review of the threshold for eligibility for legal aid services (details supplied); and his plans to raise this threshold. [22349/19]

Telecommunications Services

Brian Stanley

343. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to use a cable (details supplied) to benefit communities across the west of Ireland. [22286/19]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

49. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will seek a full cost-benefit analysis of all State owned alternative models to deliver the national broadband plan. [21700/19]

Post Office Network

Brian Stanley

57. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views regarding the relocation of post offices from town centres to the outer fringes of towns and thereby accelerating the doughnut effect of towns. [21705/19]

Bord na Móna

Brian Stanley

73. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has discussed with Bord na Móna plans to develop alternative energy sources into the future and to maintain job creation in respect of the decarbonisation of the environment and reaching emission reduction targets; and the progress made in relation to same. [21704/19]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

80. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which the State subsidy towards the national broadband plan is structured over the course of the 25 year contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21702/19]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

83. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the authority he has to control the future ownership of the national broadband network; and the consequences for a company (details supplied) in the event of a sale. [21703/19]

Appointments to State Boards Data

Brian Stanley

89. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of members the State will appoint to the board of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21701/19]

Bus Services

Brian Stanley

585. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to ensure that there is an adequate bus service on the Borris-in-Ossory and Mounthrath to Portlaoise route; and when the tender will be completed for same. [21960/19]

Road Projects Status

Brian Stanley

586. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the completion of the N7 motorway road widening works. [21961/19]

Bus Services

Brian Stanley

594. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to ensure that there is an adequate bus service on the Borris-in-Ossory-Mountrath to Portlaoise route; and when the tender will be completed. [22056/19]

Home Help Service Provision

Brian Stanley

117. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the position regarding home help cover for elderly persons when the regular home help is on annual leave; if home help cover is provided in these circumstances; and if there are variations between counties in respect of same in view of the fact that some persons are being left without cover in areas of County Laois. [21225/19]

Garda Deployment

Brian Stanley

221. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to Portarlington Garda station each year for the past ten years. [20549/19]

HSE Staff Recruitment

Brian Stanley

279. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the recruitment of physiotherapists in counties Laois and Offaly; if there is a freeze on recruitment or a freeze on appointing those that have successfully gone through the recruitment process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20339/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Brian Stanley

232. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding a pension scheme for community employment supervisors; if a scheme will be put in place for them; and his plans to deal with this issue. [19114/19]

Autism Support Services

Brian Stanley

335. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if finance has been provided for ASD units at schools (details supplied); and if the necessary staff will be in place for September 2019. [19307/19]

Vaccination Programme

Brian Stanley

631. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the meningitis B vaccine will be extended to children over six years of age who have a disability and hold a medical card. [18494/19]

Hospitals Policy

Brian Stanley

851. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the facilitator has been appointed for the consultation process on Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; when the process will commence; and the expected completion date. [19309/19]

Home Loan Scheme

Brian Stanley

1556. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to consider changing the criteria in condition 1 of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme (details supplied). [19311/19]

Disability Services Provision

Brian Stanley

116. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive the required services and intervention. [17007/19]

Local Authority Housing

Brian Stanley

83. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he is taking to reduce the length of time that local authorities have to wait for final departmental approval to proceed with housing schemes that are built within their functional area. [16293/19]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Brian Stanley

95. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he is taking to accelerate the building of social housing provided by local authorities. [16294/19]

Hospitals Data

Brian Stanley

160. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgeries and procedures cancelled, by specialty, at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, in each month in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, by patient did not attend, self-cancellation and cancellation by hospital. [15560/19]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

47. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress with regard to completion of the tender for the national broadband plan; and if it is decided not to progress with the tender, the alternative course of action being considered. [14277/19]

Post Office Network

Brian Stanley

49. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the future of An Post retail and mail delivery and sorting businesses in the context of the retention of the universal social obligation. [14278/19]

Waste Disposal

Brian Stanley

59. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to consider introducing a mattress and armchair amnesty across the State as an anti-dumping initiative. [14004/19]

Bioenergy Strategy Implementation

Brian Stanley

64. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to consider introducing a support to develop biogas here as an indigenous source of renewable power. [14005/19]

Waste Management Data

Brian Stanley

70. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated number of households here without a waste collection service; and the actions he is taking to help address this issue. [14007/19]

Renewable Energy Projects

Brian Stanley

80. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to consider initiatives, or if his officials have worked with other Departments, on establishing an indigenous biomass crop supply chain to the peat plants in the future and to complement biomass currently being used for electricity generation to help maintain security of supply. [14006/19]

Nuclear Waste

Brian Stanley

93. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the communications he has made in recent months with officials in Britain regarding their plans to place nuclear waste material on the island of Ireland. [14008/19]

Pharmacy Regulations

Brian Stanley

901. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if a decision on signing the draft new rules on temporary cover for pharmaceutical assistants into law will be paused in order to consider amending the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019 to deal with this issue; and if amendments (details supplied) will be considered [13944/19]

Pensions Data

Brian Stanley

1311. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress on the reviews of the entitlements to contributory pensions for those born after 1 September 1946; and when same will be completed and the revised rate issued. [13833/19]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

10. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if a facilitator has been appointed to conduct a consultation process on the future of services at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise. [11938/19]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

69. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the status of plans for the provision of emergency department services at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; and if such plans are dependent on the outcome of a consultation process on the future of services. [11939/19]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Brian Stanley

92. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a new site and premises for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11335/19]

Naval Service Operations

Brian Stanley

72. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the case of a vessel entering Irish waters recently carrying nuclear waste material and a Naval Service vessel being sent out in consequence of the incident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11242/19]

Naval Service Operations

Brian Stanley

73. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if vessels carrying nuclear waste material approaching Irish waters are monitored; and if so, the number recorded in the past five years. [11243/19]

Nuclear Waste

Brian Stanley

254. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if vessels carrying nuclear waste material travelling close to Irish waters are monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11244/19]

Hospitals Data

Brian Stanley

321. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgeries and procedures cancelled by specialty at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise and the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore for each month in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10570/19]

Motor Insurance Costs

Brian Stanley

33. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to end the practice of insurance companies charging excessive premiums for cars over ten years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9843/19]

Insurance Costs

Brian Stanley

34. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance his plans to implement measures to tackle the growing problem of rising insurance costs on motorists and businesses; and the progress on reducing insurance costs following the recent report on insurance. [9844/19]

Tax Code

Brian Stanley

116. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance if VAT on natural gas bills is calculated including the carbon tax or minus the carbon tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9041/19]

Brexit Preparations

Brian Stanley

438. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to put a proposal to the EU Commission regarding a package of market supports for beef farmers who are experiencing particular difficulties at present due to the fluctuation in sterling and the uncertainty caused by Brexit. [9010/19]

Suckler Welfare Scheme

Brian Stanley

439. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to amend the supports in relation to the suckler cow scheme to help alleviate the weakness in the sector. [9011/19]

Beef Industry

Brian Stanley

440. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he held or plans to hold discussions with the beef processing industry to raise with it the problems farmers are experiencing within the sector. [9012/19]

Site Acquisitions

Brian Stanley

91. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the acquisition of land for a school (details supplied) will be completed. [8878/19]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Brian Stanley

92. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the overrun in cost for the national children’s hospital will impact on the new building for a school (details supplied). [8879/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brian Stanley

93. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the tendering and construction of the new building for a school (details supplied). [8880/19]