Parliamentary questions

Nursing Staff Provision

Charlie McConalogue

672. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health his plans to appoint a lymphedema nurse to Letterkenny University Hospital; if not, his further plans for patients in County Donegal that require the specialist services of such a nurse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45275/19]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Charlie McConalogue

687. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the status of the Buncrana primary care centre, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45335/19]

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Charlie McConalogue

689. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide adult intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder speech and language therapist posts to cover Inishowen, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45342/19]

GLAS Appeals

Charlie McConalogue

806. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made in relation to a Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme, GLAS, appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44883/19]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Applications

Charlie McConalogue

825. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a remote sensing inspection will take place for a person (details supplied) relating to the person's ANC application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45491/19]

Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility

Charlie McConalogue

1105. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated first and full year cost of changing the farm assist means testing rules in order that irrespective of the source of income the first €3,000 would be disregarded and the balance would be means tested at 50%. [45292/19]

Farm Assist Scheme

Charlie McConalogue

305. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 533 of 2 April 2019 and taking into account any proposed changes announced in budget 2020, the latest costings regarding the scheme in question over a full calendar year; and the first year costs arising. [44043/19]

Beef Exports

Charlie McConalogue

168. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress being made to open up the Iranian market for beef exports; the trading barriers which remain at international or EU level to transit exports to the country; and the other factors that may be acting as barriers to increasing meat exports to Iran. [43701/19]

Organic Farming Scheme

Charlie McConalogue

169. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 493 of 15 October 2019, the breakdown between Exchequer and EU funding for the allocation in 2020; and the breakdown in funding in 2019. [43702/19]

Brexit Preparations

Charlie McConalogue

170. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on comments that Irish product will be displaced from the British market and for Irish farmers to prepare for Brexit and prepare for tariffs on Irish food exports to the UK (details supplied); and the financial supports which will be put in place for farmers immediately in these scenarios. [43703/19]

EU Funding

Charlie McConalogue

171. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Irish farmers, and young farmers in particular, have been locked out of a €1 billion EU loan scheme (details supplied) launched in April 2019; when he first received confirmation that this scheme would not be offered here; if he has had discussions with the Minister for Finance or with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland regarding opening the loan scheme here; and the reason for not opening it. [43704/19]

Rural Development Programme

Charlie McConalogue

172. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 29 November 2018, the status of developments on the issue; if his Department has completed its analysis on the effect of the changes in the implementation of financial instruments following the adoption of EU Regulation 2017/2393 during the period; and the status of the latest developments with the monitoring committee. [43705/19]

Invalidity Pension Applications

Charlie McConalogue

202. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43731/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Charlie McConalogue

185. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide an increase in special education teachers, SET, hours to a school (details supplied) following an appeal by the school for an increase in SET hours; the number of additional SET hours that will be made available; when the additional hours will be sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42963/19]

HSE Funding

Charlie McConalogue

282. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if funding has been ring-fenced for organisations (details supplied); if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42964/19]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Charlie McConalogue

373. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason autoimmune hepatitis is not listed under the long-term illness scheme; his views on whether it is a long-term illness that requires consistent management and impacts on health; if he will consider including it in on the eligibility qualifications under the long term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43352/19]

Departmental Expenditure

Charlie McConalogue

441. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the 2018 expenditure figures for his Department released in a report (details supplied) by the Comptroller and Auditor General and the underspend of €178.2 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42934/19]

Rural Development Programme Data

Charlie McConalogue

475. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial allocations on an annual basis under the 2014-2020 rural development programme, RDP, for schemes (details supplied); the annual amount expended on the listed schemes in each year since established up to 30 September 2019; the number of active participants in each scheme; and the number of approved applicants that subsequently withdrew from each scheme, in tabular form. [43470/19]

Rural Development Programme Data

Charlie McConalogue

476. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure incurred in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to 30 September 2019 for each measure under the Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020 (details supplied) in tabular form; the original budget allocations made for each year in the 2014 to 2020 period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43472/19]

Teagasc Data

Charlie McConalogue

477. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual allocation made to Teagasc in 2018, 2019 and in budget 2020 towards research and knowledge transfer programmes on greenhouse gases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43481/19]

Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme Data

Charlie McConalogue

478. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated first and full-year cost of returning a payment by amounts (details supplied) for a scheme based on the most recent participation figures at hand. [43482/19]

Sheep Welfare Scheme Data

Charlie McConalogue

479. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 2010 of 24 July 2018, the latest costings for the figures previously provided for this scheme based on the most recent participation figures at hand. [43483/19]

Departmental Agencies Data

Charlie McConalogue

480. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposed current and capital allocation to each agency under his remit following budget 2020; and the allocation made in his Department and in each agency under his remit towards hiring new staff. [43484/19]

Rural Development Programme Data

Charlie McConalogue

583. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the financial allocations on an annual basis under the 2014-2020 rural development programme per measure 19 support for LEADER local development; the annual amount expended on the programme in each year of the RDP up to 30 September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43471/19]

Community Employment Schemes Review

Charlie McConalogue

587. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress made to date by the interdepartmental group in relation to the hosting of the community employment social inclusion schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43023/19]

Labour Activation Programmes Data

Charlie McConalogue

611. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons on jobseeker's allowance and JobPath for 12 months or more in Ballybofey, Stranorlar and Killygordon, County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43126/19]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Review

Charlie McConalogue

650. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the final report of the review of the tenant purchase scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43527/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Charlie McConalogue

14. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a development at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41416/19]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Charlie McConalogue

44. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the site acquisition to accommodate a school (details supplied); the timeline of works to ensure that the school campus is completed as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41413/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Charlie McConalogue

113. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school building for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42674/19]

Health and Safety Authority Data

Charlie McConalogue

168. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount allocated in budget 2020 to the Health and Safety Authority for farm safety initiatives in 2020; and the 2019 allocation and funds spent to date. [42848/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Charlie McConalogue

249. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time and part-time staff, respectively, working in the dedicated market access unit established within the meat and milk policy division by staff grade in tabular form; and the annual cost of the unit including staffing costs. [42847/19]

Equine Industry

Charlie McConalogue

250. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual capital funding provided to an organisation (details supplied); and his plans to provide capital funding in 2020. [42849/19]

Animal Welfare Bodies

Charlie McConalogue

251. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount granted to animal welfare charities in each year since the enactment of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 in tabular form; and the charities in receipt of such funding on an annual basis. [42850/19]

Illness Benefit Payments

Charlie McConalogue

309. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was not paid illness benefit on 12 October 2019, in view of the fact the person's certificate was posted to her Department on 4 October 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42799/19]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Data

Charlie McConalogue

196. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers enrolled in the ANC scheme in 2019; the breakdown by each respective area designation, including mountain type land, more severely handicapped lowland, less severely handicapped lowland and areas of specific constraints islands; the payment rate for each respective area designation; the amount of funding allocated to the scheme in 2019; the allocation made in budget 2020 for the scheme in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42504/19]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Data

Charlie McConalogue

197. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers enrolled in the ANC scheme in 2019, by county; the number of farmers by county enrolled in the ANC by each respective area designation; the number of applicants to the scheme in 2019; the number of approved applicants by county who have received their 85% advance payment ; the number of approved applicants who have not received their advance payment; and the number of applicants who were not approved into the scheme. [42505/19]

Childcare Services Funding

Charlie McConalogue

225. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding that will be provided to afterschool providers under the national childcare scheme to pay for the inclusion of support workers such as special needs assistants to safely meet the needs of young children with a disability and or autism that attend an afterschool service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42417/19]

Voluntary Sector Funding

Charlie McConalogue

237. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if sufficient funding will be ring-fenced for a charity (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42480/19]

Budget 2020

Charlie McConalogue

261. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to budget 2020 the allocations to both the rural social scheme and the farm assist scheme in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42503/19]

Beef Industry

Charlie McConalogue

54. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount in euro if all applications submitted to the beef emergency aid measure scheme were approved; the euro value for all approved applicants to date; the number of payments that have issued under the 2019 beef environmental efficiency pilot scheme; the total value of all approved applications; the status of the first meeting of the beef market task force and agreed timelines for actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42247/19]

Knowledge Transfer Programme

Charlie McConalogue

66. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the knowledge transfer scheme will be extended for a further year and opened for applications in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41971/19]

Brexit Preparations

Charlie McConalogue

76. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contingencies being operated and supports that will be in place to safeguard farmers and the agrifood sector for all scenarios including a no-deal hard Brexit, including measures in budget 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41969/19]

Beef Industry

Charlie McConalogue

80. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has formally submitted an application to the EU Commission for market disturbance funding for beef farmers under Article 219 of the CAP in view of the fact that prices have fallen further since May 2019. [41973/19]

Beef Industry

Charlie McConalogue

81. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the first meeting of the beef market task force will take place; the timeline for implementation of all the actions agreed by farming organisations and the meat industry at talks that concluded on 15 September 2019; if he formally submitted an application to the EU Commission for market disturbance funding for beef farmers under Article 219 of the CAP in view of the fact that prices have fallen further since May 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41970/19]

Agriculture Scheme Data

Charlie McConalogue

83. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated amount if all applications submitted to the beef emergency aid measure scheme were approved; the value of approved applications to date; the number of payments that have issued and the total value of all approved applications under the beef environmental efficiency pilot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41972/19]

Home Tuition Scheme Eligibility

Charlie McConalogue

197. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if home tuition will be approved for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal from September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41840/19]

Brexit Preparations

Charlie McConalogue

487. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if 75 positions is still the most up-to-date figure for the total number that have been identified to be filled in a hard Brexit scenario by his Department following correspondence (details supplied) on 16 August 2018 from his office. [42183/19]

Brexit Preparations

Charlie McConalogue

488. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of veterinary and plant portal positions that have been identified to be filled in a hard Brexit scenario by his Department; and the number of new veterinary and plant portal positions recruited to date for this scenario. [42184/19]

Brexit Supports

Charlie McConalogue

489. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the monetary amount that will be made up of each of the financial instruments, equity, loans and grant aid in tabular form following the announcement in budget 2020 of a first tranche of no-deal Brexit supports totalling €110 million; the monetary amount that will be made up of these financial instruments for each of the sectors identified, beef sector, fishing fleet and food companies wishing to re-orient production and marketing towards non-UK markets, and support to other sectors to improve competitiveness; and the total euro amount of the €110 million fund that will be ring-fenced to farmers and fishermen, respectively. [42185/19]