Parliamentary questions

Cross-Border Co-operation

Declan Breathnach

103. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the work of the joint agency task force dealing with cross-Border criminality; the number of initiatives undertaken to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10756/18]

National Planning Framework

Declan Breathnach

234. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason the population for Drogheda by 2040 data was not mentioned in the national planning framework 2040 document; if data both for Drogheda and Dundalk will be supplied; if this data is computed using existing boundary definitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10393/18]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Declan Breathnach

484. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that medical practitioners who wish to prescribe cannabis-based products containing THC by applying for a licence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 are finding it difficult to source the treatment due to the fact that pharmacies are reluctant to stock it as it may affect their licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9931/18]

Hospital Services

Declan Breathnach

301. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health his plans to make the coronary artery calcium score test available as part of routine diagnostics for cardiac event risk; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 70% of cardiac events are caused by plaque rupture which could be diagnosed early using this simple testing procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8145/18]

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

68. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide a full multidisciplinary community neuro-rehabilitation team in County Louth. [6418/18]

Road Projects Status

Declan Breathnach

295. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the planning permission for the proposed Narrow Water bridge is still valid and effective; the communication he has had with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council on the project; if funding will be made available for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5236/18]

Illegal Dumping

Declan Breathnach

513. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken to ensure that illegal dumping of vehicle tyres, particularly the persistence of cross-Border dumping of tyres, is stopped (details supplied); if a review of current legislation has been carried out; if there are measures to co-ordinate efforts between agencies north and south of the Border to halt this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4117/18]

State Pension (Contributory)

Declan Breathnach

577. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the consultation process to find a resolution to the inequities in the averaging system for the State contributory pension; the status of a report in this regard completed by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3941/18]

Housing Estates

Declan Breathnach

624. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of a report in relation to the national taking in charge initiative; his plans to help estates that had valid applications for taking in charge by provision of a further funding stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3944/18]

Planning Guidelines

Declan Breathnach

632. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to amend the planning laws to force local authorities to abide by the EU treaty and end the locals only restriction on one-off housing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4125/18]

Living Alone Allowance

Declan Breathnach

216. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to ease the rules relating to the living alone and supplementary allowances to allow persons experiencing housing issues and homelessness to reside at the home of a relative without affecting the income of that relative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2359/18]

Bail Law

Declan Breathnach

504. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the communication that takes place between the Prison Service, the Courts Service and the Judiciary in respect of availability of custodial places; if his attention has been drawn to the matter, notwithstanding the fact that there was a law passed making it more difficult for repeat offenders to get bail, that it is still the norm in the District Court to grant bail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54518/17]

Fines Data

Declan Breathnach

607. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fines issued in 2016 that specifically relate to persons caught smuggling or selling illicit cigarettes, fuel and alcohol; the number of those fines paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1983/18]

Rent Pressure Zones

Declan Breathnach

1707. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if consideration has been given to applying a rent pressure zone to Dundalk (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54406/17]

Local Authority Housing Funding

Declan Breathnach

1715. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 245 of 22 November 2017, if he will address a series of queries (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54528/17]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Declan Breathnach

244. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the cross-Border crime agency; the number of staff involved and agencies engaged; the annual budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54151/17]

Road Projects Status

Declan Breathnach

635. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the available options for the completion of the Narrow Water bridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54150/17]

Brexit Negotiations

Declan Breathnach

35. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the briefings he has had on the Brexit negotiations, in particular in respect of the Border issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53038/17]

Minor Works Scheme

Declan Breathnach

100. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put the minor works funding on a statutory footing in order that it will be a guaranteed payment to schools each year in view of the fact that schools rely heavily on the minor works grant as part of their operational capital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53322/17]

Minor Works Scheme Payments

Declan Breathnach

105. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if in view of his recent statements to Dáil Éireann that the minor works grant for schools for 2018 would not be paid until the calendar year 2019, there will be a double payment in 2019, one in early 2019 carried over from 2018 and a second towards the end of 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53381/17]

Army Barracks

Declan Breathnach

48. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the contingency plans in place to reopen Army barracks that were closed along the Border; his plans to reverse the decline in the Defence Forces to mitigate against increased smuggling activity; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that only two Army barracks remain near the border, at Bundoran and Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52727/17]

Sports Capital Programme Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

428. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the appeal mechanism available under the sports capital grant scheme to clubs that were not allocated funding due to minor errors in their application; if further funding will be available to deal with such appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52760/17]

Housing Estates

Declan Breathnach

539. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the taking in charge of an estate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52741/17]

Housing Estates

Declan Breathnach

540. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of a report on the NTICI being finalised by his Department which will include findings and recommendations on sustaining progress on the taking in charge of estates issues; the amount of the €10 million in funding for taking in charge issues that was allocated to Louth County Council; if this funding can be used for estates other than ghost estates in which no bond is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52746/17]

Housing Estates

Declan Breathnach

541. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing estates in each county that have not been taken in charge by local authorities in view of the fact that no bond is in place; the estates, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52759/17]

Garda Strength

Declan Breathnach

103. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each Garda station in County Louth as of 1 November 2017; the number of community gardaí in the division; and the number of Garda Reserve and new recruits assigned to the division since recruitment resumed in 2014. [51657/17]

Sports Capital Programme Applications Data

Declan Breathnach

555. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of applications for the sports capital grant that were made from clubs and organisations in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50317/17]

Sports Capital Programme Applications Data

Declan Breathnach

558. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of applications for the sports capital grant that were made from clubs and organisations in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50353/17]

Sports Capital Programme Applications Data

Declan Breathnach

572. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of applications for the sports capital grant that were made from clubs and organisations in counties Louth and Meath; the details of clubs and organisations and the amounts applied for, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50664/17]

Flood Prevention Measures

Declan Breathnach

116. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when funding will be available for flood defence measures for north Louth from Omeath to Dundalk and Dundalk to Clogherhead to upgrade coastal flood defence measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49547/17]

Local Authority Housing Funding

Declan Breathnach

245. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding sought by local authorities in Counties Louth, Meath and Kildare for each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017 for the purposes of constructing new local authority houses; the moneys allocated to each of these authorities in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017 for the purpose of such construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49543/17]

Flood Prevention Measures

Declan Breathnach

180. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when funding will be available for flood defence measures for south Louth and Drogheda to upgrade coastal flood defence measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49405/17]

Sports Facilities Provision

Declan Breathnach

502. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department’s plans regarding the proposed national velodrome and badminton centre at Abbotstown; the status of the project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48742/17]

School Funding

Declan Breathnach

156. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce a defined timeframe for all schools in relation to the payment of both the capitation and minor works grants in order to allow schools operate their budgets efficiently; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that schools are not allowed to go into a bank overdraft situation therefore if payments of grants are delayed this puts them in an impossible position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47804/17]

Disability Services Funding

Declan Breathnach

296. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that has been allocated for disability services in County Louth; the amount of funding allocated to acute services and non acute or community services under section 38 of the Health Act 2004 in County Louth; the acute services and non acute or community agencies that have received this funding; the purposes this funding has been used for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47771/17]

Disability Services Funding

Declan Breathnach

298. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that has been allocated to an organisation (details supplied) for disability services; the way in which the funding is being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47777/17]

Illness Benefit Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

1217. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason women who are suffering illness due to and during pregnancy cannot receive illness benefit; if a benefit for women who suffer during this time can be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46144/17]

Northern Ireland

Declan Breathnach

115. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made in dealing with legacy issues despite the absence of the Northern Ireland Executive; the discussions that have taken place with Secretary of State James Brokenshire or the UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44201/17]

Home Care Packages Data

Declan Breathnach

303. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the funding available for home care packages of approximately €149 million and the additional €9 million supported by HSE and an organisation (details supplied) available for intensive home care packages, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42545/17]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding

Declan Breathnach

460. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if in line with a promise made in the programme for Government the promised €25 million increase for areas of natural constraint, ANC, payments will be made later in 2017; if provision for this will be included in Budget 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42551/17]

Sheep Welfare Scheme Expenditure

Declan Breathnach

466. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, of the €25 million announced in December 2016 for the Sheep Welfare Scheme, only €20 million of this has been spent; if additional funding will be granted for an enhanced sheep welfare scheme in Budget 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42572/17]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Declan Breathnach

391. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if funding for a further podiatrist in County Louth will be made available in the upcoming budget; and the reason for the sudden increase in County Louth in the number of persons with diabetes requiring inpatient treatment for diabetic foot ulceration. [41565/17]

Housing Estates

Declan Breathnach

751. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider making funding available for the taking in charge of estates other than ghost estates in circumstances in which the builder has gone bankrupt with no bond in place; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local authorities are slow to take estates in charge in circumstances in which no bond is in place and works have been left undone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39136/17]

Housing Estates

Declan Breathnach

752. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing estates in each county that have not been taken in charge by local authorities for which no bond was in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39137/17]

Crime Data

Declan Breathnach

601. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the joint agency response to crime announced in 2015 to bring the Garda, the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service together to target repeat offenders with diversion programmes in order to stop reoffending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37594/17]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Declan Breathnach

1009. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing surcharging by some nursing homes for items that should be covered by the medical card scheme, such as doctor on call, and to the ongoing surcharge to nursing home fees for activities even in circumstances in which a person is unable to partake in such activities; his plans to put an end to these surcharges or to have them calculated in the client contribution as part of the fair deal scheme; the position regarding the interdepartmental working group established to progress the recommendations contained in the review of the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37571/17]

Haulage Industry Cabotage Regulations

Declan Breathnach

468. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many road haulage companies registered in Northern Ireland are operating here contrary to the cabotage rules governed by Regulation (EC) 1072/2009 as of 14 May 2010 (details supplied); if he will increase monitoring of this practice through An Garda Síochána; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that road haulage companies operating within the rules are at a severe disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35341/17]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Declan Breathnach

1352. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many road haulage companies registered in Northern Ireland are operating here contrary to the cabotage rules governed by Regulation (EC) 1072/2009 as of 14 May 2010 (details supplied); if he will increase monitoring of this through the Road Safety Authority; and if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that road haulage companies operating within the rules are at a severe disadvantage. [35342/17]

Approved Housing Bodies

Declan Breathnach

1634. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of persons employed over the past three years by the 13 approved housing agencies tier three; the salary paid to these employees over the past three years; the number of new housing units completed over the past three years; the number of housing units procured and refurbished over the past three years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35250/17]

Tobacco Control Measures

Declan Breathnach

116. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance the amount a person currently pays for the cheapest roll-your-own tobacco product, RYO, and the cheapest pack of cigarettes in a shop; his views on whether the minimum RYO pack size of 30g will likely lead to increased illicit RYO products on the black market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33599/17]

EU Regulations

Declan Breathnach

405. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the EU electronic system for travel authorisation, ESTA, proposal; if he has discussed it with his UK counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34246/17]

Tobacco Control Measures

Declan Breathnach

475. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will be reviewing its roll-your-own tobacco survey, which failed to mention that since May 2017 retailers can only sell a minimum 30g pack of RYO and this product is more expensive than a pack of cigarettes (details supplied); his views on whether this will likely lead to an increase in smuggled RYO product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33594/17]

Road Projects Status

Declan Breathnach

1078. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Narrow Water bridge project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34248/17]

Garda Data

Declan Breathnach

40. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each Garda station in County Louth as of 30 June 2017; and the number of new recruits assigned to the division since recruitment resumed in 2014. [32870/17]

Fuel Prices

Declan Breathnach

109. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance his plans to issue guidelines to petrol and diesel retailers here to reduce the cost to the consumer in view of the fact that oil prices worldwide continue to plunge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31307/17]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Declan Breathnach

232. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a SUSI student grant application made by a person (details supplied). [31365/17]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Declan Breathnach

313. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if persons with asthma are barred from joining or serving in the Army; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30366/17]

Brexit Issues

Declan Breathnach

131. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach his plans to hold future all-island dialogues on Brexit; and the timeframe for such meetings. [30019/17]

EU Regulations

Declan Breathnach

291. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the EU ESTA proposal; if he has discussed it with his UK counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30017/17]

Road Projects

Declan Breathnach

514. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the A5 motorway project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30016/17]

Road Projects

Declan Breathnach

515. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the Narrow Water Bridge project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30018/17]

Public Sector Staff Retirements

Declan Breathnach

353. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to extend the retirement age beyond 65 years of age for local authority employees who entered employment prior to 1 April 2004 to bring them in line with those that entered the public service on or after 1 January 2004 that are not obliged to retire on age grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26591/17]

Emergency Planning

Declan Breathnach

781. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps being taken to increase security and defence in view of the London attacks; if full funding and legislative provisions have been put in place to implement the Schengen information system (SIS); and if a timeframe can be given for full operationalisation of SIS here. [27396/17]

Respite Care Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

1131. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need of respite for children, young adults and ageing adults in the community in County Louth; if his attention has been further drawn to a proposal for providing care for 30 persons (details supplied); his views on this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26981/17]

Occupational Therapy

Declan Breathnach

1133. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that currently there is only one occupational therapist for County Louth (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26987/17]

Family Income Supplement Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

1993. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will use an annual P60 and annual earnings to assess if a person qualifies for family income supplement rather than examining a recent payslip; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons are being unfairly assessed using this method such as persons that avail of term time working year and work nine months rather than 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26779/17]

Departmental Staff Relocation

Declan Breathnach

2088. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to transfer staff with responsibility for payroll systems currently based in Dundalk to the national shared services office in Clonskeagh, Dublin 6 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28557/17]

General Practitioner Contracts

Declan Breathnach

207. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 136 of 13 October 2016 and 159 of 18 May 2016, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the HSE has stated after complaining to it (details supplied) and applying for a reimbursement of charges for blood testing that there is a loophole in the system whereby general practitioners have been advised by the IMO that they can charge for blood tests that are for monitoring purposes, that is, repeat bloods for an ongoing medical condition; if he will make arrangements to immediately close this loophole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26095/17]

Public Sector Pensions

Declan Breathnach

359. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if recently retired public servants and local authority staff will receive an increase to their pension from the partial pay restoration which commenced on 1 April 2017; if future pay restoration measures will increase pension benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25335/17]

Pension Provisions

Declan Breathnach

384. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health his plans to offer an incentivised pension scheme in critical employment areas, such as nursing, occupational therapy and speech therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25860/17]

Rural Social Scheme Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

159. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to revise the farm income threshold for persons wishing to take part in the rural social scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to the fact the current threshold is set very low at €409 per week, that those struggling to survive on low family incomes as in the case of a person (details supplied) are precluded from partaking in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25258/17]

Teachers' Panel Rights

Declan Breathnach

111. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) whereby due to an error in his Department's payroll system, a person has been left on point one on the pay scale, rather than point three at which they should be; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in view of this error the person has been precluded from getting onto the supplementary panel and therefore precluded from participation in job interviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24879/17]

Courts Service Data

Declan Breathnach

96. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 4 April 2017, the number of those fines imposed that specifically relate to smuggling or selling illicit cigarettes, fuel and alcohol; the number of attachment orders imposed; the number of persons sent to prison for non-payment; and the number of those fines paid. [23490/17]

Cross-Border Projects

Declan Breathnach

272. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if further discussions between the stakeholders regarding the Narrow Water Bridge project have taken place as was alluded to in a report of the North-South Ministerial Council in November 2016 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23395/17]

Health Services Data

Declan Breathnach

474. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the amount of expenditure on litigation claims against his Department and the HSE in each of the years 2011 to 2016, inclusive, and to date in 2017; the number of claims awarded in court and settled out of court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23218/17]

HSE Health Insurance Claims

Declan Breathnach

475. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the body which is the insurer for the HSE; the amount of premium paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23219/17]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Declan Breathnach

559. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the sports capital grant awards will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23220/17]

Infectious Disease Screening Service

Declan Breathnach

483. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that testing for Lyme disease here uses the inaccurate standardised test called ELISA, which is at best 35% accurate thereby resulting in missed diagnosis; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that German and other EU laboratories are using a more accurate test which cost the European Union €1.1 million to develop and which is a highly sensitive and specific low-cost lab on a chip system for Lyme diagnosis (details supplied); if he will arrange for the implementation of this system here to save persons the expense of travelling to Germany for diagnoses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22015/17]

Health Products Regulatory Authority

Declan Breathnach

498. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the number of schools and sports clubs that have registered with the Health Products Regulatory Authority to administer salbutamol in emergency situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22058/17]

TAMS Payments

Declan Breathnach

563. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a matter regarding an outstanding TAMS II payment; when a person (details supplied) will receive the payment; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that delays in TAMS payments are causing severe financial difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22038/17]

Motor Insurance

Declan Breathnach

267. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the false figures for the number of Garda breath tests having had an impact on the rising cost of car insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20004/17]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Declan Breathnach

353. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the commencement of the heavy goods vehicle driver apprenticeship programme; the expected timeframe for qualified drivers to come into the workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20005/17]

Diaspora Issues

Declan Breathnach

637. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to introduce incentives to Irish emigrants returning home from abroad to help them to reintegrate into society, for example, to get car insurance, set up bank accounts, access to credit and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20003/17]

Driver Licences

Declan Breathnach

1305. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce incentives to Irish emigrants returning home from abroad to help them to reintegrate into society, for example, to obtain driving licences and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20003/17]

Universal Social Charge

Declan Breathnach

144. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact there is an unfair anomaly for persons earning just over the universal social charge threshold amount of €13,000 whereby they are charged USC on the full amount, for example, 0.5% on the first €12,012 and 2.5% on the balance up to €18,772; his plans to change these rules for those persons on low incomes so the first €13,000 remains exempt from USC with any balance of income over that amount liable to USC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17481/17]

VAT Exemptions

Declan Breathnach

178. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if, following a recent ruling of the European Court of Justice that VAT should not be applied to tolls on State-owned motorways, he will consider calling on Transport Infrastructure Ireland to postpone an increase in toll charges planned from 1 April 2017 in view of the fact they are no longer liable for VAT; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such an increase would be damaging to the road haulage sector, which is already severely impacted by insurance costs threatening the viability of many of its businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16310/17]

Shared Ownership Scheme

Declan Breathnach

323. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of persons nationally who have availed of the county council shared ownership loans to date in 2017 to purchase their house, by county and in tabular form; the number of those persons who have moved over to the county council annuity loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16338/17]

Shared Ownership Scheme

Declan Breathnach

324. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider providing financial advice to persons who are being asked to switch from a county council shared ownership loan to an annuity loan to assist them in working out which is the best option for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16346/17]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Declan Breathnach

574. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in County Louth that have not received 85% of their total 2016 payment under GLAS 1, GLAS 2 and AEOS; the reason for this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15999/17]

Post Office Network

Declan Breathnach

119. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will consider exploring the option of giving the post office service responsibility for the compilation of the electoral register and enumeration of census data to make the service more viable in view of the urgent crisis in the delivery of postal services; if she will include this in the list of extra tasks being considered for the post office network on foot of the report of the post office hub working group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15633/17]

Post Office Network

Declan Breathnach

181. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider exploring the option of giving the post office service responsibility for the compilation of the electoral register and enumeration of census data to make the service more viable in view of the urgent crisis in the delivery of postal services; if he will include this in the list of extra tasks being considered for the post office network on foot of the report of the post office hub working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15634/17]

Insurance Coverage

Declan Breathnach

134. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance his plans to regulate for insurance for hobby drone users; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the two insurance companies here underwritten by UK companies that offer insurance cover for drones will not cover drones used by amateurs and hobbyists; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that there have been a number of accidents and damage to property caused by drones operated by amateurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15299/17]

Fishing Industry

Declan Breathnach

436. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any fishing organisations were consulted with regard to the Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14835/17]

Haulage Industry

Declan Breathnach

35. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to ensure there is no disruption to the current HGV driver sector in anticipation of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14426/17]

Haulage Industry

Declan Breathnach

36. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the potential damage to the economy caused by the unavailability of drivers in the HGV sector across the EU; the action being taken to ensure drivers can be recruited outside of the EU while unavailable within the EU; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that there is a severe shortage of HGV drivers in the EU; if she will consider putting the category of HGV driver on the highly skilled eligible occupations list to allow the employment permits system to operate in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14425/17]

Motor Insurance

Declan Breathnach

53. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the problem for road haulage companies whereby no insurance company here will insure a HGV driver under 25 years of age; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that, at 25 years of age, drivers must prove they have two years' experience; if his attention has been drawn to discrepancies between Ireland and other European countries in terms of motor insurance whereby it is easier for younger HGV drivers to get insurance in other European countries; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that insurance costs for the HGV sector are prohibitive here causing 30% of the Irish fleet to get insurance abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14217/17]

VAT Exemptions

Declan Breathnach

225. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the measure introduced in the last budget to charge VAT on training and development activities is having the effect of actively discouraging businesses from offering training and development opportunities to their staff; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the measure has led to training courses being cancelled to the detriment of the business providing training and also the staff that would have benefitted from the training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13559/17]

Rent Supplement Scheme Data

Declan Breathnach

485. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of payments by county that have been made to families by the community welfare officers as top ups to the rent supplement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12816/17]

EU Directives

Declan Breathnach

809. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in 2016 the EU cross-border health care directive, which allows Irish citizens obtain treatment in other member states, cost the HSE €2.2 million, an increase of €500,000 on 2015; the detail of the services that were approved since the directive started; the amount that was allocated to mental health under the directive and in particular to residential addiction treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13206/17]

Child Care Services Staff

Declan Breathnach

1299. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if consideration will be given to the circumstances of a person (details supplied) who now falls outside of the criteria outlined in the early years preschool regulations and her Department's child care programmes qualification requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13254/17]