Parliamentary questions

Student Universal Support Ireland Administration

Paul Connaughton

543. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who have had their Student Universal Support Ireland student grant changed from the non-adjacent rate to the adjacent rate this year, due to a recalculation of the distances from students' homes to colleges; the process underway to re-examine distances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33206/15]

Water Quality

Paul Connaughton

587. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the assistance available to the owner of a building wishing to remove lead water pipes from the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33239/15]

Easter Rising Commemorations

Paul Connaughton

645. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the sources of funding available to communities who wish to erect structures or hold events to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising; to whom in her Department applications for such funding should be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33326/15]

Dental Services

Paul Connaughton

150. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health when dental treatment will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Galway, who has been waiting for six months for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32503/15]

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme

Paul Connaughton

73. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not receiving the top rate of payment under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32437/15]

Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

74. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received their payment under the rural environment protection scheme for the past two years of the scheme; if this will affect their payments in respect of the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32438/15]

State Pensions Reform

Paul Connaughton

153. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is considering changing the contributory pension regime to ensure that persons who have worked for decades and made contributions over many years can access the full contributory pension rate; the mechanisms that are open to those not on a full contributory pension to have the decision reviewed or revisited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30631/15]

Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility

Paul Connaughton

479. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who established an entitlement on their farm under the basic payment scheme in 2015 may continue to receive the payment if they lease their land before the end of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30507/15]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

502. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway had their single farm payment for 2014 reduced by over €1,000; the options that are open in terms of appealing that reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30879/15]

Disability Allowance Payments

Paul Connaughton

228. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is on a reduced rate of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28848/15]

Beef Data Programme

Paul Connaughton

399. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway received a penalty of 100% in respect of the person's beef data and genomics programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28849/15]

Financial Instruments

Paul Connaughton

421. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline for the roll-out of financial instruments in Ireland, following his participation, with An Taoiseach, the European Union Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Phil Hogan, and the Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, Mr. Wilhelm Molterer (details supplied), in the Financial Instrument Compass event on 23 June 2015. [29225/15]

Hospital Procedures

Paul Connaughton

356. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health when a cataract operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be performed; if he is aware of delays in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27297/15]

Disability Allowance Applications

Paul Connaughton

40. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26691/15]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Paul Connaughton

41. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26692/15]

On-farm Investment Schemes

Paul Connaughton

305. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the 40% grant for investment in the dairy sector will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25828/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Paul Connaughton

70. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reassessing the access that unemployed persons whose spouses are working have to training courses or upskilling options; if she will consider changing the current regime in order that persons precluded from receiving social welfare payments because their spouses are working could access back-to-work aids such as access to training places or upskilling options; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25536/15]

Housing Provision

Paul Connaughton

589. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options available to persons (details supplied) currently residing in Oxford in England, but who, due to age and ill health, wish to return to Loughrea in County Galway where they were born; the agencies that are in a position to offer advice, guidance and assistance regarding their housing needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24686/15]

Arts in Education Charter

Paul Connaughton

22. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress her Department has made on implementing the Arts in Education Charter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23556/15]

Commemorative Events

Paul Connaughton

40. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the Government’s plans for the Ireland 2016 programme, if she is satisfied that the capital projects on track will be completed on time for the centenary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23555/15]

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme

Paul Connaughton

100. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new capital investment scheme under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme for farmers outside the young farmer category will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22810/15]

GLAS Payments

Paul Connaughton

101. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding farmland birds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22811/15]

Motor Insurance Regulation

Paul Connaughton

333. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Finance given the significant increases in the cost of motor insurance in recent months and the pressure this is placing on family finances, especially in areas outside the larger cities where public transport is not available, if he will consider reducing the amount of the Government levy on motor insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22130/15]

Agriculture Schemes

Paul Connaughton

483. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports available to farmers who are not young farmers in relation to building a slatted shed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22198/15]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Paul Connaughton

614. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the bilateral agreement between Ireland and Russia on inter-country adoptions; the reason more progress is not being made on this issue; the obstacles to progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21578/15]

Social Welfare Rates

Paul Connaughton

52. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason the work allowance for persons on jobseeker's transitional is €60 whereas the work allowance for one-parent family payment is €90; if a case can be made for a single parent who formerly received the one-parent family payment, but who now receives the jobseeker's transitional payment, to continue to receive the work allowance at the higher rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21003/15]

Carer's Allowance Delays

Paul Connaughton

246. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for a carer's allowance will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if she is aware of the economic hardship being caused by the delay in processing applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20719/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

385. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive a payment for 2014 under the agri-environment options scheme; the reason for the delay; the reason farmers were informed in reply to questions in Dáil Éireann that payment would be made as soon as possible, when no payment has yet issued as of mid-May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20100/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

386. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive a payment under the agri-environment options scheme; the reason for the delay; the reason farmers were informed, in reply to questions in Dáil Éireann, that payment would be made as soon as possible when no payment has yet issued as of mid-May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20101/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

387. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive the remainder of a payment for 2013 and a payment for 2014 under the agri-environment options scheme; the reason for the delay; the reason farmers were informed, in reply to questions in Dáil Éireann, that payment would be made as soon as possible when no payment has yet issued as of mid-May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20102/15]

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Paul Connaughton

388. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the options that are open to a person who missed out on a single payment in 2013, because a herd number was not transferred in time for the 2013 deadline following the death of a parent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20104/15]

Environmental Schemes

Paul Connaughton

401. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person who purchased land in October 2014 can apply under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, as the person did not receive a single payment in 2014 due to caring for a relative at the time; if there are any special or force majeure circumstances under which a person who did not receive a payment under the scheme in 2013 and who is over 40 years of age, can apply for entitlements for the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20256/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

428. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive a payment under the 2014 agri-environment options scheme; the reason for the delay; the reason farmers were informed, in reply to questions in Dáil Éireann, that payment would be made as soon as possible, when no payment has yet issued as of late May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20612/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

429. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the special nature of commonage and hill farming is taken into account in the administration of the beef genomics scheme, especially in cases where farmers (details supplied) were unable to access animals for a period to get samples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20613/15]

Drainage Schemes

Paul Connaughton

954. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the River Suck drainage scheme employees; his plans for the drainage works on the river for 2015, and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20257/15]

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Paul Connaughton

84. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a second penalty has been imposed on a single payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway, when a previous penalty was dealt with through an appeal. [17971/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

106. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the agri-environment options scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17013/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

107. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that farmers currently restricted with incidences of tuberculosis are fast-tracked in terms of outstanding agri-environment options scheme payments, in view of the hardship that they are currently enduring and the lack of cashflow available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17014/15]

Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

180. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received a rural environment protection scheme payment; the cause of the delay; when the payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16474/15]

Single Payment Scheme Appeals

Paul Connaughton

78. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received arrears under the single payment scheme in view of the fact that the person was informed in January 2015 that the penalty review was successful; the reason for the delay; when the moneys will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15946/15]

School Staff

Paul Connaughton

137. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 681 of 15 April 2015, if a more comprehensive reply will issue as the question in relation to the particular school (details supplied) in County Galway was never addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15933/15]

Renewable Energy Generation

Paul Connaughton

173. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proposals the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has for renewables and, in particular, solar renewable energy, in the next 12 months; his views on solar energy on greenfield sites; if any such sites are currently being developed; the proposed policy direction of solar energy production on greenfield sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15977/15]

Disability Allowance Payments

Paul Connaughton

261. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a very significant decrease in the rate of disability allowance received by a person (details supplied) in County Galway was imposed recently; if the rate of allowance can be restored to its previous level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15441/15]

Social Welfare Code

Paul Connaughton

271. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to treating pension income differently when it comes to means calculations for social welfare purposes, for example only taking 75% of pension income into account, as the current situation means that no real benefit accrues to persons who, for example, have a small British pension, and were this situation to be changed to take only a percentage of this pension income into account, it would incentivise the holding of pensions as under the current regime there is no real benefit to persons who have a small foreign pension and who are dependent on social welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15468/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

357. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment in respect of the 2014 beef genomics scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15439/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications Data

Paul Connaughton

358. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of agri-environment options scheme 3 applications that have yet to receive payment for 2014; the number of applicants who had a penalty and did not appeal that penalty and who have yet to be paid in respect of 2014; when such applicants can expect to receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15440/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

359. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an agri-environment options scheme payment for 2014 has not issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15469/15]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Connaughton

50. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason carer's allowance is not a qualifying payment for fuel allowance, in view of the fact that many carers do not reside with the person for whom they are caring, and incur huge additional cost in caring for a loved one; her plans to change this in order that a person in receipt of carer's allowance and no other social welfare payment, and who lives alone but provides full-time care for a person who lives in another dwelling, can receive the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14991/15]

Forestry Premium Payments

Paul Connaughton

96. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the forestry premium in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway was decreased this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14992/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

256. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a payment under the agri-environment options scheme for 2014 was not paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14123/15]