Parliamentary questions

School Funding

Pearse Doherty

418. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding available as part of her devolved grant scheme in 2016; the amount of funding which has already been awarded to school projects through payments relating to this scheme in 2016; how much of the scheme's funding for 2016 remains to be allocated; if applications for funding are still being accepted for consideration as part of this current tranche of funding; if a fixed final date exists for the announcement of successful projects as part of the 2016 scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2819/16]

School Funding

Pearse Doherty

419. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will award project funding through the devolved grant scheme in instances where a school building project has been placed on the most recent six-year capital investment programme but will not proceed to construction until the latter years of the scheme in order to expedite the completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2820/16]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Pearse Doherty

438. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline her plans for a new school building and community centre for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5, given the recent announcement from Dublin City Council of the proposed 655 homes which are planned for Oscar Traynor Road. [2994/16]

VAT Rate Application

Pearse Doherty

52. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the date at which the 9% rate of VAT applicable to tourism lapses or if that rate is now fixed in law, barring legislative change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2559/16]

Credit Union Restructuring

Pearse Doherty

53. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the effect, in fiscal terms, of reinvesting the remaining funds in the credit union restructuring board fund into the credit union sector on the fiscal space; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2563/16]

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Pearse Doherty

65. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is aware of several incidences of flooding since 2014 which have occurred along the Murvagh river basin in County Donegal, which have left roads impassable and homes and businesses badly damaged; the flood prevention measures that have been undertaken to alleviate flooding along the river; if he will provide additional assistance to the relevant authorities to improve flood mitigation measures and defences in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2609/16]

Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

66. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding allocated to each of the competent State agencies and authorities for the co-ordination and implementation of flood risk management and mitigation measures, by county, for each year since 2005 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2610/16]

HSE Properties

Pearse Doherty

328. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when the Health Service Executive-operated training facility (details supplied) for persons with disabilities in County Donegal will be relocated to a new premises. [1988/16]

Consular Services Provision

Pearse Doherty

398. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent of communication and correspondence he has had with the Australian authorities as part of efforts to provide assistance and support to Irish citizens in Australia who have been found to have violated the terms of their visa by remaining in the country beyond the permitted duration of stay; the financial assistance afforded to undocumented Irish citizens who find themselves in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2288/16]

Consular Services Provision

Pearse Doherty

399. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Irish citizens who have been deported, returned or removed from Australia as a result of having violated the terms of their visa by remaining in the country beyond the permitted duration of stay in each year since 2010, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2289/16]

Local Authority Staff

Pearse Doherty

458. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the retirement requirements that exist for local authority workers, particularly in Water Services; if there is a uniform application of retirement ages in these services across local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2178/16]

Local Authority Staff

Pearse Doherty

459. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authority water services employees turning 65 years of age in 2016 are obliged to retire or if they have the option to stay working for an additional year; what local authorities provide this option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2179/16]

Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge

Pearse Doherty

487. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht an bhfuil plean aici níos mó tacaíochta a thabhairt do Mhná Tí i gceantair Ghaeltachta chun dul i ngleic leis na costais ollmhóra a bhaineann le lóistín na mac léinn Gaeilge agus le costais ghaolmhara; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [1987/16]

Community Services Programme

Pearse Doherty

143. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the arrangements being made to assist companies in receipt of funding via the community services programme to enable contracted companies to meet the increased costs associated with staff payments and employee wages incurred as a result of the increase in the minimum wage which came into effect from 1 January 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1453/16]

Insurance Industry Regulation

Pearse Doherty

195. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the guidelines in place to ensure an insurance broker is independent of insurers or assurance providers and that any connection to an insurer or assurance provider is communicated to customers and potential customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46624/15]

Insurance Industry

Pearse Doherty

196. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank of Ireland has been informed by any insurance brokerage that its relationship with any State banks has been altered recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46625/15]

Insurance Industry

Pearse Doherty

197. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the commercial relationship that exists between an insurance broker (details supplied) and a State-backed bank and if that relationship has recently changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46626/15]

Tax Compliance

Pearse Doherty

202. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the status of the public consultation process that he informed this Deputy during the finance Bill debates that he was putting in place around bogus self-employed workers and possible anti-avoidance regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46688/15]

Tax Code

Pearse Doherty

203. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the rationale for the recent change in employment status from self-employed to employees for home-tutors employed by the Department of Education and Skills for children with special needs; the expected effect the change will have; if he will clarify the tax treatment of out-of-pockets expenses, registration fees and so on for these home tutors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46689/15]

Freedom of Information Requests

Pearse Doherty

217. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance when, following the Information Commissioner's decision to vary the decision of his Department in freedom of information request 177/2013, he will release the additional documents to this Deputy. [46894/15]

Universal Social Charge Yield

Pearse Doherty

233. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the effect of abolishing the universal social charge on the fiscal space available over the next five years, including how its abolition will benefit in absolute terms a worker on the minimum wage, the average industrial wage and an income of €100,000. [1352/16]

Universal Social Charge Yield

Pearse Doherty

234. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the projected revenue that will be generated by the universal social charge for each of the next five years on the basis of a no policy change. [1353/16]

Mortgage Data

Pearse Doherty

235. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of completed restructured arrangements and the figure, under the mortgage arrears resolution targets, that involved the loss of the family home. [1354/16]

Motor Insurance Regulation

Pearse Doherty

236. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the level of competition in the motor insurance industry and the steps he is considering to prevent further increases in this area. [1355/16]

Insurance Industry

Pearse Doherty

241. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the status of the liquidation process of the Setanta Insurance company; if liability with respect to the payment of all outstanding claims has been determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1454/16]

Flood Prevention Measures

Pearse Doherty

280. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will establish dedicated task forces comprising multiple agencies and bodies to be responsible for co-ordinating flood protection plans along rivers located within each of the current designated flood risk catchment areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1393/16]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Pearse Doherty

660. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if approval has been granted for the recruitment of a permanent replacement consultant obstetrician to fill a vacant post for the antenatal and gynaecology outpatient clinic at Dungloe Community Hospital, County Donegal; if not, the reason why; the number of days for which this post has been vacant; when this post will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1225/16]

HSE Waiting Lists

Pearse Doherty

663. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of children and young persons waiting for appointments in the child and adolescent mental health services in County Cavan and in County Monaghan for up to six months, from six to 12 months, 12 to 18 months, 18 to 24 months, and 24 plus months, in tabular form. [1240/16]

Hospital Staff Data

Pearse Doherty

683. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the amount of spent on agency staff at Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal, in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1403/16]

Hospital Services

Pearse Doherty

684. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if an overall review of ante-natal and gynaecology services at Dungloe Community Hospital, County Donegal, has been formally completed; the dates on which this review was initiated and completed; the outcome of this review including its key recommendations; when he will reinstate the clinic which has been suspended since November 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1404/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Pearse Doherty

685. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists for inpatient and day case treatment at Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal, per specialty, who have been waiting for six, nine, 12, 15 months and 15 plus months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1405/16]

Nursing Home Accommodation Provision

Pearse Doherty

686. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the bed capacity of all nursing homes, by public, by private, by county, in tabular form; the current vacancy rates with respect to each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1406/16]

Nursing Home Accommodation Provision

Pearse Doherty

687. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the projected total need for nursing home beds, by public, by private, by county, over the next five year period in tabular form; how he will address this need and the action being taken to ensure that any additional beds required, based on these projections, come on stream within this time frame; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1407/16]

Hospital Appointments Delays

Pearse Doherty

688. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to reduce current waiting times for outpatient appointments at Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal; if he is aware that there are currently 1,736 patients waiting for a year or more for such appointments at the hospital, 331 of whom have now been waiting for longer than the current maximum permissible waiting time of 15 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1408/16]

Local Authority Funding

Pearse Doherty

883. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding he provided directly to Donegal County Council in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1392/16]

School Meals Programme

Pearse Doherty

47. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a school (details supplied) in County Donegal did not qualify for the full grant applied for under the school meal (local projects) scheme for 2015-2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45741/15]

School Meals Programme

Pearse Doherty

48. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the appeal process under the school meal (local projects) scheme for 2015-2016. [45742/15]

Community Services Programme

Pearse Doherty

54. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase current funding levels awarded to service providers under the community services programme as a result of the increases to the minimum wage, which is to come into effect from 1 January 2016; if she is aware of the need for additional funding to be made available under the programme in order for service providers to cover the cost of this increase in staff wages; if a failure to increase funding in line with increased staff payments will place additional financial pressures on already struggling service providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45898/15]

Youth Guarantee

Pearse Doherty

60. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of the implementation of the Youth Guarantee, including the number of participants; the number of these who have received employment through the guarantee; and the amount spent implementing the guarantee to date. [46006/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Pearse Doherty

61. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of introducing a derogation from the habitual residency clause for returning emigrants. [46011/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Pearse Doherty

62. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of altering the habitual residence test for social protection eligibility for those returning to care for elderly relatives by applying the habitual residence test to the elderly relative as opposed to the returning emigrant. [46012/15]

Property Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

111. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the gross local property tax receipts with respect to properties in County Donegal for each of the years from 2013 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45720/15]

Live Exports

Pearse Doherty

238. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 19 November 2015, if he has successfully raised the issue of strict new limits imposed on cadmium levels for live crab intended for export to China with the authorities in China; the level of dialogue which has taken place with the Chinese authorities; if the Chinese authorities have indicated that these new measures will be withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45723/15]

Hospital Admissions

Pearse Doherty

418. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgical procedures which have been cancelled and-or postponed in each of the individual hospitals across the Saolta University Health Care Group in each month in 2014 and 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45721/15]

Home Help Service Provision

Pearse Doherty

434. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 195 of 19 November 2015, the criteria which were not met by a person (details supplied) in County Cavan to enable the person to receive home help hours, and the issues that were taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45900/15]

Palliative Care for Children

Pearse Doherty

441. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if, and the first date on which, a position for a paediatric palliative care nurse specialist to serve County Donegal, to be based at Letterkenny General Hospital, was advertised; the number of applicants for this post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46008/15]

Magdalen Laundries Data

Pearse Doherty

442. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the cost of broadening the scheme for women living abroad who suffered in the Magdalen laundries, who are now entitled to free general practitioner services, prescribed drugs, surgical appliances, nursing and home help services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services, counselling, chiropody and physiotherapy, upon their return to Ireland, to include all returning Irish emigrants over 65 years of age. [46013/15]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Pearse Doherty

521. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent of communication and correspondence between his Department and authorities in the United States of America as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing plight and difficulties of undocumented Irish citizens living there; the progress in regularising their status and in introducing a dedicated visa waiver programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46009/15]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Pearse Doherty

522. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the authorities in the United States of America have made a specific request for a visa waiver programme for undocumented Irish citizens living there; if he is aware of the success of the efforts of the Mexican Government to negotiate such a programme with the United States of America on behalf of its citizens living illegally there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46010/15]

School Staffing

Pearse Doherty

537. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will amend the current rules under the school transport scheme whereby, in determining eligibility for school transport, applicants must meet the relevant distance criteria and must attend their nearest school; having regard to ethos and language, if school-goers would enjoy greater freedom to choose which school they would attend if a certain degree of flexibility was exercised with regard to the enforcement of this requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45725/15]