Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Benefits Payments

Thomas P. Broughan

390. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of a social welfare payment that availed of the opportunity to undertake voluntary work and been approved to do so by submitting a VW1 form in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50741/19]

Employment and Youth Activation Charter

Thomas P. Broughan

391. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the employment and youth activation charter; if the charter is still in operation; if so, the number of employers that signed it in each year since it was launched in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50742/19]

Social Insurance

Thomas P. Broughan

392. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the actions an employee must undertake to maintain their PRSI entitlements in circumstances in which the employee takes a career break and is not in paid employment and is not claiming social welfare benefits; if they should make voluntary contributions or sign for credits to maintain their PRSI records and entitlements for the period for which they are on a career break and not in paid employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50744/19]

Proposed Legislation

Thomas P. Broughan

412. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he will publish the electoral commission Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50746/19]

Electoral Register

Thomas P. Broughan

413. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he will publish the electoral (amendment) Bill to provide for the modernisation of the electoral registration system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50747/19]

Constitutional Amendments

Thomas P. Broughan

414. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he plans to hold the referendum to extend voting rights to Irish citizens living abroad in presidential elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50748/19]

Fuel Allowance Data

Thomas P. Broughan

57. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there has been an increase in applications for the fuel allowance and the household benefits package to date in 2019; the number of recipients of both payments in 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of applications refused in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50171/19]

Trade Strategy

Thomas P. Broughan

64. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps she is taking to support businesses affected by the current EU and US trade war. [49683/19]

Brexit Data

Thomas P. Broughan

74. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the up-to-date statistics on the impact of Brexit uncertainty on job losses here; and the actions she is taking to replace such jobs. [49750/19]

Company Law

Thomas P. Broughan

77. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to introduce reform legislation for limited partnerships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49711/19]

European Labour Authority

Thomas P. Broughan

84. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the way in which the newly established European Labour Authority will support the work of agencies under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49710/19]

Defence Forces Representative Organisations

Thomas P. Broughan

106. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the affiliation of a union (details supplied) to another union; when the affiliation will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49778/19]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Thomas P. Broughan

107. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a Gleeson style commission will be established on the pay and conditions in the Defence Forces; if so, if it will review contracts, duty allowances and technical payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49779/19]

Defence Forces Training

Thomas P. Broughan

111. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if funding has been provided in 2020 for the refurbishment of the military hospital at the Defence Forces training centre, Curragh, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50013/19]

Middle East Peace Process

Thomas P. Broughan

117. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland is actively working towards bringing about a two-state future for Israel and Palestine further to his statement on Israeli settlements policy of 20 November 2019; if there are further developments on foot of earlier meetings he has held on the peace process for Israel and Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50043/19]

Community Policing

Thomas P. Broughan

258. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community police in each of the districts in the Dublin metropolitan region division as of 25 November 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49776/19]

Proposed Legislation

Thomas P. Broughan

276. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to update the Succession Act 1965; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50015/19]

HSE Waiting Lists

Thomas P. Broughan

394. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in CHO area 9 waiting for an ophthalmology appointment in primary care as of 25 November 2019; the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12 and over 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50012/19]

Community Pharmacy Services

Thomas P. Broughan

395. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on funding by his Department for the pharmacy sector; when FEMPI cuts to pharmacy fees will be restored in view of his commitment at a conference (details supplied) in May 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50020/19]

Home Care Packages Funding

Thomas P. Broughan

411. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the homecare budget; the areas receiving funding in the allocation, for example, the provision of hours, administration and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50189/19]

Home Care Packages Funding

Thomas P. Broughan

412. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the future of homecare under the Sláintecare model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50190/19]

Fishery Harbour Centres

Thomas P. Broughan

462. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and date of each visit he took to Howth Harbour to date in 2019, in tabular form; the purpose of each visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50011/19]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Thomas P. Broughan

536. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of vacancies by role in each of the Tusla areas nationwide; the timeframe for filling the vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49780/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Thomas P. Broughan

578. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of staff employed in the partial capacity benefit section; and the average processing time for a partial capacity benefit application. [49972/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Thomas P. Broughan

582. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for carer's allowance and carer’s benefit received to date in 2019; the number approved, pending or refused, respectively; the length of time taken to make decisions on the applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50014/19]

Emergency Accommodation Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

606. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on the complaints mechanism for persons and families in emergency accommodation; if his officials examine, report on and investigate complaints received; the number of complaints received in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, by the type of emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49777/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Thomas P. Broughan

617. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of officials in his Department working on housing by the area of work, policy and so on; the number of officials by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50016/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Thomas P. Broughan

618. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of officials in his Department working on housing who have experience working in organisations at the front-line of the housing and or homeless sector by the area of work, policy and so on; the number of officials by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50017/19]

Homelessness Strategy

Thomas P. Broughan

619. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the real life experience of homelessness that is taken into account in the policy formation of his Department; if his officials liaise with charities and service users; if not, the reason therefore; if he will consider same going forward; if so, the organisations which will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50018/19]

Housing Policy

Thomas P. Broughan

620. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the real life experience of renting taken into account in policy formation of his Department; if his officials liaise with organisations and tenants; if not, the reason therefore; if he will consider same going forward; if so, the organisations which will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50019/19]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Thomas P. Broughan

29. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated costs of the external consultant reviews of major infrastructural projects such as the national broadband plan in 2019 and 2020. [45801/19]

National Broadband Plan Administration

Thomas P. Broughan

48. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if it will be ensured that planned fibre optic broadband proposals agreed to under the national broadband plan will be placed under the ownership of the State. [49054/19]

Air Corps

Thomas P. Broughan

63. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the upgrade of accommodation facilities at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, is fully completed; if not, when the works will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49557/19]

Defence Forces Reserve

Thomas P. Broughan

65. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 20 November 2019, the number of the Reserve Defence Forces members who were discharged up to 31 October 2019 that are compulsory discharge numbers identified up to December 2019; the specific key performance indicators in place to monitor the processing of the 2,603 persons who applied to join; the specific appointment holder, civilian or military, in charge of the overall process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49568/19]

Human Rights

Thomas P. Broughan

72. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on a recent report (details supplied) into appalling conditions in a huge network of concentration camps in which over 1 million Uighur people are imprisoned in Xingiang by the Chinese Government; the steps he will take including with his EU colleagues to sanction the leadership of China and demand the immediate closure of the camps and freedom for those imprisoned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49613/19]

Tax Data

Thomas P. Broughan

81. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the projected size of tax expenditures at the end of 2020; if his Department is researching or considering further new tax expenditures in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49619/19]

Insurance Industry

Thomas P. Broughan

82. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the role his Department has in the proposed new limits to insurance pay out claims and revisions to the book of quantum from early 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49620/19]

Third Level Participation

Thomas P. Broughan

104. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that recent HEA research indicates that students from better-off backgrounds dominate university courses with high points entry requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49618/19]

Garda Deployment

Thomas P. Broughan

112. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 25 September 2019, the number of members in the roads policing unit by division as of 22 November 2019; the target number for each division by the end of December 2019; if there were divisions in which no competition was completed for members to join the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49562/19]

Domestic Violence Policy

Thomas P. Broughan

114. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he will take to further support women and their children experiencing domestic violence; if he will respond to a report (details supplied) by introducing, resourcing and legislating for a multi-agency process of domestic homicide reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49616/19]

Disability Services Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

158. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of cases tabled to be taken by the early intervention team at Coolock primary care centre in 2020; if this is a reduced number of cases than previously tabled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49552/19]

Audiology Services Data

Thomas P. Broughan

159. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time paediatric audiologists working in CHO area 9 in 2017, 2018 and to-date in 2019; his plans to further increase the number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49559/19]

Hospital Consultant Data

Thomas P. Broughan

160. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time endometriosis excision specialists at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, in each of the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49560/19]

Carbon Credits

Thomas P. Broughan

206. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the net cost of carbon credits up to the end of 2019; the projected cost of those credits in 2020 including revenues received by Ireland under the Kyoto protocol effort sharing programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49614/19]

Data Centres

Thomas P. Broughan

207. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has estimated the significant levels of electricity required by data centres by the end of 2019; his plans to power the expected further increase in power required by these facilities by 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49615/19]

Road Traffic Offences

Thomas P. Broughan

241. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the fact that more than one quarter of motorists convicted of road traffic offences who are sent by the courts on road safety educational courses are failing to complete those programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49617/19]

Treatment Benefit Scheme Data

Thomas P. Broughan

256. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who applied for hearing aids under the treatment benefit scheme in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019; the cost of same in each year in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49558/19]

Bord na gCon Funding

Thomas P. Broughan

55. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will direct Bord na gCon to increase its funding to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48912/19]

Animal Welfare Bodies

Thomas P. Broughan

56. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase funding to an organisation (details supplied) to enable it to expand its mobile veterinary clinic services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48913/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

224. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number and percentage of households and commercial premises that have access to fibre optic broadband in areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49274/19]