Parliamentary questions

Local Authority Staff

Willie Penrose

202. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason local authority outdoor employees who are now retired are not linked to the cohort of outdoor employees in respect of their pension entitlements in view of the fact that they do not receive an increase in their pension when the wages of the local authority employees increase; if same will be reviewed with a view to addressing the anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39210/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Willie Penrose

12. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the eligibility conditions of persons currently on work permits and attached to a singular employer or sector for social assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38877/19]

Social Welfare Schemes

Willie Penrose

31. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports made available to workers in the beef processing factories who have been made redundant or laid off temporarily; if migrant workers on permits are eligible for unemployment assistance; the number of workers that have been supported; the number that sought assistance but were not eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38876/19]

Unemployment Benefits Data

Willie Penrose

36. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of childcare workers that claim unemployment benefit or assistance throughout the months of June, July and August; the breakdown of these figures for the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38873/19]

Pensions Reform

Willie Penrose

39. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her plans to introduce an auto-enrolment pension system; the status of the consultation process and research undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38875/19]

Employment Rights

Willie Penrose

50. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to put the code of practice on bogus self-employment on a statutory footing; if a timeframe has been identified for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38874/19]

Departmental Reports

Willie Penrose

72. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance when a report by an organisation (details supplied) into public banking will be available in view of the fact a commitment was given that it would be ready for distribution by early summer 2019; if steps can be taken to expedite same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39080/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Applications

Willie Penrose

165. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding an application for a widow's pension (contributory) by a person (details supplied); when same will be put into payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39077/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Applications

Willie Penrose

166. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding an application for fuel allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39078/19]

Disability Allowance Applications

Willie Penrose

167. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure that an application for the addition of a qualified adult dependant is included in the disability allowance claim of a person (details supplied) in view of the fact the application was submitted nine weeks ago; if it will be processed without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39079/19]

Community Development Projects Funding

Willie Penrose

27. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to create a specific funding scheme for community groups to assist them in the conservation and promotion of biodiversity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37913/19]

Foreign Birth Registration

Willie Penrose

48. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an application for foreign birth registration by a person (details supplied) was received; if same will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37957/19]

Ministerial Travel

Willie Penrose

49. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will visit the United States of America before the end of 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37979/19]

Garda Strength

Willie Penrose

105. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of doubling the number of dogs in the Garda dog unit; the estimated cost of doubling the number of horses in the Garda mounted unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37976/19]

Commencement of Legislation

Willie Penrose

126. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health when section 14 of the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 will come into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37978/19]

Home Care Packages Provision

Willie Penrose

157. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health when home support assistance will be allocated to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38141/19]

Social Insurance Rates

Willie Penrose

235. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost if the entry threshold for class A PRSI increased from €38 to €100; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37974/19]

National Concert Hall

Willie Penrose

259. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of capital and current funding her Department has provided to the National Concert Hall in 2018 and 2019, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37980/19]

HSE Correspondence

Willie Penrose

135. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE failed to reply to correspondence (details supplied); if same will now be dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37945/19]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Willie Penrose

223. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); if same will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37943/19]

Disability Allowance Applications

Willie Penrose

1900. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied); if same will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36787/19]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Willie Penrose

1901. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); if same will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36788/19]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Willie Penrose

1902. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a social welfare appeal with regard to a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); if same will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36790/19]

Better Energy Homes Scheme

Willie Penrose

2227. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason the allocation of homes for retrofitting to community based organisations under the SEAI better energy warmer homes scheme has now ceased; if this is as a result of reaching the allocated budget; if so, the measures he plans to take to ensure skilled staff are not made redundant or community based organisations are forced to close down; his views on whether such actions would have a detrimental impact on building capacity within the sector to achieve the Project Ireland 2040 objective of 45,000 domestic retrofits per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32499/19]

Climate Change Policy

Willie Penrose

4. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has been briefed on the recommendations within the cross-party report on climate change specifically relating to a just transition and the need for local economic diversification plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30433/19]

Housing Adaptation Grant Eligibility

Willie Penrose

941. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there is grant aid available to persons that wish to incorporate a granny flat to their dwelling to accommodate an elderly parent that wishes to reside there rather than be placed in a nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30500/19]

Legal Costs

Willie Penrose

227. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if steps have been initiated to review or reuse the costs provisions applicable to the District Court as per SI No. 17 of 2014 and in particular the obligation to review the same levy every three years as set out in the regulation; if in this context provision will be made prospectively for the payment of drafting fees, opinions, notices of applications and affidavits which pertain to dealing with civil matters before the District Court and which are necessary in the context of such proceedings and which are not included in counsels' fees as set out in 13(i) of SI No. 7 of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30467/19]

Taxi Regulations

Willie Penrose

100. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has had regarding the relaunch of the local area hackney scheme; the specific proposals planned to simplify the application process; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22794/19]

Climate Change Policy

Willie Penrose

11. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the discussions he has had with regard to the proposed regional gatherings as part of the national dialogue on climate action; the regional gatherings undertaken or planned since its commencement; the events proposed for 2019 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22798/19]

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Willie Penrose

72. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to amend the eligibility criteria for receiving a primary medical certificate to include persons that have mental and or intellectual disabilities in addition to physical impairment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28785/19]

Grocery Industry Regulation

Willie Penrose

375. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps taken by his Department to ensure that recently passed legislation is fully implemented to deal with the regulations of the greyhound industry from the perspective of governance, integrity, probity and welfare of the industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28784/19]

Home Loan Scheme

Willie Penrose

459. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a person who has been adjudicated a bankrupt and who will be out of bankruptcy at the end of 2019, but who remains working and is in rented accommodation, will be eligible to apply for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan with their partner who is not a bankrupt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28786/19]

Trade Agreements

Willie Penrose

64. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the Mercosur deal; if the Government continues to resolutely oppose the deal particularly in the context of the market situation pertaining to beef and also in relation to fossil fuel usage relating to the transport of products which are relevant to the deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28076/19]

Beef Imports

Willie Penrose

75. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the detail of beef imports for the first quarter of 2019; the number of tonnes imported; the countries from which such imports took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28077/19]

Fallen Animal Collection Scheme

Willie Penrose

78. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the limitation of 125 km in respect of distance restriction applied here to the transport of category 1 animal waste is not related to any European legislation; if European animal by-product legislation does not contain distance limitation in relation to the transport of category 1 by-products and that such limitations as imposed here arises from policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28080/19]

Beef Industry

Willie Penrose

88. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be no compulsory reduction of cattle numbers linked to the €100 million Brexit emergency package; when it is intended that farmers will be paid the funds arising from the package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28078/19]

Sheepmeat Sector

Willie Penrose

89. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which foreign trade missions in 2019 will benefit the sheep meat sector here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28079/19]

Defence Forces Equipment

Willie Penrose

101. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if funding has been provided for the provision of replacement of Defence Forces MOWAGS armoured personnel carriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28608/19]

Garda Station Refurbishment

Willie Penrose

116. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the refurbishment works the OPW carried out at Garda stations in the Roscommon-Longford Garda division in which the value of works was in excess €5,000 in 2018 and to date in 2019; the works carried out at each station; if the refurbishment works are completed or still ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28603/19]

Prison Staff

Willie Penrose

217. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost in a full year if 120 additional prison officers were recruited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28605/19]

Departmental Funding

Willie Penrose

222. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the budget allocation for the Labour Court and Workplace Relations Commission in 2018 and 2019, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28604/19]

State Bodies

Willie Penrose

281. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he last met the Chief Executive Officer and-or Chairperson of Irish National Stud; the issues that were discussed; when he expects to next meet the Chief Executive Officer and or Chairperson; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28606/19]

Departmental Funding

Willie Penrose

370. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost in a full year if the budget for an organisation (details supplied) increased by 12%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28607/19]

Ambulance Service

Willie Penrose

56. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the status of the community paramedic project; if this has reduced the demand and response time for ambulances in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22795/19]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Willie Penrose

71. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a further planned reduction in primary school class sizes commencing in 2020 such as reducing class sizes by one could be considered in the context of budget 2020 in view of the fact that primary school classes here being the largest in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27424/19]

Mental Health Services Funding

Willie Penrose

72. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take in the context of budget 2020 to commit to a nationwide investment in mental health services for students at third level education (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27425/19]

Student Accommodation

Willie Penrose

73. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the call by a union (details supplied) for the provision of capital grants specifically for developments of purpose-built student accommodation will be considered in advance of budget 2020 in view of the high costs that students pay for accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27426/19]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Willie Penrose

75. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will commence the process of reversing the decision taken in respect of student grant adjacency rates and increase the qualifying criteria for non-adjacent rate of grants from 24 km to 45 km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27432/19]

Youthreach Programme Review

Willie Penrose

52. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review the allocation of programme places in Youthreach across and within education and training areas to ensure the optimal use of resources and taking account of early school leaver numbers and of existing places and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26595/19]

Workplace Relations Commission

Willie Penrose

292. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason a decision has not been given on a case (details supplied) that was heard by the Workplace Relations Commission for adjudication in January 2019; if same can be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26833/19]