Parliamentary questions

Rail Network Expansion

Marc MacSharry

318. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Irish Rail survey for the Athenry to Claremorris line; and the date by which the results of the survey will be published. [50769/19]

Cycling Facilities Provision

Marc MacSharry

319. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the funding to implement the Climate Action Plan 2019 action 97 of the National Cycle Policy Framework with a focus on commuter specific development of greenways which satisfies the requirements of the action; the oversight needed at design stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50779/19]

Cycling Facilities Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

320. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made with regard to action 97 of the National Cycle Policy Framework that local authorities set forth a clear pathway and timetable for the installation of dedicated cycling infrastructure; the way in which the action is monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50789/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Sean Fleming

321. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons employed on an agency basis in his Department and in each agency under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50811/19]

Data Protection

Catherine Murphy

322. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the basis on which his Department allows a company (details supplied) to make a demand for a passport and-or a driver licence issued here as a method of verifying the identity of a person; if he has consulted with the company in respect of the way in which and-or the location it stores customer identification; if he has consulted with the company on the way in which it shares the information it collects from persons with third parties; if he has met with the owners and directors of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50838/19]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Willie Penrose

323. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a decision will be made in relation to applications by Westmeath County Council (details supplied) for funding under the large-scale sports infrastructural fund; when funding will be given in order to allow the project to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51010/19]

Civil Aviation Regulation

Paul Kehoe

324. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the regulations that apply to civilian helipads. [51014/19]

Public Service Obligation Levy Data

Peter Burke

325. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public services obligation subvention for 2020 and for each of the past 15 years by mode of transport and recipient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51048/19]

Public Transport Fares

Peter Burke

326. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of removing fares for children up to 12, 14, 16 and 18 years of age, respectively on all PSO funded transport; the expected increased current and capital expenditure requirements to respond to increased demand as a result in each scenario to ensure no diminution of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51049/19]

Sports Funding

Tom Neville

327. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current and capital expenditure for sport for the past 15 years and for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51052/19]

Sports Funding

Tom Neville

328. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of sporting expenditure required to meet the ambition set out in the national sports policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51053/19]

Sports Funding

Tom Neville

329. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expenditure on high performance sport in each of the years 2017 to 2019; the anticipated expenditure for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51054/19]

Youth Services Funding

Thomas P. Broughan

330. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the 2020 funding allocations for youth organisations under the youth service grant scheme will be made and communicated to beneficiaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50719/19]

Youth Services Funding

Thomas P. Broughan

331. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she plans to launch the new targeted youth funding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50720/19]

Climate Action Plan

Thomas P. Broughan

332. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the proposed special fund for youth action on climate justice announced on 9 October 2019; the objectives of the fund; the allocation to the fund; the timetable for the establishment of the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50721/19]

Youth Services

Thomas P. Broughan

333. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of the national quality standards framework for youth projects and services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50722/19]

National Youth Strategy

Thomas P. Broughan

334. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for a new national youth strategy when the current strategy comes to an end in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50723/19]

Children and Young People’s Policy Framework

Thomas P. Broughan

335. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the membership of the Children and Young People’s Policy Consortium; the number of meetings of the consortium in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the overall attendance record of each member since 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50724/19]

National Youth Strategy

Thomas P. Broughan

336. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of action No. 1.3 in the national youth strategy to identify ways in which arts, culture, sports and youth organisations can co-operate at a local level to enhance quality and developmental opportunities for young persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50725/19]

National Youth Strategy

Thomas P. Broughan

337. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of action No. 2.4 in the national youth strategy to strengthen co-operation between formal education and non-formal learning sectors to address early school leaving, including the use of flexible, youth-friendly approaches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50726/19]

National Youth Strategy

Thomas P. Broughan

338. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of action No. 2.5 in the national youth strategy to develop a national system for the recognition of non-formal and informal learning in line with the EU Council recommendation in 2012 on the validation of non-formal and informal learning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50727/19]

National Youth Strategy

Thomas P. Broughan

339. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of action No. 5.5 in the national youth strategy to increase young persons' political engagement through the promotion of voter education programmes and other initiatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50728/19]

Youth Work Supports

Thomas P. Broughan

340. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the work of the North-South Education and Training Standards Committee for Youth Work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50729/19]

Departmental Reviews

Thomas P. Broughan

341. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the proposed restructuring of her Department; the timescale for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50730/19]

Oireachtas Joint Committee Recommendations

Thomas P. Broughan

342. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action her Department has taken to date to implement the recommendation in the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs report on tackling child obesity in November 2018 that the Government should endeavour to ensure that the youth work sector has the necessary supports to strengthen the work in enhancing the knowledge and skills of young persons in relation to healthy eating and active living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50731/19]

Child and Family Agency

Fiona O'Loughlin

343. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures put in place to support neighbouring residents in cases of residential accommodation for young persons with very challenging behaviours living in institutional housing in residential estates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50774/19]

Child and Family Agency

Fiona O'Loughlin

344. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the safeguards in place for other residents, staff and neighbours of residents living within institutional houses in residential estates that have a record of very violent behaviour; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50775/19]

Child and Family Agency

Fiona O'Loughlin

345. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the extreme behavioural problems of a resident in an institutional house (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50776/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Sean Fleming

346. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons employed on an agency basis in her Department and in each agency under her aegis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50798/19]

Child and Family Agency Funding

Brendan Smith

347. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a service (details supplied) will be established in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50858/19]

Childcare Services Funding

Brendan Smith

348. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to increase substantially the level of capital grant assistance available towards the upgrading of existing childcare facilities and the provision of new childcare places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50859/19]

Childcare Services

Róisín Shortall

349. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take to ensure that the national childcare scheme will not penalise certain categories of lone parents in which it will act as a disincentive to taking up training, education or employment as identified by a group (details supplied); the action she will take in relation to same in the coming years and not merely the arrangements in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50864/19]

Early Years Sector

Róisín Shortall

350. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on a proposal by an organisation (details supplied) for the establishment of an early years and school age agency to replace Departments and agencies in order to ensure a streamlined, seamless and all-encompassing system in order that early child education and welfare issues are responded to appropriately and to achieve better value for money; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50868/19]

Child and Family Agency

Joan Collins

351. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the fact that the Springboard project is being removed from a centre (details supplied) to two different HSE facilities will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50876/19]

Early Years Sector

John Brady

352. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position in relation to the processing of the approximately 2,500 applications already received for the re-registration of early years services; when service providers will receive feedback on their application in view of the fact they have been unable to get in contact with her Department to obtain feedback; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50941/19]

Early Childhood Care and Education Data

Fergus O'Dowd

353. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children that have benefited from the ECCE scheme since its inception; the number of children that have benefited from two years of ECCE; the number of children that have benefited from the universal subsidy scheme since its inception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51066/19]

Childcare Services Data

Fergus O'Dowd

354. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applications made since the opening of the national childcare scheme on 20 November 2019; the number of subsidies provided since that date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51067/19]

Area Based Childhood Programme

Fergus O'Dowd

355. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the national evaluation of the ABC programme will be completed; if an interim report or update has been provided to her; if she will publish same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51068/19]

LEADER Programmes Funding

Charlie McConalogue

356. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if additional funding will be allocated to the LEADER programme in County Donegal; if so, the level of funding that will be made available; when it will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50687/19]

LEADER Programmes

Charlie McConalogue

357. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to ensure that there are no gaps between the LEADER programme 2014-2020 when it finishes at the end of 2020 and the next LEADER programme commencing; if his attention has been drawn to potential gaps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50688/19]

Local Improvement Scheme Funding

Pat Deering

358. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of future allocations under the local improvement scheme; the impact which the scheme has in counties such as County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50691/19]

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Pat Deering

359. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when he plans to make a further call for applications for funding under the town and village renewal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50692/19]

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Tony McLoughlin

360. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of town and village pilot residential occupancy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50693/19]

CLÁR Programme

Tom Neville

361. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when he plans to make a further call for applications for funding under the CLÁR scheme; the impact which the scheme has in counties such as County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50694/19]

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Tom Neville

362. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the rural regeneration development fund; the impact the fund can have in counties such as County Limerick; and his plans to make further calls for funding in the near future. [50695/19]

National Volunteering Strategy

Thomas P. Broughan

363. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of the national volunteering strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50745/19]

Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme

Charlie McConalogue

364. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application made by Donegal County Council (details supplied) under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme; when an announcement will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50790/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Sean Fleming

365. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of persons employed on an agency basis in his Department and in each agency under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50810/19]

Social Isolation

Bernard Durkan

366. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which he expects to be a position to address issues of isolation in either urban or rural settings in respect of persons who may be affected by age or socioeconomic issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50821/19]

Library Services Funding

Bernard Durkan

367. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent of library support provisions he expects to be in a position to make nationwide in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50822/19]

LEADER Programmes Administration

Bernard Durkan

368. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which his Department will interact with the LEADER programme when identifying suitable projects for attention and support in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50823/19]

Community Development Initiatives

Bernard Durkan

369. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for various voluntary and community groups and projects nationwide and in County Kildare in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50824/19]

Heritage Promotion

Bernard Durkan

370. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he can assist in the promotion of local historic sites or buildings heretofore undeveloped for education or tourism purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50825/19]

Community Development Initiatives

Bernard Durkan

371. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for the development of the various community support schemes operated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50828/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Bernard Durkan

372. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he will address issues such as local connectivity in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50829/19]

Central Statistics Office Reports

Dara Calleary

373. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on the latest CSO data in measuring distance to everyday services in Ireland (details supplied) and the way in which the average distance to most everyday services was at least three times longer for rural dwellings compared with urban dwellings. [50978/19]

Departmental Funding

Bernard Durkan

374. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next tranche of grant aid will be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51078/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Bríd Smith

375. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the recommendations by the Labour Relations Commission on pensions for community employment supervisors (details supplied); her further views on whether she is the funder referred to; her further views on whether the recommendations are being rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51071/19]

Farm Assist Scheme Data

Jackie Cahill

376. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of adapting the farm assist scheme (details supplied) based on latest annual data regarding participation levels in the scheme and associated afforestation programmes. [50672/19]

Disablement Benefit

Brendan Howlin

377. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment date for a medical examination for their disablement benefit claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50683/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Charlie McConalogue

378. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position of her Department on the Labour Court recommendation that community employment supervisors receive a pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50690/19]

Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Applications

James Lawless

379. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for partial capacity benefit by a person (details supplied). [50699/19]

Pension Provisions

Jan O'Sullivan

380. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an illness-related early retirement pension will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50709/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Thomas P. Broughan

381. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 26 years of age who are in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance, jobseeker’s benefit and signing for credits for 12 months or more by county in tabular form. [50732/19]

Youth Unemployment Measures

Thomas P. Broughan

382. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons who participated in the youth employment support scheme to date by county in a tabular form. [50733/19]

Youth Unemployment Measures

Thomas P. Broughan

383. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the budget of the youth employment support scheme in 2018 and 2019; the expenditure of the scheme in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50734/19]

Jobs Initiative

Thomas P. Broughan

384. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age that have been supported by the JobsPlus youth scheme to date by county in a tabular form. [50735/19]

Jobs Initiative

Thomas P. Broughan

385. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the funding allocation for the JobsPlus scheme has been cut from €20.2 million in 2019 to €10.1 million in 2020 as set out in the budget 2020 expenditure report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50736/19]

Jobs Initiative

Thomas P. Broughan

386. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the funding allocation for the back to education allowance scheme has been cut from €61.67 million in 2019 to €56.7 million in 2020 as set out in the budget 2020 expenditure report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50737/19]

Jobs Initiative

Thomas P. Broughan

387. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the funding allocation for the back to work enterprise allowance scheme has been cut from €70.36 million in 2019 to €37.32 million in 2020 as set out in the budget 2020 expenditure report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50738/19]

Training Support Grant

Thomas P. Broughan

388. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that received a training support grant in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019; the expenditure on the scheme in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50739/19]

Labour Activation Measures

Thomas P. Broughan

389. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the development of the Pathways to Work Strategy 2020-2024; the timetable for the publication of the strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50740/19]

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]

Invalidity Pension Applications

Brendan Griffin

393. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50762/19]

Gender Proofing of Policies

Ruth Coppinger

394. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the composition of the interdepartmental group examining facilitation of non-binary genders within public services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50763/19]

Gender Proofing of Policies

Ruth Coppinger

395. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the terms of reference of the research into non-binary and intersex recognition for those aged under 16 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50764/19]

Gender Proofing of Policies

Ruth Coppinger

396. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to publish a Bill that would make amendments to the Gender Recognition Act 2015 in line with recommendations of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 review. [50765/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Bríd Smith

397. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the situation in relation to the data collection exercise agreed by her Department in relation to the LCR19293 recommendation CE/JI Supervisors-Assistant Supervisors; the reason it included data from other categories not included in the LRC recommendation; if the data will be corrected to cover just the workers covered by the LCR recommendation; if the Community Sector High Level Forum will be convened in order to resolve the outstanding issues in relation to LCR19293; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50793/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Sean Fleming

398. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons employed on an agency basis in her Department and in each agency under her aegis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50803/19]

Data Protection

Catherine Murphy

399. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the basis on which her Department allows a company (details supplied) to make a demand for a passport and-or a driver licence issued here as a method of verifying the identity of a person; if she has consulted with the company in respect of the way in which and-or the location it stores customer identification; if she has consulted with the company on the way in which it shares the information it collects from persons with third parties; if she has met with the owners and directors of the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50840/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Róisín Shortall

400. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the issue of pensions for community employment supervisors which has been promised for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50872/19]

Fuel Allowance Eligibility

Brendan Howlin

401. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason an application for the fuel allowance by a person (details supplied) has been refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50878/19]

Invalidity Pension Reviews

Tom Neville

402. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a review of an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50940/19]

State Pension (Non-Contributory) Eligibility

Tom Neville

403. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 614 of 15 October 2019, the status of the matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50943/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Applications

Willie Penrose

404. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to ensure that an application for a contributory widower's pension by a person (details supplied) will be processed as quickly as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50947/19]

Rent Supplement Scheme Review

Bernard Durkan

405. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review in respect of a rent allowance payment will be completed in the case of a person (details supplied); when they will receive notification in regard to changes made to the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50974/19]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Thomas Pringle

406. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance application by person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51007/19]

State Pension (Contributory) Applications

Willie Penrose

407. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure that a State pension application by a person (details supplied) is dealt with. [51012/19]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Robert Troy

408. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason County Westmeath was not included in the pyrite remediation scheme in 2013 in view of the fact the two bordering counties of Offaly and Meath were included (details supplied). [50670/19]

Local Authority Housing

Richard Boyd Barrett

409. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will be instructed to buy the homes of tenants in receipt of a notice to quit at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50676/19]

Fire Stations Upgrade

Sean Fleming

410. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when additional facilities will be provided for a fire station (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50702/19]

Housing Agency Data

Darragh O'Brien

411. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loans approved; the number of loans drawn down; the average loan approved; the amount approved; the draw down in this regard; and the number of loan applications rejected by the Housing Agency in each of the months since the scheme was introduced by county in tabular form. [50714/19]

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]

Departmental Staff Data

Sean Fleming

415. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons employed on an agency basis in his Department and in each agency under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50807/19]

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

Fergus O'Dowd

416. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the letter of offer will be sent to Louth County Council on the Westgate vision plan which has been supported through the urban regeneration and development fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50845/19]

Meteorological Services

Willie Penrose

417. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated full-year cost of recruiting six extra full-time meteorologists and six extra full-time meteorological posts in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50949/19]