Parliamentary questions

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

808. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he and his Department have received complaints from LEADER companies in Counties Kilkenny and Carlow, regarding the funding that has been allocated to them; the way he will deal with these complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14609/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

809. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if there was a cost benefit analysis on the impact the new allocation of LEADER funding would have in Counties Kilkenny and Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14610/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

810. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he has been informed that there will be job losses as a result of the new allocation of LEADER funding by his department in Counties Kilkenny and Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14611/15]

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Moynihan

65. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department is sending letters encouraging persons to receive welfare payments directly to their bank account rather than by collection at a post office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13795/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

248. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the allocation of Leader funding to the County Cork region is 70% less than the previous round of funding; his views that this is fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13857/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

249. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the average of the national allocation of Leader funding County Cork received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13858/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

250. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the rationale of using and allocating funding to a sub regional area; the extra areas that received funding under this category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13859/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

251. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way the criteria of sub regional areas were applied to the County Cork area, in view of the fact it has twice the population living in the county compared to its city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13860/15]

Pensions Legislation

Michael Moynihan

44. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when legislation will be brought forward in relation to the changes to the contributory State pension planned under the national pensions framework; if she will provide clarity on this matter for persons who are currently unsure of their future pension eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13509/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

630. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to explain the reasons behind the decision to allocate Leader funding on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12887/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

631. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the allocations to each county under the Leader regional development programme 2014 to 2020; how this compares to the allocation under the previous round of Leader funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12888/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

632. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how he can defend a cut of over 30% in the Leader funding allocated to County Cork; his views on whether this is fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12889/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

633. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set out the percentage of the national allocation of Leader funding County Cork received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12890/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

634. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to explain the rationale behind the decision to allocate funding to sub-regional areas; the specific areas that received funding under this category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12891/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

635. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to explain the way the criteria of sub-regional areas were applied to County Cork in view of the fact that there is double the population of Cork city living in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12892/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

636. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the huge concerns of Leader companies regarding the huge reduction in their funding; how he plans to address their valid concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12893/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

637. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department carried out a cost benefit analysis on the impact the new allocation of Leader funding will have in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12894/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Moynihan

638. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that the new allocation of Leader funding by his Department will result in job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12895/15]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Moynihan

299. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the staff of Waterways Ireland in Portumna in County Galway have been asked to pay an increased pension levy; the cause of the most recent increase; the company that the pension scheme is being paid into; if it is Irish managed or a United Kingdom managed company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11076/15]

School Staff

Michael Moynihan

794. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a school (details supplied) in County Kerry in respect of the possible loss of two teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11666/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Michael Moynihan

806. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the policy in respect of dual-attendance pupils being supported with resources and special needs assistants in one school only; when this policy changed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11838/15]

Alternative Energy Projects

Michael Moynihan

937. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the estimated amount of electricity, as a percentage, that Ireland will generate from biomass in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11354/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Michael Moynihan

1. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made by his Department in implementing the national digital strategy; if he is satisfied with the progress made to date on the national broadband scheme and its roll-out to rural areas; if he will fulfil in this term the promise under the 2011 programme for Government to deliver fibre to the home or kerb for 90% of homes and businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10595/15]

Energy Policy

Michael Moynihan

4. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources following the publication of a new European Union energy package in which Ireland is singled out as one of the member states that is not sufficiently connected with other European Union countries, the steps he will take to achieve the electricity interconnection target of at least 10% of installed electricity production capacity by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10596/15]

Postal Services

Michael Moynihan

11. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the discussions he has had with An Post regarding delivering its services to all communities; the type of business model that will be used; if he will provide a guarantee that no post offices will close in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10510/15]

Television Licence Fee Payments

Michael Moynihan

13. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that moneys collected via the RTE licence fee are being spent in the most efficient way; if a value for money analysis been carried out; if there are any planned stakeholder meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10507/15]

Tourism Promotion

Michael Moynihan

18. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with regard to inland fisheries and EU funding that was not fully used under the LIFE project for Leader development companies, if he is satisfied with this; his strategy or policy to maximise the tourist potential of inland fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10508/15]

Energy Prices

Michael Moynihan

36. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that the current regulatory framework empowers the Commission for Energy Regulation to ensure the best electricity price is delivered to households and businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10506/15]

Corrib Gas Field

Michael Moynihan

39. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the Corrib project’s gas supply will come online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10509/15]

Internet Safety

Michael Moynihan

277. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the Government policy on the principle of net neutrality and the regulation of Internet infrastructure pertaining to the bandwidth provided by Internet providers to consumers; if he has examined potential benefits of net neutrality to business start-ups; his views on the recent decision by European Union member states on net neutrality provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10768/15]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Michael Moynihan

278. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the Government policy on investment in 4G mobile telecommunications technology and the potential, as a lever, to connect Irish households and businesses who currently do have high-speed broadband provision; if he has examined the potential of investing in the latest 5G infrastructure via public private partnerships with the technology industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10769/15]

Farm Safety Scheme

Michael Moynihan

77. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on including funding under the new farm safety scheme for the installation of a road underpass in view of the large number of farmers who have land holdings on either side of busy roads; his views that this presents a clear safety hazard to both farmers and road users alike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10620/15]

Child Care Services Regulation

Michael Moynihan

354. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views regarding the increased levels of administration work imposed on child care centres, in particular, resulting from the programme implementation platform, which has significantly increased the paperwork and time spent on administration for child care providers; if he will provide funding to assist with this administration work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10497/15]

Electricity Generation

Michael Moynihan

241. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has examined converting the coal fired power station at Moneypoint, County Clare, into a biomass energy power station; if it has been costed. [8535/15]

Energy Policy

Michael Moynihan

242. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if biomass will form part of future Government energy policy. [8536/15]

National Standards Authority of Ireland

Michael Moynihan

245. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the delays with the issuing of certification of type approval by the National Standards Authority of Ireland for new commercial vehicles, in view of these delays are having a serious financial impact on struggling businesses; if he will intervene to ensure that this situation is resolved immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6979/15]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Michael Moynihan

457. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the concerns among teachers regarding the proposals to introduce public hearings as part of fitness to teach inquiries; if she will provide an assurance to teachers that any such hearings will be carried out in a fair and balanced way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6996/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Michael Moynihan

458. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a school (details supplied) in County Cork does not have its resource hours reduced any further; if she will increase its allocation of resource hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6998/15]

Seniors Alert Scheme

Michael Moynihan

243. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns held by volunteers in local community groups regarding the proposed changes to the seniors alert scheme, in particular regarding the lack of consultation with those groups who have been administering this scheme, with such great effect up to now; his views on delaying the implementation to allow for more conclusive discussion regarding these changes with the grassroots volunteers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6480/15]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Moynihan

115. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the significant difficulties being experienced with the early childhood care and education scheme, particularly in relation to the capitation level, which is not sufficient to cover the costs of delivering a high quality service for children; if he will conduct a study, in consultation with the providers, to determine the real costs of providing this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6238/15]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Moynihan

116. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on additional capitation under the ECCE scheme to support children with additional needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6239/15]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Moynihan

117. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department will increase the duration of the ECCE scheme contract to 48 weeks per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6240/15]

Special Protection Areas Designation

Michael Moynihan

330. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to compensate farmers whose land has been designated as special protection areas for the hen harrier; if his plans to include such farmers in the GLÁS scheme are not adequate to compensate for the enormous impact this derogation has on the value of the lands in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4567/15]

Alternative Energy Projects

Michael Moynihan

603. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has considered the use of anaerobic digestion technology as an energy source here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4774/15]

Special Protection Areas Designation

Michael Moynihan

656. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the plight of farmers whose lands have been designated as special protection areas for the hen harrier; her views that this designation renders these lands worthless, in areas of rural Ireland where people can least afford these restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4571/15]

Wind Energy Generation

Michael Moynihan

1. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the recent mechanical failure of certain wind turbines here; the reason these failed; if he has requested a report on these incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3773/15]

National Postcode System

Michael Moynihan

4. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to set out how privacy concerns surrounding Eircode will be addressed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3958/15]

Electricity Transmission Network

Michael Moynihan

8. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the Grid25 project; when the review of this project will be completed; the way this project will be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3771/15]

Sale of State Assets

Michael Moynihan

21. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the final sale price of Bord Gáis Energy; the revenue this will be utilised for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3772/15]

Post Office Network

Michael Moynihan

25. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the discussions he has had with the board and chief executive officer of An Post regarding the post office network; if he will guarantee that no post offices will close this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3774/15]