Parliamentary questions

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Brendan Smith

146. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when a review of the income eligibility limits for social housing will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12673/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

175. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the particular challenges arising for all of Ireland following Brexit will be part of the discussions with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State and with the political parties represented in the assembly following the recent elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12611/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

176. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the particular challenges facing business and enterprise in the Border region, which are heavily or totally dependent on exports to the sterling area, will be considered in the context of the all-island civic dialogue on Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12614/17]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Smith

177. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12615/17]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Smith

178. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he put forward at the recent Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the urgent need to provide humanitarian assistance to Somalia, Yemen, South Sudan and north east Nigeria, in view of the imminent threat of famine and the desperate need at present for humanitarian assistance in that region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12616/17]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Smith

179. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if additional humanitarian aid will be provided as a matter of urgency to Somalia, Yemen, South Sudan and north east Nigeria, in view of the desperate plight at present of so many persons in that region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12617/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

180. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland following the recent assembly elections in relation to the need to have the assembly and Executive re-established without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12618/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

181. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions he has had with each of the party leaders represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly in relation to the need to have the assembly and Executive re-established without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12619/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

182. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if in his discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the leaders of the parties represented in the assembly, he has outlined in detail the need to implement in full the Good Friday Agreement and successor agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12620/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

184. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a review of priorities in relation to the capital plan, building on recovery, will be considered in the context of the all-island civic dialogue on Brexit with particular reference to the needs of the Border region due to the particular challenges that will arise following Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12613/17]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Brendan Smith

198. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the availability of Orkambi for persons with cystic fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12455/17]

Addiction Treatment Services

Brendan Smith

247. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop new services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12695/17]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Smith

289. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he put forward at the recent Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting on CAP post 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12629/17]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Smith

290. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he detailed at the recent Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting the need to provide additional funding for CAP post 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12630/17]

Tourism Promotion

Brendan Smith

351. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional resources will be allocated to the State's tourism promotion agencies in view of Brexit and the importance of the British market for Irish tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12734/17]

Bus Éireann Services

Brendan Smith

352. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the concerns regarding the possible loss of the Bus Éireann Dublin-Monaghan-Derry service; if this cross-Border service will be maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12735/17]

Tourism Promotion

Brendan Smith

353. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional resources will be allocated to the tourism promotion agencies to initiate new marketing measures specifically for the Border region in view of the fact there is a heavy reliance in this area on the British tourism market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12736/17]

Industrial Development

Brendan Smith

363. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the new initiatives that will be introduced by the State's industrial promotion agencies to attract inward investment and jobs to areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan due to adverse impacts that Brexit will have on this region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12696/17]

Domestic Violence Services Funding

Brendan Smith

365. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to improve services for victims of domestic abuse in the north east with particular reference to the lack of adequate provision of such services in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12453/17]

HSE Waiting Lists

Brendan Smith

89. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce waiting lists for orthopaedics in the north-east region with particular reference to the delays for patients in counties Cavan and Monaghan accessing assessments and treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11821/17]

Emergency Departments

Brendan Smith

110. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a project (details supplied) is included in the 2017 HSE capital programme due to the inadequate facilities at the health facility at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11820/17]

Humanitarian Aid Provision

Brendan Smith

180. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised at the Foreign Affairs Council, the need to provide additional humanitarian assistance to areas such as South Sudan and Yemen in which there is an imminent threat of famine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12283/17]

Maternity Services

Brendan Smith

256. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when a service will be provided at a hospital (details supplied); if the recruitment of the necessary personnel has commenced; the date for the introduction of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12418/17]

Live Exports

Brendan Smith

270. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had discussions with the EU Agriculture Commissioner regarding the ruling by the World Trade Organisation that Russia's 2014 import bans on live pigs, pork and other pork products from the EU are illegal; the measures being implemented to restore the export of pig products to Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12402/17]

GLAS Payments

Brendan Smith

271. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan who have not received 85% of their total 2016 payment under GLAS 1, GLAS 2 and AEOS; the reason for this delay; when payments will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12428/17]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Brendan Smith

272. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan availing of the areas of natural constraint scheme; the status of the process of reviewing qualifying areas for the areas of natural constraint scheme; if his Department has completed the mapping exercise in counties Cavan and Monaghan; when the maps will be published; the consultation that will be undertaken with representative organisations; if his Department plans to hold public meetings to assist in the best possible engagement by persons in this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12429/17]

Renewable Energy Incentives

Brendan Smith

281. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the renewable heat incentive scheme will be introduced; the rate to be paid per kilowatt hour; the rate to be paid per size of boiler; if this scheme will be fully operational by mid 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12419/17]

National Broadband Plan

Brendan Smith

282. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce a broadband telecommunications universal service obligation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12420/17]

Mobile Telephony Services

Brendan Smith

283. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce a universal service obligation for mobile phone service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12421/17]

Crime Prevention

Brendan Smith

133. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the grant assistance available towards the installation of CCTV in towns; her plans to roll out such initiatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11985/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Brendan Smith

181. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if approval will issue at an early date in respect of provision of additional accommodation at a school (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this accommodation is required for the commencement of the 2017-18 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11237/17]

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Brendan Smith

342. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to amend eligibility criteria for jobseeker's allowance; in regard to a person who has invested in a private pension fund and is out of work and wishes to retain the investment for pension purposes, if such investment fund will be excluded from means assessment for jobseeker's allowance in view of the fact the person wishes to safeguard the private pension plan due to future limited entitlement to a State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11980/17]

Public Sector Pensions

Brendan Smith

372. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if persons who have given long service as temporary veterinary inspectors with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will have public pension service entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11984/17]

Hospital Beds Data

Brendan Smith

509. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the necessary resources are provided to have the full complement of beds utilised in Monaghan General Hospital; the number of beds in use and the number unused at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11386/17]

Livestock Inspections

Brendan Smith

680. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all valuers that are on his Department's approved list of valuers in respect of the depopulation of part or full herds due to disease are experienced in the cattle trade and in the sale and purchase of animals and up to date with livestock valuations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11378/17]

Livestock Inspections

Brendan Smith

681. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average time in having cattle removed from a farm following positive tests that necessitate partial or full depopulation of herds; the timeframe his Department adheres to in having a second valuation carried out when the person refuses to accept the first valuation; if there have been incidents of diseased animals remaining on farms for undue periods due to delays on his Department's part in finalising valuations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11379/17]

Mobile Telephony Services

Brendan Smith

753. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has had contact with ComReg regarding the decision by some mobile phone companies not to make available to their customers all the benefits that should accrue with the new EU roaming charges regime with effect from June 2017, with particular reference to data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11723/17]

Mobile Telephony Services

Brendan Smith

754. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will raise at the EU Council of Ministers the need for all mobile phone companies to provide to all their customers all the benefits that should accrue from the new roaming charges regime with effect from June 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11724/17]

Rural Broadband Scheme

Brendan Smith

761. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to upgrade the broadband telecommunications infrastructure in an area (details supplied); if the requests of local residents and local businesses to have an adequate and modern broadband service provided in that area without further delay will be given consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12033/17]

Road Improvement Schemes

Brendan Smith

769. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided in 2017 towards the provision of necessary road improvement works on a national route (details supplied). [11248/17]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility

Brendan Smith

105. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to improve the criteria pertaining to the tenant purchase scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10816/17]

Local Authority Housing Eligibility

Brendan Smith

114. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to exclude family income supplement from assessment of income in eligibility limits for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11066/17]

Passport Services

Brendan Smith

139. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to launch additional promotional campaigns in respect of the timeframe for new and renewal passport applications due to the increasing number of applications and delays occurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10943/17]

Post Office Network

Brendan Smith

168. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to implement the recommendations in a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10818/17]

National Children's Hospital Location

Brendan Smith

228. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will have the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) and similar concerns expressed by persons regarding the provision of the new national children's hospital considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11074/17]

Home Help Service Provision

Brendan Smith

231. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health to outline his plans to have home help hours provided on a demand led basis; if his attention has been drawn to the considerable delays that can occur in having home help hours put in place following approval depending on the availability of resources; his views on the fact that when a person is deemed to need home help hours, there should be no delay in having such a service provided and that in many instances home help can reduce demands on other aspects of the health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11078/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

310. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional supports that have been provided for the mushroom sector since the fall in the value of sterling following the British referendum on membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11106/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

312. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that have been introduced to assist sectors that are heavily or totally dependent on the sterling area for their export markets and that have been impacted negatively since the British referendum on EU membership and the fall in the value of sterling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11108/17]

Broadband Service Provision

Brendan Smith

326. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of plans to upgrade the broadband telecommunications infrastructure in an area (details supplied); if the requests of local residents and local business to have an adequate and modern broadband service provided in that area without further delay will be given urgent and favourable consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11105/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

376. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures that have been introduced to assist sectors that are heavily or totally dependent on the sterling area for their export markets and that have been impacted negatively since the British referendum on EU membership and the fall in the value of sterling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11110/17]

School Transport Review

Brendan Smith

49. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the outcome of the school transport review; the measures he plans to implement to deal with difficulties which arose for many families prior to the commencement of the 2016-17 school year, with particular reference to the availability of concessionary tickets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10125/17]

School Transport Review

Brendan Smith

73. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve the criteria for school transport eligibility, in view of many difficulties that have arisen in recent years particularly for some families in more rural and isolated areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10126/17]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Brendan Smith

217. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if all the social insurance contributions paid by a person (details supplied) in two countries can be aggregated for consideration for State contributory pension purposes on the person reaching pension age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10600/17]

Imports and Exports Data

Brendan Smith

89. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if particular trends have emerged in respect of exports in the preliminary data available for 2016; the details of the trends in respect of exports to and imports from Britain; and if there are particular indicators in respect of exports from the different regions of the country. [9771/17]

Investor Compensation Company Limited

Brendan Smith

215. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the delays in having claims for compensation finalised and submitted to a body (details supplied) for persons that lost investments with a company (details supplied); the measures he proposes to implement to eliminate these delays and have compensation payments made at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9969/17]

Investor Compensation Company Limited

Brendan Smith

216. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the very serious concerns regarding the level of compensation being paid by a body (details supplied) to persons who lost major investments through a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9970/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Brendan Smith

13. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to increase eligibility income limits for social housing, particularly in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8826/17]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Brendan Smith

30. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the review of the tenant purchase scheme; when this review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8827/17]

Fuel Sales

Brendan Smith

143. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the restrictions in place for the import of fuel products both fuel for vehicles and household fuel products from Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9343/17]

Public Sector Pay

Brendan Smith

272. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the employment status and remuneration levels will be finalised in respect of personnel that were redeployed from the National Building Agency to other agencies within the public service; if those staff whose salary levels have not yet been finalised will obtain the pay scale they held while employees at the National Building Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9349/17]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Brendan Smith

334. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of the cross-Border health care directive; to make the details of this scheme more widely available particularly for persons who are on long waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9344/17]

Agrifood Sector

Brendan Smith

371. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a recent publication (details supplied) in relation to the need to implement a range of measures to ensure that the agrifood sector remains competitive and innovative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9348/17]

North-South Interconnector

Brendan Smith

226. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he proposes to commission an independent report incorporating international industry expertise on the proposed North-South interconnector as outlined in the Private Members' motion passed in Dáil Éireann on 16 February 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8886/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

357. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if, in view of the particular challenges that will arise for areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan due to Brexit, consideration will be given to the provision of additional capital funding for projects in the Border region in the review of the capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8217/17]

CLÁR Programme

Brendan Smith

372. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if consideration will be given to the request of a local authority for CLÁR funding (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8238/17]

Forestry Management

Brendan Smith

530. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all the provisions of the Forestry Act 2014 have been implemented; if not, when all provisions will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8176/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

578. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a recent publication on the impact of Brexit on the agrifood sector (details supplied); his further views on the need to implement some specific measures as advocated in this publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8752/17]

Garda Investigations

Brendan Smith

42. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress in an investigation into the Belturbet bombing of December 1972 which caused the death of two teenagers; if her attention has been drawn to the widespread concerns about the lack of progress on this investigation to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7608/17]

Garda Station Closures

Brendan Smith

54. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration is being given to the reopening of the Garda stations which were closed in the Cavan/Monaghan division since 2011;and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7607/17]

Defence Forces Reserve

Brendan Smith

69. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to launch a recruitment campaign for the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7333/17]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Brendan Smith

75. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to initiate a new recruitment campaign for the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7332/17]

Tax Code

Brendan Smith

129. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if there are specific tax incentive schemes available to provide assistance in the refurbishment and upgrading of buildings in town centres or villages for residential or commercial purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7745/17]

Ground Rents

Brendan Smith

129. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 2 February 2017, if consideration is being given to a constitutional amendment pertaining to ground rents; if there are proposals to amend the existing statutory framework regarding ground rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7418/17]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme

Brendan Smith

263. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to expand the mortgage to rent scheme and improve the conditions for this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7369/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

325. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to review the capital programme with a view to increasing investment in infrastructure, such as the road network, in the Border region because of the particular challenges that will arise due to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7367/17]

Pension Provisions

Brendan Smith

326. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if State sponsored bodies can extend employment by one year for long-serving employees on reaching 65 years of age, who on retirement at 65 years of age would have to seek jobseeker's benefit for one year prior to being eligible for pension payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7368/17]

Legislative Measures

Brendan Smith

615. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will implement the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission on the dissemination of abusive material on social media sites and online abuse; if he proposes to appoint a digital safety commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7417/17]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Brendan Smith

715. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to improve pay levels for new recruits to the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7456/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will direct the State's industrial promotion agencies to place a particular focus on the needs of the Border region, given the particular challenges that will arise for that region due to Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6175/17]

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Brendan Smith

42. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if specific measures will be introduced to assist businesses that are totally or heavily dependent on exporting to the sterling area, in view of the difficulties that have arisen due to currency fluctuations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6176/17]

Local Authority Funding

Brendan Smith

118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the level of funding that will be provided to Cavan County Council for 2017 in respect of housing construction, purchase of houses, upgrading of existing housing stock and funding for housing grant schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6514/17]

Local Authority Funding

Brendan Smith

119. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the level of funding that will be provided to Monaghan County Council for 2017 in respect of housing construction, purchase of houses, upgrading of existing housing stock and funding for housing grant schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6515/17]

State Pension (Contributory)

Brendan Smith

142. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the proposals he has to amend the legislation and regulations pertaining to eligibility for the State contributory pension in regard to the calculation of the average yearly social insurance contributions that can adversely affect persons who were in insurable employment, left that employment in many instances for family reasons, returned to insurable employment and have their average contributions calculated from the time they first entered insurable employment; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons have been denied the full rate of payment due to this method of calculation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6568/17]

Cross-Border Projects

Brendan Smith

163. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the restoration of the Ulster Canal will proceed to the next stage; the funding allocated for this project in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6511/17]

Heritage Projects

Brendan Smith

164. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the level of funding that will be allocated in 2017 to Cavan County Council in respect of heritage projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6512/17]

Heritage Projects

Brendan Smith

165. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the level of funding that will be allocated in 2017 to Monaghan County Council in respect of heritage projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6513/17]

Services for People with Disabilities

Brendan Smith

203. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that additional psychologists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists are allocated to counties Cavan and Monaghan due to the huge delays in the autism spectrum disorder diagnostic process; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a very large number of children in counties Cavan and Monaghan are awaiting assessment and follow-up support; if he will provide the necessary resources to enable an adequate level of service to be provided without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6559/17]

Road Improvement Schemes

Brendan Smith

70. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if specific funding will be provided to the National Roads Authority in respect of the necessary upgrading of a road which carries a heavy volume of traffic and is inadequate at present for such a level of traffic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5824/17]

Road Network

Brendan Smith

82. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to have a major programme of upgrading works carried out on specific regional routes which carry heavy volumes of traffic and are the key arterial routes for rural areas; if consideration will be given to areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan which face particular economic challenges due to Brexit with the resultant need to improve infrastructure to assist industry and business to remain as competitive as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5825/17]

Garda Resources

Brendan Smith

101. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to upgrade facilities to enable the better delivery of services by An Garda Síochána (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6338/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

116. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if issues referred to by a person (details supplied) at a Westminster committee in relation to border controls and the imposition of same should Britain leave the EU have been discussed at the EU Council of Finance Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6374/17]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Brendan Smith

149. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to a request to provide additional funding in respect of a building project (details supplied) in view of the detailed submissions by the board of management and representations made by this Deputy in relation to the urgency of providing this new facility for the 2017-2018 school year and considering that the school authorities have reduced the costs to the minimum; if he will ensure that this application is approved at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6372/17]

National Planning Framework

Brendan Smith

170. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the consultations to date with the Northern Ireland authorities on the new national planning framework; his plans to have further consultations to enable the planning and provision of services on a cross-Border basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6337/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

183. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions he has had with the British Foreign Secretary in relation to the need for any post-Article 50 agreement between Britain and the European Union to provide for a human rights Act, which is a central element of the Good Friday Agreement. [5547/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

184. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions he has had with the British Foreign Secretary in relation to access to the Court of Justice of the European Union and other guarantees of fundamental rights that underpin the Good Friday Agreement in any post-Article 50 agreement between Britain and the EU. [5548/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

186. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his Department has been in touch with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or the British Foreign Office in relation to the recent disclosure of papers pertaining to torture by the British army of a number of persons in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6378/17]

Teagasc Courses

Brendan Smith

241. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress being made to meet the demand for courses (details supplied); if additional personnel will be recruited to enable demand to be met and to eliminate the delays that occur for farmers wishing to participate on such courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6282/17]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Brendan Smith

243. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to improve financial supports in respect of the bovine viral diarrhoea eradication programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6294/17]

Job Creation

Brendan Smith

287. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress in the State's industrial promotional agencies' efforts to attract investment and jobs to a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6272/17]

North-South Interconnector

Brendan Smith

64. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, in view of the widespread concerns in communities in counties Monaghan, Cavan and Meath and reflected in statements by public representatives in those counties in relation to the EirGrid proposal to construct the North-South interconnector, he will direct EirGrid to underground these transmission cables if the project proceeds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5530/17]