Parliamentary questions

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Eamon Ryan

8. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent telephone call with the German Chancellor, Ms Angela Merkel. [2737/19]

Education Welfare Service

Eamon Ryan

40. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the request for the State to monitor and quantify the practice of reduced timetables in which children with behavioural difficulties have restricted hours in their education service. [52602/18]

Television Licence Fee

Eamon Ryan

510. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the recent decision by the European Court of Justice that upheld the ability of the German Government to make a household media charge non-device dependent; if this ruling has been discussed by the television licence fee reform working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2461/19]

Gorse Burning

Eamon Ryan

43. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to outline the reason she opened a public consultation on draft regulations allowing burning in March of uncultivated land at 5.30 p.m. on the Friday before Christmas to close on 16 January 2019; her views on whether timing public consultations to run over the Christmas period represents good practice; and if she will extend the consultation period to allow for effective engagement by the public and environmental organisations. [1755/19]

Climate Change Policy

Eamon Ryan

221. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason the Solidarity and Just Transition Silesia Declaration was not signed; the reasons for signing or not signing respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1816/19]

Radon Control Strategy

Eamon Ryan

93. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if actions in the National Radon Control Strategy 2014 for the surveying and control of radon in the private rental sector and in privately owned housing used in the social housing sector have been implemented; if the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations now include obligations to test for and remediate radon; the steps that have been taken through the PRTB in relation to radon; if a survey has been carried out of landlords, tenants and other relevant stakeholders to assess the baseline levels of awareness on radon; if information on radon testing has been included in the inspections of privately rented houses by local authorities; and if local authorities carry out radon testing on privately owned accommodation used for social housing. [1472/19]

Radon Control Strategy

Eamon Ryan

98. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce minimum thermal efficiency standards for rented accommodation in view of the linked problems of fuel poverty in the private rented sector and lack of progress in achieving thermal retrofit of private rented accommodation. [1473/19]

NAMA Property Sales

Eamon Ryan

178. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the median selling price for NAMA units sold each year in each of the Dublin local authorities; and the median sale and lease price at which new units from NAMA are sold and leased to local authorities and approved housing bodies. [1626/19]

Marine Plan Implementation

Eamon Ryan

1179. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of his plans for the extension of marine protected areas; and the timeline for the implantation of these areas. [51158/18]

Energy Efficiency

Eamon Ryan

55. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage of the heat available from a planned €40 million district heating system utilising heat from the Poolbeg incinerator that will be utilised; and the purposes for which this resource could be utilised for. [53168/18]

Energy Efficiency

Eamon Ryan

103. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which he plans to meet, by 2021, the target of 45,000 deep retrofits per annum. [53167/18]

Early Years Sector

Eamon Ryan

5. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has given consideration to re-evaluating the way in which public subsidies are given to private facilities in view of the fact that pay remains low and crèche fees have increased by an average of €4 a week in 2018, and in further view of the fact the Pobal report found that there is no correlation between fees and the wages paid to staff. [52615/18]

Public Transport Fares

Eamon Ryan

24. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has modelling on the impact on demand for public transport of fare increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51962/18]

Rail Network Expansion

Eamon Ryan

33. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the role of his Department in the decision-making process and consideration of the final route of the MetroLink project on the south side of Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51961/18]

Housing Data

Eamon Ryan

265. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of permissions granted for apartments and houses, respectively in each of the four local authorities in Dublin during the period of Q1 2016 to Q2 2018; the number of houses and apartments, respectively which have been completed during the period of Q1 2016 to Q2 2018 according to the CSO by year, local authority, number of apartments per year, number of houses per year, number of permissions granted and number of CSO completions in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52444/18]

Housing Data

Eamon Ryan

266. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of houses and apartments, respectively sold in each of the four local authorities in Dublin during the period of Q1 2016 to Q2 2018 by year, local authority, number of apartments sold per year and number of houses sold per year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52445/18]

Organic Farming Scheme

Eamon Ryan

13. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements to reopen the organic farming scheme; the primary areas of focus; the budget for the extended scheme; and the number of farmers who could apply. [51159/18]

Brexit Issues

Eamon Ryan

6. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker since he met Prime Minister May on 21 November 2018; and the issues that were discussed. [50479/18]

Brexit Issues

Eamon Ryan

7. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on meetings he had at the special meeting in Brussels on 25 November 2018. [50480/18]

Asylum Seekers

Eamon Ryan

4. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Syrian refugees accepted as part of the agreement reached with the European Union; and the position Syrian refugees are at in the integration process. [49977/18]

Criminal Law

Eamon Ryan

96. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of plans to legislate for a hate crime to be considered as an aggravating factor in the sentencing of crimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49978/18]

Environmental Policy

Eamon Ryan

223. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the ban on smoky fuels promised by his predecessor and the Taoiseach on a number of occasions in Dáil Éireann will be implemented; and the reason for the delay from the original timescale. [49613/18]

Environmental Policy

Eamon Ryan

224. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for the delay in finalising the clean air strategy in view of the fact that it is now a year since his predecessor informed Dáil Éireann that he hoped to finalise the clean air strategy within the coming weeks; and when he expects to finalise it. [49614/18]

Official Engagements

Eamon Ryan

46. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to County Derry. [45930/18]

Special Areas of Conservation Management

Eamon Ryan

4. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to support the rewetting of peatlands which have been degraded by drainage and peat extraction in line with the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021; if such rewetting, planned or under consideration, will be incentivised and or supported by funding mechanisms in view of the restored biodiversity value, restored carbon storage and sequestration value and restored water management value; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47566/18]

Heritage Council

Eamon Ryan

235. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the workshops for the Heritage Ireland 2030 consultation will be announced; if she will meet with members of wildlife NGOs to discuss habitat protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47567/18]

European Council Meetings

Eamon Ryan

27. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on meetings and discussions he had with his counterparts at the recent European Council meeting. [45007/18]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Eamon Ryan

37. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with Ms Arlene Foster. [45008/18]

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

Eamon Ryan

613. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if finance (details supplied) is available for Dublin City Council to develop the Poolbeg strategic development zone, SDZ, fully without entering into a public-private development partnership. [46662/18]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eamon Ryan

614. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the decision making process from inception to delivery for the development by public-private partnership of new housing in instances (details supplied); and the decisions taken by him, the local housing authority chief executive or his officials and by the elected councillors. [46663/18]

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

Eamon Ryan

615. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of affordable housing units to be built that will be for purchase; and the number that will be affordable cost-rental properties for rent in view of the comments made by the Minister of State with special responsibility for local government and electoral reform during a Topical Issue debate on 24 October 2018 (details supplied). [46664/18]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eamon Ryan

299. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the necessary legal provisions are in place to enable local authorities approaching the development of large land banks such as Poolbeg and Ballymastone to provide cost rental housing on those lands in view of the support of Dáil Éireann for cost rental housing expressed in the approval of the motion of 6 March 2018 and his statement that cost rental is a key part of housing strategy. [46294/18]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Eamon Ryan

85. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the change in greenhouse gas emissions expected to result from each of the road projects included in the National Development Plan 2018-2027. [45641/18]

Rail Network Expansion

Eamon Ryan

97. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the role he is taking with regard to the review of the MetroLink project on the south side of the city; and if he has considered proposals for continuing the tunnel boring machine south of the Charlemont Street stop and amending the preferred route alignment to allow for such a development. [45642/18]

HSE Properties

Eamon Ryan

655. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if an internal audit was carried out by HSE into the proposed sale of 14.2 acres of HSE land at Merlin Park Hospital to a hospice (details supplied). [45377/18]

HSE Properties

Eamon Ryan

656. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will release the outcome of the internal audit into the proposed sale of 14.2 acres of HSE land at Merlin Park Hospital to a hospice (details supplied). [45378/18]

HSE Properties

Eamon Ryan

657. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if a business case covering the proposed sale of the land at Merlin Park Hospital was recommended or demanded by the internal audit; and when the business case will be completed and released. [45379/18]

HSE Properties

Eamon Ryan

658. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if a new valuation of the land at Merlin Park Hospital was recommended or demanded by the internal audit; and when the new valuation will be released. [45380/18]

HSE Properties

Eamon Ryan

659. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if the internal audit conducted by the HSE into the sale of the land at Merlin Park Hospital recommended or demanded that the proposed sale of land could not proceed unless the planning permission granted by Galway City Council was confirmed by An Bord Pleanála. [45381/18]

HSE Properties

Eamon Ryan

660. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health the way in which interested parties including voluntary organisations in County Galway would be enabled to make an independent input into the proposed sale of the land at Merlin Park Hospital to the HSE officials that will make the final decision into the proposed sale. [45382/18]

National Play and Recreation Policies

Eamon Ryan

982. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she has taken to publish both new play and recreation policies since the 2016 review of the National Play Policy 2004-2008 and the national recreation policy published in 2007 was completed in October 2016; the stage the development of these new policies are at; when the new policies will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45575/18]

Mayoral Election

Eamon Ryan

1202. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has received the report into potential arrangements and powers for directly elected mayors in Cork and other cities; and if so, if he will publish same. [45576/18]

Mayoral Election

Eamon Ryan

1203. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans with regard to arrangements and powers for directly elected mayors in Cork and other cities on which it has been indicated there will be plebiscites held in June 2019. [45577/18]

Mayoral Election

Eamon Ryan

1204. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the effort he has made to engage with and consult local citizens and political parties with regard to arrangements and powers for directly elected mayors in Cork and other cities on which it has been indicated plebiscites will be held in June 2019. [45578/18]

Banking Sector

Eamon Ryan

102. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the status of the establishment of the stakeholder forum on foot of the conclusions of the public banking investigation report; when a tender for the independent evaluation of the local public banking concept will issue; if the stakeholder forum will be involved in the selection of the external evaluator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44524/18]

Climate Change Policy

Eamon Ryan

5. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to facilitate private businesses in transitioning to a low-carbon and more sustainable business model. [43004/18]

Tax Code

Eamon Ryan

173. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if the budget €50,000 limit on benefit-in-kind exemption for electric vehicles will apply retrospectively to vehicles purchased prior to budget day. [42369/18]

Medicinal Products Availability

Eamon Ryan

390. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if the drug osimertinib will be made available to persons with EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer; the cost-benefit analysis undertaken regarding the provision of the drug; and the reason it is not available here in view of the fact that it is widely available across the EU. [41956/18]

Climate Action Fund

Eamon Ryan

540. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the advisory board for the climate action fund has been established; and if so, the members of same. [41957/18]

Climate Action Fund

Eamon Ryan

541. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of applications received to the climate action fund by the deadline of 1 October 2018. [41958/18]