Parliamentary questions

Sugar Industry

Declan Breathnach

260. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding streams and grant aid supports there are for producing industrial chemicals from sugar beet; if any projects have accessed the EU funding opportunity under the bio-based industries joint undertaking to date; his plans to provide funding supports to help re-establish the sugar beet industry from 1 October 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12448/17]

Health Insurance Cover

Declan Breathnach

203. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in a matter (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the facility has to turn persons away that are members of a company due to this refusal and that these persons have nowhere else to turn to in the region; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the facility is struggling to maintain its staffing levels due to this refusal; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this refusal is contrary to EU law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12274/17]

Insurance Coverage

Declan Breathnach

284. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to regulate for insurance for hobby drone users; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the two insurance companies here underwritten by UK companies that offer insurance cover for drones will not cover drones used by amateurs and hobbyists; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that there have been a number of accidents and damage to property caused by drones operated by amateurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12317/17]

Hospital Facilities

Declan Breathnach

535. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if the five new operating theatres and emergency departments will be fully equipped and commissioned to function as per planning permission when the phase two building at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is complete in November 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11519/17]

GLAS Payments

Declan Breathnach

678. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 236 of 8 February 2017 regarding a person (details supplied), if the portion of the land that needed to be reassessed for the balance of the 2015 payment under the GLAS scheme has been examined; if the examination has not yet taken place, the reason; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of farmers in the Carlingford and Cooley Peninsula area are still waiting for assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9873/17]

Grant Aid

Declan Breathnach

704. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a new grant scheme available for small-scale forestry (details supplied); if so, when this scheme commences; the timeframe for persons to get access to such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10261/17]

Services for People with Disabilities

Declan Breathnach

299. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if he will provide urgent funding to a facility (details supplied) in County Louth for the care of persons with intellectual disabilities and mental health issues to allow it meet modern standards for delivery of care to persons in both institutional and community settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9189/17]

Services for People with Disabilities

Declan Breathnach

300. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to problems uncovered with the services provided at a facility (details supplied) in County Louth for persons with intellectual disabilities and mental health issues; if his attention has been further drawn to the imminent closure by HIQA of four of the units at this facility and the distress that this will cause to persons and families that use same; if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need for resources to keep this much needed service open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9190/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Declan Breathnach

318. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the overall spend by his Department on health and well-being initiatives each year since 2012, in tabular form; the individual initiatives in health and well-being supported by the Government for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9269/17]

Road Safety Authority Campaigns

Declan Breathnach

232. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to a road safety campaign focusing on visibility and awareness for vulnerable road users such as cyclists, schoolchildren and joggers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8908/17]

Labour Activation Measures

Declan Breathnach

301. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on recent reports in the media that his Department is considering ending the labour activation schemes, including Tús and Gateway; if his attention has been drawn to the detrimental effect this would have on these fundamental schemes which provide an excellent gateway into the workforce for unemployed persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8581/17]

Capital Assistance Scheme

Declan Breathnach

153. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if €86 million was allocated to capital assistance scheme projects in 2016; the amount of this allocation that was actually spent on CAS projects; if all CAS applications received were considered for funding; the areas to which the balance of the allocation for CAS projects not used for CAS projects went; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7464/17]

Capital Assistance Scheme

Declan Breathnach

155. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of an application for capital assistance scheme funding (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) submitted a proposal to his Department through Louth County Council in this case in 2016 and has not yet received a reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7471/17]

Mobile Telephony Use

Declan Breathnach

263. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason Irish mobile telephone customers are paying more than other European customers for making calls when abroad; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that according to ComReg the average surcharge applied by Irish operators is 98c per minute compared with just 69c across the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7590/17]

Mobile Telephony Use

Declan Breathnach

264. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the outcome for roaming charges between Ireland and the UK post-Brexit (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is a serious issue for persons living in the Border regions in which mobile operator service providers automatically switch over and back; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7593/17]

Legislative Measures

Declan Breathnach

287. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the severe restrictions imposed on community and voluntary groups and community work placement initiatives by the need to comply with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005; if she will make it mandatory that all persons employed under these schemes will receive proper training, proper clothing and work materials under the Act to allow them carry out the full range of tasks associated with the job; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that participants in these schemes are prevented from reaching their full potential and training experience due to restrictions being put in place under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7723/17]

EU Issues

Declan Breathnach

103. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the EU ESTA proposal; if she has discussed it with her UK counterpart; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6917/17]

Illicit Trade in Fuel and Tobacco Products

Declan Breathnach

108. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance the reason the number of seizures of illicit cigarettes and tobacco has dropped 16% from 7,154 seizures in 2015 to 6,024 in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6147/17]

Occupational Therapy

Declan Breathnach

208. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the reason the waiting lists in County Louth for occupational therapy are increasing; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are children on the waiting list for more than 20 months because of staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6206/17]

GLAS Payments

Declan Breathnach

236. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there are continuing delays in payments under the GLAS scheme; when a person (details supplied) will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6142/17]

National Broadband Plan

Declan Breathnach

253. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration will be given to appointing a number of liaison officers from his Department to deal with different regions in taking broadband queries on behalf of members of the public submitted by elected representatives; if further consideration will be given to supplying elected representatives with the contact details of a liaison person from each of the broadband service providers within regions that elected representatives can communicate with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6237/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Declan Breathnach

476. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the reason there is such a long waiting time to see a consultant ophthalmologist in the Mater Hospital in respect of the serious condition glaucoma (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6115/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Declan Breathnach

479. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay for a person (details supplied) to see a consultant ophthalmologist in the Mater Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6118/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Declan Breathnach

560. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to speed up the roll-out of high speed broadband into communities in which there is currently little or no service; if there is a timeframe on the urgent points identified in the implementation programme on mobile phone and broadband access document; if he will direct the broadband and mobile phone service providers to extend connectivity to all households when they are working within an area; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that service providers currently consider it acceptable to connect some households within an area and not others; the timeframe for the roll-out of high speed broadband to a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5402/17]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

569. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to speed up the roll-out of high speed broadband into communities in which there is currently little or no service; if there is a timeframe on the urgent points identified in the implementation programme on mobile phone and broadband access document; if he will direct the broadband and mobile phone service providers to extend connectivity to all households when they are working within an area; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that service providers currently consider it acceptable to connect some households within an area and not others; the timeframe on the roll-out of high speed broadband to a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5646/17]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

316. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he is taking to speed up the rolling out of high-speed broadband into communities in which there is currently little or no service; if there is a timeframe on the urgent points identified in the implementation programme on the mobile telephone and broadband access document; if he will direct the broadband and mobile telephone service providers to extend connectivity to all households when they are working within an area; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that service providers currently consider it acceptable to connect some households within an area and not others; the timeframe on the roll-out of high-speed broadband to a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5042/17]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

317. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he is taking to speed up the roll-out of high-speed broadband into communities in which there is currently little or no service; if there is a timeframe on the urgent points identified in the implementation programme on the mobile telephone and broadband access document; if he will direct the broadband and mobile telephone service providers to extend connectivity to all households when they are working within an area; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that service providers currently consider it acceptable to connect some households within an area and not others; the timeframe on the roll-out of high-speed broadband to a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5047/17]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

318. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he will take to speed up the roll-out of high speed broadband into communities in which there is currently little or no service; the timeframe on the urgent points identified in the implementation programme on the mobile telephone and broadband access document; if he will direct the broadband and mobile telephone service providers to extend connectivity to all households when they are working within an area; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that service providers currently consider it is acceptable to connect some households within an area and not others; the timeframe on the roll-out of high-speed broadband to a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5049/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Declan Breathnach

84. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the action that will be taken in 2017 to reduce waiting times for outpatient consultations in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, which increased significantly during 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4684/17]

Home Help Service

Declan Breathnach

94. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if there will be any increase in the number of home help hours provided in 2017 in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4685/17]

Schengen Agreement

Declan Breathnach

106. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for Ireland's access to the Schengen information system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4053/17]

Schengen Agreement

Declan Breathnach

107. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has reassessed protocols regarding the exchange of information on the Schengen information system between the UK and Ireland post-Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4054/17]

Respite Care Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

135. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if any additional funding will be allocated to Louth HSE and ring-fenced to help resolve the urgent issue of lack of adult respite places in County Louth; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the need was agreed by the HSE; if he will review the costing (details supplied) of providing a house to meet the needs of 30 to 40 families and the value for money that this represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3564/17]

State Pensions

Declan Breathnach

303. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection if the changes planned to come into effect in 2020 in the way the State pension (contributory) is calculated, taking total contributions into account rather than the current averaging system, will be retrospectively applied to persons currently receiving a reduced rate of State pension (contributory) due to the averaging system; if he has decided the number of full contributions that will be required to qualify for the full rate of State pension (contributory) on or after 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3135/17]

Ministerial Meetings

Declan Breathnach

30. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since his appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40463/16]

Brexit Issues

Declan Breathnach

57. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on discussions her Department has undertaken on Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40462/16]

Passport Applications

Declan Breathnach

245. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the unprecedented increase in new applications for Irish passports, if he will consider the opening of a satellite passport office in the north east to facilitate persons from that region and Northern Ireland when applying for passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40498/16]

School Expulsions

Declan Breathnach

547. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the percentage of students suspended and-or expelled from schools in counties Louth and Meath for the past three years; if her Department has issued guidelines to all second level schools on developing their code of behaviour particularly regarding suspension and expulsion of students; if these guidelines advise that such measures should be a last resort after other interventions have been tried; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40548/16]

Waste Tyre Disposal

Declan Breathnach

589. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the new regulations he expects to have in place early in 2017 pertaining to producer responsibilities for environmentally sound management of waste tyres; the details of his proposed mandatory compliance scheme to ensure that the vEMC levy is actually used for the measures intended by the scheme, that is, for waste management of end of life tyres; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a section of the industry that continues to impede the producer responsibility model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39880/16]

Rail Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

622. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the explanation he has been given from Irish Rail following reports that the Enterprise cross-Border rail service experienced a total of 1,700 delays in the past year, adding to a total of 15 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39881/16]

Rail Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

623. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to invest in improving the cross-Border rail service going forward, as agreed by the Government in the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39882/16]

North-South Ministerial Council

Declan Breathnach

624. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of formal bilateral meetings he has had with Northern Ireland's Minister for Infrastructure since his appointment; the issues discussed at any such meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39883/16]

Fines Data

Declan Breathnach

45. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of fines that were paid since the enactment of the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 in January 2016, specifically in relation to those that are fined for smuggling or selling illicit cigarettes, fuel and alcohol; the number of persons sent to prison for non-payment; the number of attachment orders imposed; her plans to extend the legislation to allow for recovery of fines by the attachment of social protection payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39186/16]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Declan Breathnach

145. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure accelerated delivery of an urgent school building application (details supplied); when the school can expect commencement of the extension for which it has already been waiting 13 years; the criteria the school can provide evidence of in order to ensure prioritisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38466/16]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

160. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider revising the residency rules governing eligibility for the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grant which prevents Irish citizens returning from non-EU countries from receiving the grant; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this rule is preventing persons from taking up college places due to hardship issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38528/16]

Local Authority Expenditure

Declan Breathnach

192. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of compensation paid out by local authorities in the past three years for damage caused by potholes in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38516/16]

Local Authority Expenditure

Declan Breathnach

193. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total amount of insurance claims paid out by local authorities in the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38517/16]

Passport Applications Data

Declan Breathnach

259. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of first-time applications for Irish passports in the past three years to date in 2016 by county and jurisdiction, including the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38781/16]

Easter Rising Commemorations

Declan Breathnach

495. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason Louth Civil Defence did not take part in the 1916 commemoration parade on 27 March 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38783/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Declan Breathnach

47. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the action that will be taken to address the fact that 441 persons have been waiting over 18 months for an outpatient appointment at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38054/16]

Brexit Issues

Declan Breathnach

69. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach the date and location of the second plenary all-island civil dialogue. [36923/16]

Brexit Issues

Declan Breathnach

74. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach if he has requested that Southern sectoral interest groups be invited to participate in the Northern dialogue in order that cognisance be taken of interests from a Southern perspective in view of the fact that the British Government has agreed to have sectoral interest meetings to discuss Brexit. [37121/16]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Declan Breathnach

100. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the slow processing of disability allowance appeals; if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36393/16]

Disability Allowance Applications

Declan Breathnach

104. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the issue of slow processing of disability allowance claims, in particular with regard to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36485/16]

Good Friday Agreement

Declan Breathnach

131. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received assurance from his counterpart in the UK Government of a solid commitment to uphold and underpin the Good Friday Agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36505/16]

Good Friday Agreement

Declan Breathnach

132. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the commitments under the INTERREG and PEACE programmes up until 2020 will be fully honoured as indicated to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement by a representative from SEUPB on 17 November 2016; if he will commence the development of a model of funding post-Brexit to accommodate project funding streams between EU and non-EU governments; if such a model will be agreed and in place to provide certainty to the funding programmes that are to come into place post-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36508/16]

EU Issues

Declan Breathnach

158. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the correspondence her Department has had with the EU migration commissioner, Dimitris Avrampolous, in regard to the impact of the European travel information and authorisation system in view of Brexit with regard to Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36349/16]

EU Issues

Declan Breathnach

159. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has re-assessed the impact of the European travel information and authorisation system in view of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36350/16]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

260. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will examine an anomaly under the tenant incremental purchase scheme to determine if a person's (details supplied) carer's allowance and other social protection payments can be considered part of their weekly income; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that carer's allowance is taken into account when deciding the amount of rent to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36113/16]

Brexit Issues

Declan Breathnach

363. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the value of contracts awarded to companies and businesses in Northern Ireland; the post-Brexit implications for those companies that have contracts under EU law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36114/16]

Nursing Home Services

Declan Breathnach

434. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the exact location of the 1,000 beds being offered by an organisation (details supplied) to the HSE to alleviate overcrowding in winter 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36074/16]

Minor Works Scheme Applications

Declan Breathnach

137. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the school minor works grant will be paid in 2016 in respect of schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35557/16]

River Basin Management Plans

Declan Breathnach

161. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress on the development of second cycle river basin management plan; if consideration will be given to the Neagh Bann river basin plan which crosses the Border counties, in view of Brexit; if these plans will be in place by the end of 2017, as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35610/16]

Crime Levels

Declan Breathnach

47. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if recorded crime statistics for County Louth are an accurate reflection of the reality of crime in the area; if all Garda stations in County Louth have access to the PULSE system; if not, the details of the stations without access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34671/16]

Garda Deployment

Declan Breathnach

85. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí in each in County Louth on 31 October 2010 and on 31 October 2016; the proportion of the proposed 800 additional recruits in 2017 that are likely to be assigned to County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34673/16]

Home Care Packages Provision

Declan Breathnach

538. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if he will restore a home care package for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34759/16]

Prisoner Health

Declan Breathnach

80. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the medical and psychological interventions and supports that have been provided to a person (details supplied) since the person was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and remanded to prison; if she will liaise with the Department of Health to urgently provide the person with necessary psychiatric medical intervention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33325/16]

Tax Code

Declan Breathnach

110. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance to set out his views on the situation whereby self-employed persons are unable to avail of trans-border workers relief; if his attention has been drawn to the impact this is having on self-employed persons; his plans to address this unequal situation; if he has discussed this matter with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33313/16]

Mental Health Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

306. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the medical and psychological interventions and supports that have been provided to a person (details supplied) since the person was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and remanded to prison; if his Department will liaise with the Department of Justice and Equality to urgently provide the person with necessary psychiatric medical intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33324/16]

Tax Code

Declan Breathnach

491. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the unfair situation whereby self employed persons are unable to avail of trans-border workers relief; her proposals to address this unequal situation; if she has discussed this matter with the Minister for Finance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33314/16]

Road Tolls

Declan Breathnach

428. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend to heavy goods vehicles and trucks the 10% discount on tolls given to cars on pre-payment for trips in multiples of 20 or more; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this discount is not being allowed to heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, and trucks who electronically pre-pay and is only given to them if they stop at a toll booth and purchase a prepaid card thereby causing traffic build up at toll booths; if he will instruct the toll companies to pass on the legislated discount to HGV owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32598/16]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Declan Breathnach

401. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to address the deficit in staffing requirements in nursing, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other disciplines using the extra funding announced in the budget; if he will consider a possible sponsorship scheme whereby graduates would guarantee to work in the public service in return for college fees or training; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that graduates are being enticed abroad with attractive packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31558/16]

National Treatment Purchase Fund Waiting Times

Declan Breathnach

77. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health his views on the September 2016 figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund which showed that 1,805 persons are waiting more than 12 months for an outpatient appointment in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30673/16]

General Practitioner Services

Declan Breathnach

136. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if it is illegal for general practitioners to charge medical card holders a €15 fee for blood tests as is the situation with a practice (details supplied); if such persons who have been charged for this service are entitled to a refund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30042/16]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Declan Breathnach

606. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to sign the 42 tonnes derogation on vehicle weights for five axle articulated vehicles into legislation in line with France and other countries; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the restriction to 39 tonnes for these vehicles has resulted in an 8% drop in productivity for these vehicles; if he will make available a report issued by Transport Infrastructure Ireland on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29633/16]

Third Level Funding

Declan Breathnach

197. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider increasing funding to third level institutions to bring it back in line with 2009-2010 levels; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that third level institutions are severely underfunded according to the Cassells report published in July 2016; if there are measures planned to address this underfunding issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28600/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Declan Breathnach

28. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the role her Department will play in minimising the effect of Brexit on County Louth. [27395/16]

Community Policing

Declan Breathnach

66. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to increase the number of community gardaí in the Louth Garda division. [27394/16]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Declan Breathnach

194. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the cross-Border crime agency; the total number of staff involved, agencies engaged and annual budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26399/16]

Fuel Laundering

Declan Breathnach

292. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a resurgence in the practice of diesel washing around the Border counties; his views on the continued effectiveness of the marker introduced to mark rebated fuels in March 2015 against illegal fuel laundering; the number of arrests that have been made for fuel laundering in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25599/16]

State Pension (Contributory)

Declan Breathnach

744. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address inequalities in the pension system following on from the increase in the required number of contributions needed to qualify, particularly for mothers who took time out of the workforce to care for their children before the homemaker's scheme was introduced in 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25530/16]

EU Funding

Declan Breathnach

880. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the current INTERREG programme funding of approximately €258 million and the current PEACE programme funding of €250 million will be honoured by the EU in order that the many projects due to commence by mid-summer can commence, including those projects planned for completion post-Brexit. [24479/16]

GLAS Issues

Declan Breathnach

1529. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the detail of the locally led agri-environment schemes (details given) run in conjunction with the broader GLAS; if he will encourage locally driven solutions to address local environmental and biodiversity challenges; if he will provide details and examples of the way to apply for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25041/16]

Cross-Border Projects

Declan Breathnach

1852. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the available options for the completion of the Narrow Water Bridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26398/16]

Community Welfare Services

Declan Breathnach

366. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection the future status of a community welfare office (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24131/16]

Cross-Border Projects

Declan Breathnach

279. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the projected European Union funding specifically for North-South projects; the amount of co-funding provided by the Irish State to these projects in each of the years from 2016 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23293/16]

Voluntary Housing Sector

Declan Breathnach

362. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide details of the 520 voluntary housing bodies here; the number of persons employed by these organisations; the number of housing units provided and managed by these organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22499/16]

Environmental Policy

Declan Breathnach

96. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he has taken about a "Do Not Swim" notice which was issued on 4 July 2016 at Clogherhead Beach, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21717/16]

TAMS Applications

Declan Breathnach

54. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21008/16]

Passport Services

Declan Breathnach

153. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider the establishment of a passport office in County Louth, given the result of the British referendum on exiting the European Union and increase in applications from Northern Ireland, to make it easier for persons from the north east and north west to access the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21454/16]

Road Toll Operators

Declan Breathnach

275. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will intervene in a dispute (details supplied) regarding the operation of eFlow barriers on the M1 near Drogheda, County Louth; the M7 and M8 south of Portlaoise; and the N25 at Waterford, which will severely impact on the daily users of these busy motorways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21476/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Declan Breathnach

88. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the reason for the substantial increase between December 2015 and May 2016 in the number of outpatients waiting more than a year for a consultation in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Meath. [20982/16]

Northern Ireland

Declan Breathnach

95. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has met with the Truth and Reconciliation Platform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19358/16]

Northern Ireland

Declan Breathnach

341. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met the Truth and Reconciliation Platform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19359/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Declan Breathnach

342. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total number of personnel in his Department currently based in the Northern Ireland section; his plans to expand that section in light of the Brexit referendum result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19500/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Declan Breathnach

343. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total number of personnel in his Department currently based in the Irish embassy in London broken down by section; his plans to expand that section in light of the Brexit referendum result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19501/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Declan Breathnach

344. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of personnel in his Department focused specifically on dealing with the implications of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19502/16]

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

505. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the number of persons here who have used the cross-border health care directive per annum since its inception to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19311/16]

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

506. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have used the cross-border health care directive, by county in tabular form. [19312/16]

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

507. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the total amount of money reimbursed to persons under the cross-border health care directive per annum since its inception, in tabular form. [19313/16]