Parliamentary questions

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Willie Penrose

304. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not been called to have a procedure carried out; if same will now be addressed without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26054/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Willie Penrose

522. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if transport will be provided for a young person (details supplied) who will be attending a centre in Mullingar, County Westmeath, from September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26836/19]

Public Sector Staff Training

Willie Penrose

24. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to ensure new recruits in the public service are equipped to work in an increasingly automated work environment; his plans to ensure older workers receive help to adapt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25687/19]

School Admissions

Willie Penrose

108. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures available to a family who are seeking secondary school facilities for their son for first year tuition and who have been unable to secure a place due to the local schools indicating that they have no room available to accommodate the child; the steps available to the family to secure a place for their son; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25909/19]

Health Services Provision

Willie Penrose

143. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the unacceptable delays for cataract surgery and limited services for children with ophthalmology issues, he will consider the roll-out of the Sligo cataract scheme nationally with optometrists and hospital eye departments working together and further permit the roll-out of a national scheme to enable children that do not need medical or surgical management to be examined in the community by optometrists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25907/19]

Greyhound Industry

Willie Penrose

170. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the Indecon Report will be available; if a stadium (details supplied) is included as part of the industry footprint in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25908/19]

JobPath Programme

Willie Penrose

199. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) will now have to undertake a process for a third year in a row without success; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25905/19]

Carer's Allowance Data

Willie Penrose

200. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of abolishing the means test for carer's allowance; if in calculating same, an account will be taken of the significant savings that would arise from no longer having to devote resources to administering and evaluating such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25906/19]

Free Travel Scheme Eligibility

Willie Penrose

206. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the criteria and rules for entitlement to free travel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25997/19]

Insurance Costs

Willie Penrose

71. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance his plans to address the rising cost of mart insurance premiums; if he has commissioned research or reports on the impact of high insurance costs on rural business and community development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22796/19]

Credit Union Regulation

Willie Penrose

78. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance his plans to keep the Central Bank industry funding levy at current levels for credit unions up to, including and post-2021 in view of the fact that credit unions continue to encounter financial difficulties particularly in relation to income generation and return on assets resultant from low interest rates, low loan to asset ratios and high cost income metrics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25321/19]

Employment Data

Willie Penrose

33. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Taoiseach the latest employment figures; the breakdown of the figures in terms of those employed under banded hours categories A-B and A-D respectively; and if the inclusion of this criteria for future employment surveys will be considered. [22918/19]

Citizenship Applications

Willie Penrose

91. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for citizenship by persons (details supplied) received by his Department on 16 April 2019 will be expedited; if while awaiting assessment of same the passports of a spouse and minors will be returned due to the family taking a vacation in their home country on 25 June 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24619/19]

Home Help Service Eligibility

Willie Penrose

144. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the reason home help cannot be provided to a person who is 65 years of age and has been diagnosed with advanced dementia which is steadily progressing and which refusal is on the basis that the person is under 65 years of age; if an exception can be made for a person with this medical condition which necessitates ongoing care and particularly some hours of home help; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24680/19]

Medical Card Applications

Willie Penrose

145. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will address an issue regarding a medical card for a person (details supplied). [24681/19]

Invalidity Pension Payments

Willie Penrose

209. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amounts paid to a person (details supplied) in respect of the increase the person received in payments for two qualified children from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24678/19]

Invalidity Pension Payments

Willie Penrose

210. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount received by a person (detail supplied) for the person and the person's spouse as adult dependants for the year ended 31 December 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24679/19]

Abbey Theatre

Willie Penrose

45. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the Abbey Theatre has met the conditions of improving the quality of employment opportunities it provides for Irish-based artists, including remuneration rates, for it to receive the €300,000 in funding allocated to it but frozen by the Arts Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24280/19]

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Willie Penrose

151. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the concessions and-or incentives available to persons who wish to secure a motor vehicle which would accommodate their disabled partner who is invalided or suffering from dementia in order to accommodate that person's travel to various appointments and so on; and if such concessions are available for the purchase of second-hand vehicles. [23470/19]

Special Education Review

Willie Penrose

297. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to review the eligibility rule in relation to special needs schools (details supplied); the steps he will take to ensure that this anomaly is rectified and the same rules would pertain to special needs schools as pertain to mainstream schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24348/19]

Education Grants

Willie Penrose

298. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the special rates of grants for disadvantaged students in which the income for the tax year January 2018 must not exceed €24,000; if the limit for the said reckonable income is increased for two additional family members who are pursuing full-time education, and in which ensuring that the said household, which has income of €26,200, would qualify for the disadvantaged students special rate of maintenance grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24351/19]

Disability Services Provision

Willie Penrose

477. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if steps will be taken to ensure that a person (details supplied) will be provided with a place in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23469/19]

Hospital Facilities

Willie Penrose

715. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure the required funding is provided to enable the construction of an appropriate building to accommodate an MRI scanner for the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar (details supplied); the staff to be provided for the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24315/19]

Brexit Supports

Willie Penrose

749. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to release the submissions made to the European Commission seeking a €100 million Brexit fund as an aid to beef farmers who have sustained significant losses in the past 12 months; the way in which this figure was computed; the form used to calculate the number of farmers who suffered loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24349/19]

Railway Stations

Willie Penrose

792. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will visit Thomastown train station, Killucan, County Westmeath, in view of a commitment given in Dáil Éireann and in order to appreciate at first hand the importance of reopening the station in terms of facilitating increased numbers travelling by rail and its contribution to environmental enhancement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23332/19]

Urban Development

Willie Penrose

959. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if progress is being made in relation to the provision of the necessary funding to Westmeath County Council to carry out a regeneration and revitalisation programme for western areas of Athlone (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23333/19]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Applications

Willie Penrose

1021. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if steps will be taken to ensure that a person (details supplied) is paid the appropriate compensation for cessation of turf cutting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24314/19]

Natural Heritage Areas Designation

Willie Penrose

1022. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a natural heritage area order will be de-designated as communicated to affected property owners (details supplied) in which a period of over five years has elapsed since the publication of the long-term plan for Ireland’s peatlands on 14 January 2014 and de-designation is still awaited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24350/19]

Employment Rights

Willie Penrose

5. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her plans to quantify and measure incidences of, and trends in, bogus self-employment; her plans to table new legislation to address the issue; if the proposed new legislation will be published in advance of the Dáil's summer recess; if her Department and other Departments and State agencies plan to bring forward specific proposals to address the problem of bogus self-employment in the construction sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22920/19]

Social Insurance Fund

Willie Penrose

14. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the status of the proposed expansion of the net eligibility for those self-employed persons who account for 14% of workers; her views on whether self-employed persons should contribute more in view of the differential between the 4% self-employed rate and the combined 14.95% for PAYE employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22916/19]

Child Poverty

Willie Penrose

15. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of children in poverty; the steps she is taking to tackle the problem; if she has held discussions with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to address the reported capacity problem within the childcare sector which is regarded as a key driver of childhood poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22917/19]

Pensions Reform

Willie Penrose

40. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consideration that has been given to women, young persons and minorities earning below €20,000 as part of her plans to introduce pension auto-enrolment; if auto-enrolment for this cohort will be considered with the option to opt-out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22915/19]

Medical Card Eligibility

Willie Penrose

101. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take in the course of budgetary negotiations to review the cap imposed in respect of means testing for medical cards for persons over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23154/19]

Climate Change Policy

Willie Penrose

36. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role of his Department in tackling climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22798/19]

Community Enhancement Programme Funding

Willie Penrose

41. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding under the community enhancement programme for 2019 compared to 2018; the number of additional projects that will be funded; if all funding has been allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22797/19]

Defence Forces Properties

Willie Penrose

40. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if funding is available in 2019 for the refurbishment works on block 7 in Plunkett Barracks; the length of time the refurbishment works will take to complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22701/19]

Ministerial Communications

Willie Penrose

48. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken recently with the US Secretary of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22703/19]

State Bodies Data

Willie Penrose

76. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated full-year cost of recruiting eight additional laboratory analysts for the State laboratory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22702/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Willie Penrose

101. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the completion of the construction of a school (details supplied); when it will be ready for occupation in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22579/19]

Schools Building Contractors

Willie Penrose

102. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to curtail the ability of contractors to tender for projects with his Department in circumstances in which it is shown that they have failed to honour contractual commitments and obligations under previous contracts with his Department; the steps he is taking to address such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22580/19]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems Provision

Willie Penrose

134. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps being taken to support local authorities with the roll-out of community CCTV schemes to deter rural crime, particularly in relation to their assumed responsibility as a data controller under GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22809/19]

Garda Transport Provision

Willie Penrose

170. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of additional marked roads policing unit vans that came into the fleet in 2018 and to date in 2019; the number withdrawn during the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22704/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Willie Penrose

231. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) who is on a waiting list since October 2013 and is awaiting ENT treatment has not been called to date to have the procedure carried out; if this will now be addressed without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22430/19]

Disability Definitions

Willie Penrose

232. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to recognise the fact that persons who suffer from fibromyalgia have a disability; if appropriate treatment will be provided for persons who are suffering from it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22431/19]

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme

Willie Penrose

318. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of the €395 million allocated under the TAMS II scheme spent to date; if there are plans to extend the scheme beyond the proposed 2020 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22812/19]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Willie Penrose

342. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of cases in which he estimates that connections will cost over €5,000 in relation to the national broadband plan; the proposed additional payment in such circumstances beyond the flat €100 fee suggested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22810/19]

Sports Capital Programme

Willie Penrose

388. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to providing local authorities the power to assess and determine the capital sports allocation in accordance with the usual criteria associated with same which would include the provision of the necessary resources to enable them to carry out the allocation in the ordinary way in view of the provision of more power and autonomy to local authorities and in order to encourage the devolution of such powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22415/19]

Proposed Legislation

Willie Penrose

398. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to update the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22705/19]

National Broadband Plan Data

Willie Penrose

433. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the interactions and discussions of his Department with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22810/19]

National Broadband Plan Data

Willie Penrose

434. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has had discussions with the Department of Finance regarding the national broadband plan; if the anticipated cost will lead to a reduction of funding for other rural programmes such as the community enhancement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22811/19]