Parliamentary questions

Proposed Legislation

Róisín Shortall

230. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he plans to proceed with legislation to address the issue of spiralling rents in student accommodation as promised in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47569/18]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

231. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a company (details supplied) was involved in the building of social housing; and if so, the steps he is taking to ensure quality control. [47570/18]

Schools Building Contractors

Róisín Shortall

160. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the building projects that are under way with a company (details supplied); his plans to continue with these contracts in view of the serious structural defects that have been identified in many of the schools built by this company; and the precise manner in which he plans to ensure quality control and protection for the public funds. [47429/18]

Road Traffic Offences

Róisín Shortall

162. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he is taking to address the problem and threat to public safety as a result of the widespread misuse of quad bikes and scramblers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47434/18]

Road Traffic Offences

Róisín Shortall

167. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the interdepartmental group in respect of the widespread and growing problem of the misuse of quad bikes and scramblers and the safety threat that this poses to the public that he has established has only met on two occasions in 2018 as of 9 November 2018; if he will address this issue of public safety as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47432/18]

Road Traffic Offences

Róisín Shortall

168. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the advice that the interdepartmental group in respect of the widespread and growing problem of the misuse of quad bikes and scramblers that he has established to examine the issue has received from the Attorney General; and if he will introduce the recommended measures in order to address this issue as a matter of urgency. [47433/18]

National Maternity Hospital Location

Róisín Shortall

239. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposal to develop the new national maternity hospital on the grounds of St. Vincent's University Hospital; the way in which it is planned to ensure that this asset is retained in full public ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47430/18]

National Maternity Hospital Location

Róisín Shortall

240. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on whether in order to be capable of providing the full range of women’s healthcare services there cannot be an involvement of a religious body in the ownership of the building or the site on which the proposed new national maternity hospital is to be located [47431/18]

Pension Provisions

Róisín Shortall

262. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he will take to address the imbalance in pension increases for members of a fund (details supplied) in view of the fact that the rate of payment has remained static for this group for ten years and the fact that its members cannot qualify for a State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47435/18]

Child Abuse

Róisín Shortall

265. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if, in the recording of abuse claims, the field "founded or unfounded" exists on the National Childcare Information System, NCCIS, as used by Tusla; the protocols for the use of this categorisation if it exists in the NCCIS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47364/18]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Róisín Shortall

433. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided for procedures carried out under the cross-border directive by procedure and location in which the procedure was carried out for each year of the existence of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47053/18]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Róisín Shortall

434. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the procedures carried out under the cross-border directive by the number that took place in private hospitals or clinics and those carried out in public hospitals or clinics; the amount of funding provided for treatment in public and private settings by procedure and location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47054/18]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Róisín Shortall

435. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding available for procedures carried out under the cross-border directive in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47055/18]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

138. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 13 June 2018, the status of the meeting with a group (details supplied); the results of this meeting; the steps that will be taken to action the recommendations from the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46195/18]

Health Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

139. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of in access to treatment for Hepatitis C in community settings by the national hepatitis C treatment programme; the results of these pilot programmes; the number of new clients that each pilot programme has reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46196/18]

Rental Sector

Róisín Shortall

288. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason for the delay in the introduction of a rental deposit protection scheme; when the scheme will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46178/18]

Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

169. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on rent supplement in 2017; and the projected amount for 2018 and 2019, respectively. [46060/18]

Rental Accommodation Scheme Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

187. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on the rental accommodation scheme in 2017; and the projected amount for 2018 and 2019, respectively. [46061/18]

Housing Assistance Payment Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

188. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on the housing assistance payment in 2017; and the projected amount for 2018 and 2019, respectively. [46062/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

110. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach the breakdown of the staff in his Department by grade. [44653/18]

Tax Data

Róisín Shortall

191. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the number of recipients of the home carer's tax credit in each of the past three years by dependant type; the number in the past three years by those households receiving the maximum relief under the credit and those receiving some but not the maximum relief under the credit; the cost of the credit in each of the past three years; the projected cost for 2019; the estimated number of households with children that are eligible for but are not in receipt of the credit; and the estimated number of households with children that are not eligible for the credit. [45144/18]

Third Level Fees

Róisín Shortall

319. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first and full year cost of abolishing third-level fees. [45168/18]

Schools Building Contractors

Róisín Shortall

369. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills when, and the person or body by which, building works were certified in each case in respect of the 42 schools built by a company (details supplied). [45940/18]

Schools Building Projects Data

Róisín Shortall

370. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the project management arrangements and the name of the company involved in each case in respect of the 42 schools built by a company (details supplied) [45941/18]

Schools Building Projects Data

Róisín Shortall

371. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of complaints received in respect of structural issues, health and safety issues and shoddy workmanship, respectively in each case in respect of the 42 schools built by a company (details supplied). [45942/18]

Schools Building Projects Data

Róisín Shortall

372. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the company or persons who carried out the assessment in respect of structural defects in each case in respect of the 42 schools built by a company (details supplied); and if other defects relating to health and safety issues and shoddy workmanship were identified in each case. [45943/18]

Schools Building Projects Data

Róisín Shortall

373. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost incurred in addressing defects in each of the 42 schools built by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45944/18]

Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal

Róisín Shortall

417. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe within which a case (details supplied) can be decided by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45267/18]

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration

Róisín Shortall

420. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 26 September 2018, if he will respond to issues raised in the media in relation to the INIS online appointment system for registrations (details supplied); the action he will take to address these problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45416/18]

Assisted Human Reproduction Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

526. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when he will put in place a financial support scheme for women seeking assisted human reproduction or in vitro fertilisation, IVF, treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44753/18]

Health Screening Programmes

Róisín Shortall

527. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to set out the average waiting time for women to be informed of their smear test results after having had the test; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some women are still waiting for their test results after 18 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44754/18]

Health Services Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

589. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to his statement at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health on 4 October 2018 on the national development plan as it relates to Sláintecare, the way in which he arrived at the €6.6 billion calculation; the breakdown of this calculation; and the projected year in which each expenditure is to be incurred. [45055/18]

Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan

Róisín Shortall

861. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he is taking to promote the development of offshore wind energy generation. [45763/18]

Youth Work Projects Funding

Róisín Shortall

957. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if additional funding will be provided to an organisation (details supplied) in order to allow it to pay for restoration without damaging its existing allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44966/18]

Youth Work Projects Funding

Róisín Shortall

958. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which additional funding promised to the youth work sector as part of budget 2019 will be allocated; the breakdown between funding new and existing projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44967/18]

Youth Work Projects Funding

Róisín Shortall

959. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when funding to the youth work sector will be restored to the 2008 peak; her views on whether it is reasonable to expect projects to be able to continue operating with significantly reduced levels of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44968/18]

Family Resource Centres

Róisín Shortall

978. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the additional funding to be provided to family resource centres in 2019; the increase for each existing centre and new projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45413/18]

Tax Yield

Róisín Shortall

1012. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated yield to the Exchequer in a full year for every 1% rise in employers' PRSI. [45189/18]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

1121. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if it is common practice to refuse an application for back to education allowance in circumstances in which the deciding officer is of the opinion that a particular third level course does not comply with the policy of emerging labour market need; if there is a risk that this criteria is overly subjective; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45667/18]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

1125. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if it is practice to refuse an application for back to education allowance in circumstances in which the deciding officer is of the opinion that a particular third level course does not comply with the policy of emerging labour market need; his views on whether there is risk that this criteria is overly subjective; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45749/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

Róisín Shortall

1139. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the ongoing difficulties facing illness benefit recipients have now been resolved; if she is satisfied that all persons have now received outstanding payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45818/18]

Home Loan Scheme

Róisín Shortall

1187. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a person who is resident here on a stamp 4 visa, is married to an Irish citizen and has been resident in the State for three years is eligible to apply with their partner for a Rebuilding Ireland home loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45268/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

63. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44352/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

74. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44356/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

90. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44355/18]

Budget 2019

Róisín Shortall

94. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the way in which the figure of €295 million cited as the impact of new measures on budget 2019 forecast tax buoyancy, was computed in respect of table 9 on page 19 of the Economic and Fiscal Outlook of budget 2019; the basis on which it is included in the table; and if it has been used in the calculation of the amount of fiscal space that has been used up in budget 2019. [44421/18]

Fiscal Policy

Róisín Shortall

95. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the projected fiscal space for each of the years 2019 to 2024 net of known carryover costs, public pay deal commitments, national development plan commitments, demographics, rainy day fund transfers and other pre-commitments. [44423/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

121. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44360/18]

Civil Service Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

122. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the rules that apply to recruitment campaigns that are limited to existing civil or public servants in terms of when such campaigns may be used; the grades they apply to; the percentage of posts they may apply to; and the legislation upon which such a policy is based. [44373/18]

Departmental Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

124. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expenditure ceilings for each Department in each of the years 2019 to 2024. [44424/18]

Departmental Budgets

Róisín Shortall

125. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Departmental capital allocations applying to each Department in each of the years 2019 to 2024. [44425/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

147. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44353/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

167. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44359/18]

Departmental Budgets

Róisín Shortall

169. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the difference between the capital allocation for his Department under the national development plan for 2019 given as €241 million in Annex 1 of the plan and the lower figure of €220 million that is set out on pages 7 and 121 of the budget 2019 expenditure report. [44422/18]

Protected Disclosures

Róisín Shortall

170. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the cultural and administrative dysfunction in An Garda Síochána that was identified in the Charleton report; the way in which he plans to respond to these issues; and the timescale for same. [44435/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the breakdown of staff in her Department by grade. [44348/18]

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Róisín Shortall

226. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the budget 2019 allocation to drug and alcohol task forces in view of the fact that head B3 of the health Estimate shows a figure of €6,987,000 which is the same as the 2018 allocation; if further funding will be allocated to the task forces; if so, the location in which this is identified in the Estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44276/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

247. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44357/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

284. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44347/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

309. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44350/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

322. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44362/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

332. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the breakdown of staff in her Department by grade. [44349/18]

Protected Disclosures

Róisín Shortall

333. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the cultural and administrative dysfunction in Tusla that was identified in the Charleton report; the way in which she plans to respond to these issues; and the timescale for same. [44436/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

336. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44361/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

349. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of staff in her Department by grade. [44354/18]

Departmental Communications

Róisín Shortall

350. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the contact telephone numbers for her Department that are premium rate numbers; the reason freephone numbers are not used exclusively for her Department in view of the fact that many who are in contact are on limited incomes; her views on whether the use of premium rate or lo-call numbers will result in higher charges for those who do not have access to a landline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44437/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

363. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44358/18]

Local Authority Staff Recruitment

Róisín Shortall

364. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 913 of 10 July 2018, the legislation upon which he is basing the policy of a capped percentage of places via open recruitment. [44375/18]

Energy Efficiency

Róisín Shortall

368. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 180 of 11 October 2018, the minimum energy rating a boiler must hold for it to be allowed to be installed in new homes here or as a replacement in existing homes. [44458/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

377. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the breakdown of staff in her Department by grade. [44351/18]

School Discipline

Róisín Shortall

171. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills his Department's policy on the use of prone restraints in schools; and if his attention has been drawn to schools that use such restraints on children with disabilities. [44121/18]

School Discipline

Róisín Shortall

172. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a discussion document by an organisation (details supplied); the way in which he plans to respond to the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter [44122/18]

School Discipline

Róisín Shortall

173. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the immediate steps he will take to ensure children are safe in school (details supplied). [44123/18]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

174. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific aspects of the Education for Persons with Special Needs Act 2004 that have been implemented; and the timeline for the implementation of the remainder. [44124/18]

School Discipline

Róisín Shortall

175. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of reported incidents of seclusion in schools here in the school year 2017-2018. [44125/18]

School Discipline

Róisín Shortall

176. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of reported incidents of restraint here in the school year 2017-2018. [44126/18]

School Discipline

Róisín Shortall

177. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy on seclusion of vulnerable children in schools. [44127/18]

School Discipline

Róisín Shortall

178. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy on restraint of vulnerable children in schools. [44128/18]

Digital Strategy for Schools

Róisín Shortall

183. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the banning of recreational electronic devices, phones, tablet computers and other screen devices with Internet capabilities from primary and secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44194/18]

Services for People with Disabilities

Róisín Shortall

249. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 891 of 7 September 2018, the number of children aged 0 to 18 years of age on waiting lists for an assessment of need under the Disability Act 2005; the number of these that are overdue; the length of time they have been waiting by community healthcare organisation area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44112/18]

Assisted Decision Making

Róisín Shortall

256. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timescale for the full commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, in particular Part 8 of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44191/18]

Cycling Facilities Funding

Róisín Shortall

293. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation to cycling projected in 2019; and the percentage this represents of all land transport funding. [44196/18]

Childcare Costs

Róisín Shortall

294. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the average cost of the care of a child in a foster setting per annum; and the average cost of the care of a child in an institutional setting by the type of institution in question. [44195/18]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Róisín Shortall

327. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 661 on 16 October 2018, the details of the respective budget allocated to each of the housing categories as set out in each of the rows in the table provided; and the way in which the estimate of delivering each target number has been costed. [44231/18]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Róisín Shortall

328. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the person or body with responsibility for the maintenance of local authority owned properties within privately owned multi-unit developments in view of the growing reliance by local authorities on acquisitions as opposed to direct builds for housing supply; the options open to a tenant in cases in which both the management company and the local authority are unwilling to address ongoing serious maintenance issues in a property such as this; if local authorities are responsible in view of the fact that that the rent is being paid to the local authority; if guidelines will be issued to local authorities on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44232/18]

Legislative Measures

Róisín Shortall

303. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the non-transferability of carer's leave between spouses with the same employer will be examined as part of the process of bringing forward new family leave legislation; and the reason spouses with the same employer are allowed transfer some of their leave to each other under current parental leave legislation but no such transfer is allowed under current arrangements for carer's leave. [43177/18]

Better Energy Homes Scheme Applications

Róisín Shortall

540. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a response to a query to the SEAI (details supplied) will be answered in view of the fact the matter has been ongoing for a number of months. [43475/18]

Motor Tax Collection

Róisín Shortall

563. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the precise extra costs on an annual basis for motor tax offices and the driver and vehicle computer services division of the administration of non-annual motor tax payments; and the way in which these relate to the extra payments made by drivers making non-annual motor tax payments. [43339/18]

Building Regulations Compliance

Róisín Shortall

689. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of building control management system, BCMS, certificates of compliance on completion of homes for multi-unit developments (details supplied) in County Dublin during 2016, 2017 and the first six months of 2018. [43474/18]

Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal

Róisín Shortall

148. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he will take to address the reported backlog of cases at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, with reports of persons waiting many years for decisions on their claims; the number of cases awaiting decision submitted in each year for the past ten years and which remain unresolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42842/18]

Competition Law

Róisín Shortall

178. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which administrative or civil fines for breaches of competition law are available to enforcement bodies here; and her plans to improve enforcement options in this regard. [42858/18]

Budget 2019

Róisín Shortall

232. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the €25 reduction in income limits for general practitioner visit cards announced in budget 2019 will apply across all relevant age brackets and categories, for example, single person living alone, single person living with family and so on; when the changes to the income limits will take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43063/18]

Medical Card Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

233. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if work was carried out by his Department or the HSE to assess the impact that recently announced welfare rate increases would have on the ability of persons to obtain and retain medical cards due to the small increase in income; his views on whether some persons will lose their medical cards or no longer qualify as a result of these increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43064/18]

Education Welfare Service Provision

Róisín Shortall

303. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of whole-time equivalent education welfare officers employed by the education welfare office in the north and south Dublin regions; the location and catchment area that each officer within these regions covers; the child population served in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42837/18]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Róisín Shortall

343. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the recently announced affordable housing scheme that was included in budget 2019; the expected timeline for the commencement of the scheme; the application procedures; the details of the institutions that will manage and operate the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43065/18]

An Bord Pleanála Data

Róisín Shortall

344. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of cases and appeals with An Bord Pleanála that have been awaiting decision for more than six but less than 12, more than 12 but less than 18, more than 18 but less than 24 and more than 24 months, respectively. [43066/18]

Competition Law

Róisín Shortall

141. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the extent of measurement by her Department or State bodies under her Department's remit of market concentration in various consumer markets here; and the current level of market concentration as measured by an index (details supplied) or some other measure in each of the cases (details supplied) that come under her Department's remit. [42757/18]

Competition Law

Róisín Shortall

197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent of measurement by his Department or State bodies under his Department's remit of market concentration in various consumer markets here; and the current level of market concentration as measured by an index or some other measure in each of the cases (details supplied) that come under his Department's remit. [42756/18]

State Properties

Róisín Shortall

193. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 91 of 23 November 2017, 68 of 17 January 2018 and 187 of 21 March 2018, the status of lands at a location (details supplied) for which Fingal County Council has sought a deed of waiver to transfer the land to its ownership; the timeframe for his Department to make a decision and respond to the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42347/18]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

205. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding his Department contributes to medicines research and development annually; the budget holders, for example, the Irish Research Council, responsible to his Department; the extent of its funding allocations for medicines research and development; the principles which guide this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41884/18]