Parliamentary questions

Community Employment Schemes Administration

Maureen O'Sullivan

647. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to transferring responsibility for community employment schemes from employment affairs to community affairs in view of the community gain being provided by community employment schemes. [27719/19]

Passport Controls

Maureen O'Sullivan

106. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which he can address the continued complaints of persons that deem the length of queue times for Dublin Airport passport control unsatisfactory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26840/19]

Sexual Offences Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

107. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on reports that violence against sex workers has increased substantially since the enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the aims of the Act have not had the desired effect, as highlighted by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26842/19]

Garda Transport Provision

Maureen O'Sullivan

108. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of additional Garda community support vans purchased to date in 2019; the Garda districts that they have been attached to; and if additional Garda community support vans are due to be purchased later in 2019. [26843/19]

Teacher Supply

Maureen O'Sullivan

47. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the detail and agenda of his recent visits to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, to meet Irish teachers working in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26557/19]

School Funding

Maureen O'Sullivan

50. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out how he plans to address issues facing primary schools such as class sizes, workload burdens for management and capitation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26599/19]

Tracker Mortgage Examination

Maureen O'Sullivan

43. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the treatment of persons affected by a controversy relating to a bank (details supplied); the level of compensation offered; if he has a role in ensuring that customers receive fair treatment from financial institutions operating here in view of the fact he is a shareholder within the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25437/19]

Tax Code

Maureen O'Sullivan

57. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on efforts to broaden the tax base; and his views on whether reliance on corporation tax is unsustainable. [25438/19]

HSE Properties

Maureen O'Sullivan

208. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the criteria and timelines associated with the tendering process the HSE is undertaking for professional advice in regard to developing a programme for maintenance and recording of the Quaker burial ground on Cork Street, Dublin 8. [25815/19]

Trade Sanctions

Maureen O'Sullivan

38. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the Helms-Burton Act; the way in which it has been causing hardship for Cubans for decades; the way in which Ireland and the EU will support trade and solidarity with Cuba in light of US treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25165/19]

Human Rights

Maureen O'Sullivan

39. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which he can address the situation in Qasr bin Ghashir detention centre in Libya at EU level; his views on reports from groups such as an organisation (details supplied) regarding the treatment of repatriated detainees; his further views on whether EU policy is problematic, especially the repatriation of migrants to such conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25169/19]

Human Rights

Maureen O'Sullivan

45. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 132 of 21 May 2019, if officials have visited La Guajira, Colombia to date; if so, if they raised the issue of continued death threats; and if the ambassador was present. [25171/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Maureen O'Sullivan

50. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the continued violence and humanitarian crisis in Yemen; the steps Ireland is taking at EU level to address the unethical sales of EU arms which has furthered the conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25170/19]

Human Rights Committees

Maureen O'Sullivan

69. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the implementation of the business and human rights policy; the regularity with which the committee has met; and the composition of the committee. [25172/19]

Community Return Programme

Maureen O'Sullivan

252. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the number of persons participating on the community return programme has declined since 2014; his plans to carry out an independent evaluation of the programme; and if the criteria will be reviewed with a view to extending access to the programme. [25250/19]

Legislative Programme

Maureen O'Sullivan

253. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of key pieces of legislation in the penal system including the criminal justice (community sanctions) Bill, the Prisons (Solitary Confinement) (Amendment) Bill 2016 and the Parole Bill 2016 [25251/19]

Prisoner Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

254. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners registered to vote; the number that voted per prison in the presidential election in 2018 and in the May 2019 elections and referendum, respectively. [25252/19]

Performing Arts

Maureen O'Sullivan

28. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the increased pressure placed on persons in the performing arts and screen industry in relation to pay, conditions and general employment rights; her further views on the cultural value of the industries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24080/19]

Hare Coursing

Maureen O'Sullivan

37. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the survey of Irish hares will be completed; if, in the interim, she will consider suspending netting of wild hares for the purpose of hare coursing as was done in Northern Ireland before a ban on live hare coursing was introduced there in 2011; and her views on whether the Irish hare should be protected due to the concerns regarding biodiversity. [24077/19]

Hare Coursing Regulation

Maureen O'Sullivan

42. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason two hares which a veterinarian confirmed had suffered injuries after being caught and held by muzzled greyhounds were released back to the wild a few hours after a coursing meeting (details supplied) in County Wexford; the nature of the injuries and treatment received; and her views on whether the stress and injuries suffered by hares compromise their survivability post-coursing. [24079/19]

Wildlife Protection

Maureen O'Sullivan

58. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will request the national biodiversity centre to cease listing specific locations including grid references of sightings of protected birds and animals, particularly species targeted and persecuted by coursers, hunters and shooters such as hares, badgers, deer, otters, pine martens and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24078/19]

Road Traffic Legislation

Maureen O'Sullivan

788. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which the licensing and regulation of horse-drawn carriages can be managed while the Dublin Carriage Acts are still in force; and his views on whether the system should temporarily revert to An Garda Síochána as was the case prior to 2011 when the Garda carriage office issued licences. [23183/19]

Home Loan Scheme

Maureen O'Sullivan

987. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to enhance the criteria for persons qualifying for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme to make the option more attainable for a greater number of persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24009/19]

Planning Guidelines

Maureen O'Sullivan

994. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which he can address the concerns of residents living in strategic development zones, SDZs, that the new guidelines on height will have a negative impact on them and compromise the rules of the agreed SDZ. [23990/19]

Household Benefits Scheme

Maureen O'Sullivan

144. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the reintroduction of the household benefits package for carers who do not live with the person they care for which ceased in 2012 will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23075/19]

Youth Services Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

19. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide the City of Dublin Youth Service Board organisational chart 2019. [22242/19]

Affordable Childcare Scheme Expenditure

Maureen O'Sullivan

21. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 563 of 9 April 2019, her plans to increase the scheme by €1 per hour for the under three age group in view of the costs of childcare on a comparable EU basis; and if her attention has been drawn to the overall benefits of such an increase for parents. [22244/19]

Youth Services Funding

Maureen O'Sullivan

27. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to reinstate funding to youth projects which were hard hit during the recession; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22245/19]

School Completion Programme

Maureen O'Sullivan

29. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the school completion programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22243/19]

Road Traffic Legislation

Maureen O'Sullivan

51. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his officials have met with Dublin City Council and An Garda Síochána to address the issue of licensing horse-drawn carriages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22034/19]

Homeless World Cup

Maureen O'Sullivan

72. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the bid by an organisation (details supplied) will be supported to host the Homeless World Cup 2021 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22035/19]

Online Safety

Maureen O'Sullivan

76. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the composition and function of the National Advisory Council for Online Safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21706/19]

Online Safety

Maureen O'Sullivan

92. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is satisfied that online safety is adequately covered in the school digital champion programme. [21707/19]

Human Rights

Maureen O'Sullivan

132. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, through diplomatic channels, he can assist in the protection of environmental and human rights defenders in La Guajira in north Colombia who have been receiving death threats, one of whom was recently in the Houses of the Oireachtas meeting Deputies and Senators. [22013/19]

Anti-Social Behaviour

Maureen O'Sullivan

588. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the issue of anti-social behaviour on DART services will be addressed, particularly in the evening and at night-time; his views on whether the level of anti-social behaviour warrants examining practices in other countries, such as transport police; and the way in which he will address the issue for DART users, particularly on northbound services. [22036/19]

Public Transport Provision

Maureen O'Sullivan

589. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he can improve the transport service for the area of North King Street and Bolton Street and in particular link Smithfield to existing rail stations such as Drumcondra through bus services; if BusConnects will address this corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22037/19]

Public Service Vehicles

Maureen O'Sullivan

590. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he can improve the turnaround time for applicants for public service vehicle licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22038/19]

Motor Insurance Costs

Maureen O'Sullivan

591. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the cost of car insurance, particularly for persons who operate taxis; his further views on whether the recommendations from the working group are not having the desired effect on premiums resulting in persons leaving the industry; and the way in which he can assist drivers while recognising that insurance premiums are a commercial matter. [22039/19]

Prison Visiting Regulations

Maureen O'Sullivan

27. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the protocols in place for parents, mainly fathers, in prison who have access to their children when they wish to speak with them or arrange prison visits while the parent is in prison; if he is satisfied with the arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21051/19]

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Maureen O'Sullivan

59. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the difficulty facing a school (details supplied) regarding a retrospective application for emergency funding due to a serious works issue that arose over the Christmas period. [21193/19]

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Maureen O'Sullivan

12. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the way in which he can address the immediate funding requirements of drug and alcohol task forces; if his attention has been drawn to the valuable contribution these task forces make particularly in areas of disadvantage; and the way in which he will continue to support them [20853/19]

Addiction Treatment Services

Maureen O'Sullivan

33. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans for a project (details supplied) that is providing a valuable service for those in addiction. [20854/19]

Residency Permits

Maureen O'Sullivan

128. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if parents granted long-stay visas are entitled to receive a stamp 4 visa on arrival as is specified in a Department and policy document, rather than a stamp 3, which has been the case for certain couples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21057/19]

Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigations

Maureen O'Sullivan

129. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Garda insurance fraud unit will be operational; the remit of the unit; the resources allocated to same; his views on whether this unit is long overdue in view of the number of high-profile cases recently relating to insurance fraud; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21058/19]

Visa Applications

Maureen O'Sullivan

130. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average length of time for visa applications and change-in-status applications; and if he is satisfied there is adequate staff in place to deal with same. [21059/19]

Hare Coursing

Maureen O'Sullivan

6. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the minutes of the annual meeting of the hare coursing monitoring committee; if he is satisfied with the make-up of the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16674/19]

Animal Welfare

Maureen O'Sullivan

12. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he can address concerns of residents close to fox hunting events regarding encroachments into residential areas; and the measures taken to address this reality to date. [20110/19]

Fur Farming

Maureen O'Sullivan

27. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the conditions in fur farms here; the way in which he can address the concerns of groups highly critical of this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20109/19]

Gambling Legislation

Maureen O'Sullivan

33. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views with regard to children being present at horse racing and greyhound racing tracks in view of the trends of problem gambling and the exposure to persons under the legal age to gambling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14340/19]

Youth Services

Maureen O'Sullivan

11. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the purpose and function of the City of Dublin Youth Services Board; the number of staff employed by job title and grade; the number of staff on secondment or career break by title and grade; and the number of staff bilocated. [19722/19]