Parliamentary questions

Capital Expenditure Programme

Alan Farrell

26. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the capital plan 2016-2021, specifically with regard to metro north, the DART extension and DART underground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13997/17]

Light Rail Projects Status

Alan Farrell

27. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of metro north and the projected timeline for delivery of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13996/17]

Disability Services Provision

Alan Farrell

100. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to the creation of an ombudsman with sole responsibility for overseeing the disability sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14284/17]

School Enrolments

Alan Farrell

124. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on the enrolment and waiting list levels for each primary school in Swords, County Dublin; the details of the factors his Department used in its demographic analysis to determine demand in the coming years; the action he will take to resolve the capacity issue in Swords for the coming academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14283/17]

Coastal Protection

Alan Farrell

179. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the action he will take to tackle coastal erosion at The Burrow, Portrane; the way in which his Department's approach to the situation facing residents in The Burrow has changed following the recent ministerial visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14281/17]

Services for People with Disabilities

Alan Farrell

183. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the details of his Department's approach regarding recent issues at a disability service (details supplied) in Portrane, with particular regard to the poor condition of accommodation for service users and investigations into reported irregularities in the bank accounts of some users; the action he will take to ensure the most vulnerable in society, who are in the care of the HSE, are protected from such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14285/17]

Sports Capital Programme

Alan Farrell

260. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action his Department will take in assisting the community in Lusk and its environs in achieving their goals following an analysis of the Lusk community sports plan 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14282/17]

Teacher Training Provision

Alan Farrell

279. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure greater opportunities and courses are provided to train teachers to teach through the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13210/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Alan Farrell

280. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current levels of demand for places in gaelcholáistí across the country; the extent to which his Department's recent demographic analysis took into account the demand for places in gaelscoileanna and gaelcholáistí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13211/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Alan Farrell

281. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he is taking to ensure more communities are provided with access to gaelscoileanna and gaelcholáistí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13212/17]

Irish Language

Alan Farrell

661. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action she is taking to support the Irish language; the initiatives she will enact to make the use of the Irish language more commonplace; the action she will take to further promote the use of the Irish language in the EU as Brexit approaches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13213/17]

Rail Services Provision

Alan Farrell

1211. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide information on the project to extend the DART to Balbriggan, also serving the Skerries, Rush and Lusk and Donabate stations; the action taken in advancing this project thus far; the works which will be required to bring this project to completion; the timeframe for the necessary works at each stage and for the completion of the overall project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13534/17]

Public Transport Provision

Alan Farrell

1212. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action he will take to improve transport services and connectivity to and from the city centre for commuters, in view of capacity issues which exist at rush hour for rail transport serving the Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk and Donabate stations and bus services connecting these communities to the city centre and in view of the often long journey times on a number of the bus services for these localities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13535/17]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Alan Farrell

237. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the detail of the grant aid and support programmes overseen by her Department which encourage businesses to build their online presence and compete in the online marketplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8900/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Alan Farrell

237. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new secondary school for Swords, due to open in September 2017; if this school will open on time and if temporary accommodation has been arranged to facilitate students from September; the actions taken regarding the development of a permanent school building; if the transfer of ownership of the permanent site has been completed; the stage at which this project is in the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8672/17]

Agriculture Scheme Applications

Alan Farrell

641. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a single farm payment in respect of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34602/16]

Rural Development Policy

Alan Farrell

276. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views that the rural communities of north County Dublin are being actively forgotten in the context of the Government's focus on supporting rural Ireland; her further views that more must be done by her Department to support the local rural communities in north County Dublin, including Ballyboughal, Garristown, Oldtown, and Naul; if she will provide information on the rural supports provided to north County Dublin since 2011, including funding type, by year in tabular form; the actions she plans to take to ensure the significant rural community in Fingal is no longer forgotten in the context of her Department's work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33283/16]

Airport Development Projects

Alan Farrell

186. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport with regard to the proposed development of a second runway at Dublin airport, if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of residents in the local area, particularly those in the communities of Portmarnock and St. Margaret's; if he has engaged with the daa to ensure the concerns of residents are fully examined and taken into account by the daa; if he will engage with the daa to ensure they further engage with local residents regarding any further developments at Dublin Airport which may impact upon them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33197/16]

Fuel Allowance Applications

Alan Farrell

211. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection how his Department can justify the refusal of fuel allowance to a person (details supplied) in receipt of a State pension whereby the person is found to be over the means test limit by 11 cent (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32726/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Alan Farrell

73. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status on the provision of a new school building for a school (details supplied); the timeline for the completion of this project; if his attention has been drawn to the condition of the existing school building; the action he will take to improve the facilities for students and teachers in the school until such time as a new building is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32386/16]

School Accommodation Provision

Alan Farrell

74. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to further invest in the improvement of facilities for national schools in Portmarnock, County Dublin; the current applications his Department has received from national schools in Portmarnock for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32387/16]

Noise Pollution

Alan Farrell

178. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding making the IAA the regulatory authority over noise levels at Dublin Airport; the resources his Department would allocated to the IAA to allow it to effectively carry out this function; the measures which would be implemented to allow the IAA to effectively penalise the DAA for any breaches of noise regulations; his views on whether the IAA will be able to effectively monitor noise levels at Dublin Airport, ensure compliance, and protect local residents from undue and unacceptable levels of noise pollution the airport and its activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32384/16]

Airport Development Projects

Alan Farrell

179. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to develop a second runway at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32385/16]

School Funding

Alan Farrell

209. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on any funding provided to a school (details supplied); the detail of any works which have been and will be carried out on the school; the timeframe for completion of such works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31727/16]

School Funding

Alan Farrell

210. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on any funding provided to a school (details supplied); the details of any works to be carried out on the school; the timeframe for such works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31728/16]

Residential Tenancies Board Enforcement

Alan Farrell

253. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding situations whereby issues are identified by a landlord or tenant, investigated by the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, and subject to an RTB tribunal ruling, following which the RTB will not take enforcement proceedings to enact its ruling; his views on whether the failure of the RTB in this regard is counterproductive to its obligations to landlords and tenants; his further views on whether the RTB has a duty to apply for the enforcement of its ruling and that failure to do so undermines the authority of the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31726/16]

Hospital Appointments Administration

Alan Farrell

131. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the procedures in place to ensure a patient's position on a waiting list for appointment in cases where referral letters have been misplaced or are unaccounted for in a hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30019/16]

Sports Capital Programme

Alan Farrell

168. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the next round of the sports capital programme will open for application; when he will allocate the next round of sports capital funding to local clubs and organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30020/16]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Alan Farrell

224. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of category 1 properties that have been identified as part of the pyrite remediation scheme; the average cost of remediation per property for those already remediated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28152/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Alan Farrell

478. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in need of residential care; the supports which will be made available to the person and their family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28646/16]

European Arrest Warrant

Alan Farrell

54. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of European arrest warrant requests received from other European Union member states and made by Ireland on a annual basis since its introduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27848/16]

Disadvantaged Status

Alan Farrell

114. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of students in schools with DEIS status; the average class sizes and pupil-teacher ratio in schools with DEIS status, with specific reference to the average figures for schools with DEIS status in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27860/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Alan Farrell

138. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to set out the number of social and affordable housing units which will be delivered in the Fingal local authority area under the social housing strategy; the progress of the delivery of these units in Fingal in comparison with the target number agreed with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27858/16]

Pyrite Panel Report Implementation

Alan Farrell

139. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of dwellings at each stage of the pyrite remediation process under the pyrite remediation scheme, by local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27859/16]

Prison Accommodation Provision

Alan Farrell

102. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration has been given to proceeding with the building of a prison on the Thornton Hall site; the capacity levels of each prison in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26771/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Alan Farrell

254. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the process by which the geographical and school specific decisions are made in relation to the allocation of autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26770/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Alan Farrell

256. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the denial of the qualification allowance to teachers who had taken a break from their college registration and became re-registered in the period prior to the introduction of Circular 0008/2013; the legal basis upon which his Department does this, given that Circular 0008/2013 is the first to specify these registration conditions and taking into account the Circulars 70/2011 and 0003/2012 do not specify such conditions but merely state that teachers who were undertaking courses will be considered in the context of the public service-wide review by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; his views on whether the implementation of these requirements upon teachers who were taking courses, and had been both de-registered and re-registered during their course, prior to Circular 0008/2013 is retrospective application and therefore should not be allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26780/16]

Road Traffic Legislation

Alan Farrell

885. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures in place to regulate rickshaws on streets; the action he plans to take to ensure passenger safety and driver identification are given priority in terms of the future regulation of rickshaws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26772/16]

Owners Management Companies

Alan Farrell

2. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to cases whereby management companies are uncommunicative with homeowners with whom they have a management agreement; the action she plans to take in order to ensure management companies uphold their responsibilities to homeowners and residents within estates which are under their remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24715/16]

Road Traffic Offences

Alan Farrell

14. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to strengthen enforcement of speeding and drink driving laws in view of the increase in fatalities on roads in 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24397/16]

Garda Resources

Alan Farrell

134. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount allocated to An Garda Síochána for personnel, resources and vehicles, including details of all increases or decreases for each of the years 2013 to date in 2016 in tabular form; the total spend by her Department in the same format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25483/16]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Alan Farrell

160. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the action she will take to ensure schools and teachers are made fully aware of the Garda vetting procedures in place for teachers taking up new employment; the measures she will put in place to avoid a repeat of the situation in 2016 whereby many teachers were without the required Garda vetting at the start of the academic year and therefore unable to teach, causing undue stress for the teachers in question and putting increased pressure on the resources of the schools involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25773/16]

Property Tax Data

Alan Farrell

226. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the local property tax receipts by year, in tabular form, since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24719/16]

State Aid Investigations

Alan Farrell

309. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if he will identify the European Union treaty which requires a company registered in a jurisdiction within the European Union to make payment to a State following a finding of the European Commission; the legal and practical basis upon which the Revenue Commissioners would act to collect payment from a company following such a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25897/16]

EU Investigations

Alan Farrell

310. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance his views on the failure of the European Commission to publish the report on its decision in the case of a company (details supplied); if he will engage with the European Commission to secure the publication of its report, taking into account that a redacted version could be published to omit market sensitive information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25898/16]

Further Education and Training Colleges

Alan Farrell

395. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of any developments regarding the establishment of a college of further education in the Swords area of north County Dublin, given the fact that Fingal has the fastest growing population in the State; if he will support the development of such an educational facility to cater for the demand which exists in Swords and the greater north county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24553/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Alan Farrell

401. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the project to provide a school (details supplied) with a new school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24724/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Alan Farrell

402. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the provision of a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24725/16]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Alan Farrell

439. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of spend on schools building projects, schools extensions and additional accommodation provision, with detail of increases and decreases, on an annual basis, for each of the years 2013 to date in 2016 in tabular form; the total spend by his Department in the same format; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25481/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Alan Farrell

466. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the next phase of development for Lusk Community College is expected to be completed; the details on the facilities which will be delivered as part of this next phase of development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25759/16]