Parliamentary questions

Natural Gas Imports

Mick Wallace

6. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the growing trend of US multinational involvement in the gas industry across Europe; if he or his Department has had input into the proposed gas terminal on the Shannon Estuary backed by a fund (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3404/19]

Climate Change Policy

Mick Wallace

58. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the findings of a study commissioned by a publication (details supplied) have been reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3403/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Mick Wallace

75. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 110 to 112, inclusive, of 28 November 2018, the reason for the delay in answering the questions; when responses to these questions will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3625/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Mick Wallace

76. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with the procedures for height measurement and determination at entry to the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3626/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Mick Wallace

77. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of times a person (details supplied) was measured during the recruitment and training process prior to discharge; the exact reading of each measurement; the number of Defence Forces medical personnel involved in measuring the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3627/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Mick Wallace

78. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will reconsider the discharge of a person (details supplied) and immediately move to reinstate the person in view of his acknowledgement that he is reviewing the procedures for height measurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3628/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Mick Wallace

79. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is considering remeasuring all Defence Forces personnel in view of his acknowledgement that he is reviewing the procedures for height measurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3629/19]

Customs and Excise Controls

Mick Wallace

89. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the number of customs officials that are assigned to Rosslare Port; the start and end times of custom official shifts; and if customs officials are present for all ferry departures and arrivals. [3538/19]

Mental Health Services

Mick Wallace

202. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the status of the open dialogue programme that started in Bantry, County Cork in September 2015; the way in which the programme works; if it has been considered a success; if it will be rolled out to other CHO teams and areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3631/19]

Mental Health Services

Mick Wallace

203. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the status of the advancing recovery Ireland initiative in counties Wexford and Waterford; the achievements the programme has had there; the number of meetings that have taken place since the initiative began; the number of service users that engaged with the initiative; the number of HSE staff that engaged with the initiative in counties Wexford and Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3632/19]

HSE Expenditure

Mick Wallace

204. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the expenses claimed by HSE staff in connection with the advancing recovery Ireland initiative since its inception by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3633/19]

Garda Data

Mick Wallace

112. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda vehicles that were allocated to Wexford Garda division in 2018; and the number of vehicles removed from the division in 2018. [3252/19]

Dental Services Data

Mick Wallace

152. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the funding for the public dental service in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [3251/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Mick Wallace

156. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce additional residential care places for the disabled adults of senior citizens; the number of such residential care places he hopes to add in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3270/19]

Ministerial Meetings

Mick Wallace

208. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of times in quarter four of 2018 that he met formally the CEO of Iarnród Éireann. [3247/19]

Ministerial Meetings

Mick Wallace

220. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when he last met the chairperson of the Charities Regulatory Authority; and when he will next meet the chairperson. [3243/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mick Wallace

43. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress in relation to the action plan to expand apprenticeships and traineeships here; the number of apprenticeships that have been started to date under the plan; the gender distribution in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2762/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mick Wallace

46. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being taken to raise awareness and promote uptake of apprenticeship opportunities among school leavers particularly in view of the fact that only 3% of school leavers here take up apprenticeships as opposed to 60% in Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2763/19]

Gambling Sector

Mick Wallace

252. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 251 of 6 February 2018, the enforcement role An Garda Síochána has in regard to unlicensed gaming activities and the availability of gaming machines in locations in which gaming is prohibited; when the report he requested from the Garda authorities on this matter in February 2018 will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2789/19]

Medicinal Products Data

Mick Wallace

311. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the quantity of each of the drugs (details supplied) that were manufactured and imported here and exported in each of the years 2011 to the most recent year for which data is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2351/19]

Prescriptions Data

Mick Wallace

312. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on prescriptions of specific drugs (details supplied); the number of persons prescribed SSRIs and SNRIs according to the latest data available; the details of which medical professionals are prescribing same, for example, general practitioners, psychiatrists and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2352/19]

Hospital Services

Mick Wallace

423. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if the already approved capital funding for the construction of a second cath lab at University Hospital Waterford will be affected by the escalating construction costs of the new national children’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2781/19]

Defence Forces Deployment

Mick Wallace

20. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the proposed plans to send the Army Ranger Wing to Mali on peacekeeping duties; the reason for this possible deployment; if their deployment has come at the request of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2007/19]

Overseas Missions

Mick Wallace

34. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there have been proposed new military operations or peacekeeping operations in the near future that will see the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas in view of his comments that it is a stated ambition to double Ireland’s global impact and footprint by 2025 and that military and peacekeeping operations play a role in this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2008/19]

Abbey Theatre

Mick Wallace

67. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on reduced employment and fees for actors and theatre staff due to the artistic model of a theatre (details supplied) of fewer in-house productions and increased co-productions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1758/19]

Appointments to State Boards

Mick Wallace

62. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether a possible conflict of interest arises in view of the appointment of a person (details supplied) to the board of An Bord Pleanála due to the role of the person as head of planning for a publicly listed company; the number of persons who applied for the appointment to the board; if the appointment of the person was an unanimous decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1476/19]

Land Development Agency

Mick Wallace

64. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the work of the Land Development Agency to date; when it expects to deliver its first sites; if the primary legislation regarding the Land Development Agency has been drafted; when he expects the role of permanent chairperson to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1474/19]

Rental Sector

Mick Wallace

101. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the trend of large-scale developments of apartment units being sold in bulk to investment and pension funds; his further views on whether this is contributing to a rental cartel; his plans to draft legislation in conjunction with the Minister for Finance to make it a requirement for developments with over 100 units to advertise these units on the open market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1477/19]

Vacant Properties

Mick Wallace

103. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he is satisfied that the vacant site levy is working to its full potential in its current format; his views on whether site owners are utilising loopholes in the legislation to avoid paying the tax; his plans to amend the legislation with a view to tightening up the definition of a vacant site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1475/19]

Vacant Properties

Mick Wallace

105. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether local authorities are not utilising their powers under the compulsory purchase order to supply land for social and affordable housing; his further views on whether certain local authorities appear to be ignoring their requirement under the legislation enacting the vacant site levy; his plans to issue a new circular with regard to the vacant site levy to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1478/19]

Public Services Card Data

Mick Wallace

58. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has responded to the draft report and request of the Data Protection Commission for further information on the processing of personal data in connection with the public services card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53441/18]

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Mick Wallace

107. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration will be given to implementing a ban on the use of gas derived from hydraulic fracturing as an energy and fuel source here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53157/18]

Electricity Generation

Mick Wallace

110. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the plan to cease burning coal at Moneypoint power station in 2025 will be reviewed in view of the fact that no coal has been burned there for over two months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53156/18]

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Mick Wallace

603. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on the legality, appropriateness and wisdom of his Department granting €2 million under the rural regeneration and development fund to a proposed aquaculture marine park at Kilkieran, Connemara, in view of the fact that the project is still going through an appeal with An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52945/18]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Mick Wallace

16. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the findings of a report by the European Migration Network, published by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, which found that only a small proportion of minors have secured an immigration status and that this was due to delays making applications on behalf of minors by social workers in Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52433/18]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Mick Wallace

31. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to a report by the European Migration Network and published by the ESRI, regarding unaccompanied minors; the measures she has taken to assist unaccompanied minors that come here following the publication of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52432/18]

Garda Recruitment

Mick Wallace

85. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to review the maximum age limit of 35 years of age for normal entry into An Garda Síochána in order to maximise recruitment opportunities and diversity as suggested in the review of entry routes to An Garda Síochána advice by the Garda Inspectorate published in May 2018. [52495/18]

Transport Policy

Mick Wallace

28. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to promote the use of natural gas as a fuel source for the transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52109/18]

Military Aircraft Landings

Mick Wallace

53. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 72 of 6 November 2018, the number of applications related to the transport of munitions of war categorised as dangerous goods, that is, munitions of war that contain material that is explosive, corrosive, flammable, toxic and so on; the meaning of the phrase very few; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52110/18]

Departmental Reviews

Mick Wallace

49. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the company employed to conduct the independent review with regard to the review of the charitable status of Pobal; the estimated cost of such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51841/18]

Departmental Reviews

Mick Wallace

62. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the review by Pobal into its charity status will be published; if he has been in contact with Pobal since September 2018 regarding the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51840/18]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mick Wallace

15. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that the carbon footprint of our agriculture sector is being reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51173/18]

Pesticide Use

Mick Wallace

48. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to reduce the use of pesticides in the agriculture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51174/18]

Prisoner Transfers

Mick Wallace

125. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 20 of 17 October 2018, the meaning of the reactivation of all existing applications for repatriation under the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act 1995 in practical terms for UK prisoners depending on their sentence type in view of the fact that the applications are likely to lapse without the required legislative changes to the Act; his views on whether the reactivations may raise false expectations of prisoners and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51271/18]

Home Help Service Provision

Mick Wallace

125. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his views on the discrepancies between the number of persons waiting for home care packages in different counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50868/18]

Home Help Service Provision

Mick Wallace

130. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the steps he plans to take to address the estimated deficit of 1.5 million hours in the provision of home care packages in 2018 and 2019 detailed in a report (details supplied). [50869/18]

Prison Mental Health Services

Mick Wallace

24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the fact that there may be an inadequate level of mental health support for prisoners here as highlighted by a recent report by the IPRT; his further views on the fact that Irish prisons may not be meeting the standards of best international practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49796/18]

Surveillance Operations

Mick Wallace

38. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on reports that prison officers have been put under surveillance; the details of the investigation he has ordered into same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49793/18]

Asylum Seeker Employment

Mick Wallace

40. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers that have been granted the right to work since June 2018; his views on the fact that the limitations imposed are stopping asylum seekers from obtaining work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49792/18]

Commission on the Future of Policing Reports

Mick Wallace

48. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to implement the recommendations in the Commission on the Future of Policing report; his views on the fact that some of the recommendations may dilute accountability; and the recommendations he will be implementing. [49794/18]