Parliamentary questions

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Willie Penrose

453. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a carer's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22416/19]

Legislative Reviews

Willie Penrose

471. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to update the Civil Registration Act 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22706/19]

Foreign Birth Registration

Willie Penrose

82. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an application for foreign birth registration by a person (details supplied) was received; if so, if same will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22133/19]

Agriculture Industry

Willie Penrose

487. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a request for support and exceptional aid has been made to the European Commission in the context of additional funding being required to address the significant crisis for farmers; if so, the measures sought in the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21686/19]

Electronic Tagging

Willie Penrose

488. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if plans have been put in place to have all the necessary EID readers in situ in marts and factories in time for the mandatory electronic identification process on 1 June 2019, in view of the fact that it has been mandatory for sheep farmers to purchase EID tags since October 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21687/19]

Electronic Tagging

Willie Penrose

489. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an assurance can be provided for farmers that as and from 1 June 2019, all of the sheep that pass through marts and factories will be read electronically and digital printouts will be made available to farmers as a matter of course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21688/19]

Beef Industry

Willie Penrose

490. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to seeking protected geographical indication status exclusively for suckler beef rather than the entire herd, enabling suckler beef to be sold as a premium product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21689/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Willie Penrose

126. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if an orthopaedic procedure will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21285/19]

Disability Services Funding

Willie Penrose

127. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the serious financial difficulty being experienced by RehabCare; his plans to ensure that the necessary additional funding will be put in place to enable these services to be provided to persons that use and need same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21286/19]

Residency Permits

Willie Penrose

134. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for leave to remain by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21139/19]

Residency Permits

Willie Penrose

135. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application by a person (details supplied) to remain here as a spouse of an Irish national will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21141/19]

Disease Management

Willie Penrose

166. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the health services available to persons who have been definitively diagnosed with Lyme disease; if weekly ECG tests and blood tests every two weeks are available to such persons who need continuous assessment and treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20984/19]

TAMS Appeals

Willie Penrose

227. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a TAMS grant applied for by a person (details supplied); the position in which the appeal lodged is within the appeals system; if same can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20983/19]

State Pension (Contributory)

Willie Penrose

256. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review of pension entitlements has been conducted in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20981/19]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Status

Willie Penrose

267. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has received an application regarding the group sewerage scheme for an area (details supplied) from Westmeath County Council; and if so, when same will be approved. [21140/19]

Digital Strategy for Schools

Willie Penrose

39. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy in respect of the use of laptops in schools and the cost of laptops to parents particularly during secondary education years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19834/19]

Public Sector Pay

Willie Penrose

21. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans in respect of outstanding public sector pay restoration; his further plans for public sector dialogue between workers, trade unions and his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18022/19]

Workplace Relations Commission

Willie Penrose

147. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps she will take to address the significant delay that has arisen in the issuing of recommendations of the Workplace Relations Commission following unfair dismissals hearings, whereby there is at least a three month delay in terms of the recommendations and determinations that are due on foot of such hearings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18359/19]

Community Banking

Willie Penrose

76. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance his plans to support a public banking scheme based on the Sparkasse model due to the continued difficulties in lending volumes to SMEs, particularly in rural areas and the high interest rates charged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15648/19]

Approved Housing Bodies

Willie Penrose

222. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding remains in place for a house building project by an organisation (details supplied) at a location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17092/19]

Wild Fires

Willie Penrose

7. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to carry out an evaluation of the damage and cost incurred as a consequence of fires that resulted from her extension of the most recent burning season in respect of gorse; her further plans to carry out an evaluation of the destruction of habitats of flora, fauna and wildlife as a consequence of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16718/19]

Arts Council

Willie Penrose

15. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the arrangements to appoint a new chair to the Arts Council of Ireland will be completed; the number of other vacancies on the council; and when she plans to fill same. [16717/19]

University Status Applications

Willie Penrose

67. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of plans for university status to be conferred on institutes of technology and in particular upon Athlone Institute of Technology; the timescale envisaged for such development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16788/19]

Energy Schemes

Willie Penrose

155. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if grant aid is available for the installation of a wood pellet burning stove (details supplied) under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, grant schemes or other schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16790/19]

Railway Stations Upgrade

Willie Penrose

188. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if European regional funding will be available under rural community funds or under the BMW regional fund to enable refurbishment works be carried out at the railway station at Thomastown, Killucan, County Westmeath to enable it to be reopened to facilitate the passengers who wish to utilise the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16789/19]

Army Barracks

Willie Penrose

135. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if in the context of a further organisational review of Defence Forces facilities and the utilisation thereof, it is planned to reopen Columb Barracks, Mullingar, for troop deployments and accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16661/19]

Hospitals Capital Programme

Willie Penrose

462. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the capital expenditure planned for the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar in relation to the necessary upgrading and refurbishment that is set out to include the provision of new theatres and ancillary services and additional staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16659/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Payments

Willie Penrose

605. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the prime measure of inflation her Department uses to assess or examine the cost of living increases in respect of social welfare payments; the rates of inflation used by her Department over the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16660/19]

Transfer of Entitlements

Willie Penrose

259. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); if same will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15777/19]

State Pension (Contributory)

Willie Penrose

325. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to a review of their pension payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15761/19]

Local Authority Staff

Willie Penrose

57. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has met with local authority broadband officers since his appointment; and the local authorities he has met with on the issue of broadband provision. [3372/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Willie Penrose

201. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the situation in relation to the provision of a secondary school in Kinnegad, County Westmeath will be examined particularly in the context of a significantly increased population in the area and its environs and which was considered as part of the original M4 study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15434/19]

Medical Card Applications

Willie Penrose

115. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) has had a medical card reissued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14584/19]

Medical Card Applications

Willie Penrose

131. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) has had a medical card reissued; the status of the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14627/19]

Marine Safety

Willie Penrose

150. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the €1.5 million development at a college (details supplied) in County Donegal will be approved for construction in view of the fact that the project is ready to proceed to construction; the status of the sea survival training unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14721/19]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Willie Penrose

202. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an appeal hearing will be held in respect of a person (details supplied); if same will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14628/19]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments

Willie Penrose

222. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if payment will issue to a person (details supplied) who made an application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting scheme in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14629/19]

Bovine Disease Controls

Willie Penrose

64. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the role of deer in the spread of tuberculosis needs to be taken seriously and investigated in a comprehensive scientific manner. [13961/19]

Beef Industry

Willie Penrose

75. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether, regardless of events in the House of Commons, the beef sector has already taken a massive hit from Brexit; the way in which he plans to resurrect the sector before irreversible damage is done to same; and the steps that will be taken to save the sector in the event of a Brexit extension leading to a stalemate scenario with ongoing instability. [13960/19]

Animal Identification Schemes

Willie Penrose

88. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure marts and factories will be required to install EID electronic tag readers for sheep in order to eliminate unnecessary paperwork for farmers and assist them with keeping accurate records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13962/19]

Tuberculosis Eradication Programme

Willie Penrose

91. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the concerns of farmers are being taken seriously regarding herd devaluation, compensation and the role of deer in the spread of tuberculosis at the bovine TB stakeholders forum. [13964/19]

Beef Industry

Willie Penrose

101. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether Ireland should prioritise protected geographical indication status for suckler beef in order that it could be marketed as a niche speciality product rather than making a generic application for all Irish beef. [13963/19]

Commencement of Legislation

Willie Penrose

428. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, excluding Part 8, will be fully implemented and all sections enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12911/19]

Assisted Decision Making

Willie Penrose

638. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health when Part 8 of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 will be fully implemented and all sections enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12911/19]

Greyhound Industry

Willie Penrose

968. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied); his views on whether the Greyhound Racing Bill 2018 currently before Dáil Éireann will deal with the regulatory issues therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12908/19]

Tenant Purchase Scheme

Willie Penrose

1410. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which a couple with a tenancy of more than 20 years can participate in the tenant purchase scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13525/19]

Mobility Allowance Eligibility

Willie Penrose

49. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide a mobility allowance or similar supports to those in receipt of a disability allowance and other related payments. [8113/19]

Garda Transport Data

Willie Penrose

169. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda public order vans attached to the Westmeath division as of 1 March 2018 and 1 March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12693/19]

Legislative Reviews

Willie Penrose

176. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to update the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12691/19]

Trade Missions

Willie Penrose

277. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for a food-related trade mission to Korea and Japan later in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12690/19]