Parliamentary questions

Exploration Licences

Thomas Pringle

432. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on recent studies showing that the likelihood of offshore oil and gas deposits is low despite existing and potential environmental damage being high; his plans to end all future oil and gas exploration in Irish waters and place a full moratorium on exploration activity until fish stock, wildlife and climate scenarios recover is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52184/18]

Carbon Budget

Thomas Pringle

433. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether the absence of carbon budgets explains the failure of the national mitigation plan to present concrete actions across sectors capable of reducing or closing the gap to Ireland’s EU targets and of reducing the fines for non-compliance; if he will adopt the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly by amending the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 to include five year carbon budgets that are consistent with Ireland’s obligations under EU and international climate law as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52185/18]

Climate Change Policy

Thomas Pringle

434. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the implications of the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, report SR15, which shows that in order to have a good chance of keeping the global temperature rise to 1.5° Celsius, the EU would need to substantially increase climate action; if the Government will support proposed higher EU targets for 2030 without seeking special favours or exemptions at the European Council on 9 May 2019 in Sibiu; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52186/18]

Climate Change Policy

Thomas Pringle

435. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether Ireland’s commitment to the Paris Agreement requires far higher emission reduction rates than acknowledged by a group (details supplied) and the long-term resilience reports; his further views on whether rapid fossil fuel phase-out would deliver greater energy security and greater economic and social resilience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52187/18]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Thomas Pringle

522. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a domiciliary care allowance review will be completed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51717/18]

Fish Quotas

Thomas Pringle

9. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on recent negotiations resulting in the 20% reduction in the mackerel quota for fishermen here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51117/18]

Agriculture Schemes

Thomas Pringle

24. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the other schemes available to farmers to facilitate their transition towards a low carbon economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51119/18]

Forestry Grants

Thomas Pringle

36. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of grants for forestry development awarded to entities here over the past five years; the size of forestry development for each grant awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51120/18]

Fishing Industry

Thomas Pringle

60. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of negotiations regarding access to fishing rights here post Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51118/18]

Respite Care Services

Thomas Pringle

39. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his views on the transfer of ownership of respite facilities from the HSE to a third party as in the case of a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50835/18]

HSE Staff

Thomas Pringle

69. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the efforts made to date to resolve matters between the HSE and a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50834/18]

Conflict Resolution

Thomas Pringle

129. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland will increase its diplomatic efforts through the EU to ensure South Sudan's fragile peace deals hold; the extent to which Ireland is supporting the humanitarian efforts in South Sudan that are addressing the root causes of the conflict; if his Department continues to fund and support the vital conflict resolution and peace building efforts at community level by a council (details supplied) in partnership with international non-governmental organisations, INGOs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50765/18]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Thomas Pringle

675. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50563/18]

Schools Building Projects

Thomas Pringle

42. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will carry out a review of his Department's design-and-build programme of school builds; if this will be carried out by an independent entity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49503/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Thomas Pringle

47. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied); the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49500/18]

Schools Facilities

Thomas Pringle

69. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will receive a new accessible toilet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49501/18]

National Council for Special Education

Thomas Pringle

88. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will introduce an implementation plan in respect of the recommendations drafted by the National Council for Special Education which suggest that SNA training should be funded by the State and not SNAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49499/18]

Third Level Funding

Thomas Pringle

93. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the future of funding for third level education here; if he will rule out the introduction of third level education loans as a means of funding third level education here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49502/18]

Direct Provision Data

Thomas Pringle

304. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 305 of 20 November 2018, the extra bed capacity in the direct provision centre in County Sligo for overnight stays for residents from a centre (details supplied) in County Donegal travelling en route to Dublin for interviews arranged by the Reception and Integration Agency and the Internal Protection Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49265/18]

Carbon Budget

Thomas Pringle

187. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the revised public spending code recommends that the shadow price of carbon is set at the December 2017 level at €7.29 per tonne in project appraisals up to 2019, in view of the fact that the cost of carbon credits in the EU Emissions Trading System has risen significantly in the past few months to nearly €20; if the recommended shadow price will be revised upwards; and if he will amend the public spending code guidance document E5. [48145/18]

Carbon Budget

Thomas Pringle

188. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will require all projects under the NDP to be appraised using a shadow price of carbon in view of the fact that the current EU Emissions Trading System price of nearly €20 may serve as a guide to assessing the long-term climate impacts of NDP investments. [48146/18]

Carbon Budget

Thomas Pringle

189. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will devise and use a carbon budget methodology to ensure that Government spending and tax policies are in line with the required reductions in greenhouse gasses in order to meet the national transition objective and EU climate and energy targets for 2030. [48148/18]

Direct Provision System

Thomas Pringle

260. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the accounts of companies managing direct provision centres are scrutinised, including those which are unlimited companies with accounts not open to public scrutiny; if this is done prior to the awarding of contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47987/18]

Direct Provision System

Thomas Pringle

305. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the transport arrangements that will be put in place for the new direct provision centre in Moville, County Donegal, to ensure asylum seekers will not have to cross the Border into Northern Ireland to access key public services and services related to their application for asylum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48238/18]

Direct Provision System

Thomas Pringle

306. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if overnight accommodation will be put in place for asylum seekers living in direct provision in remote areas (details supplied) when travel to Dublin is necessitated to attend their interview at the international protection office and access associated supports and services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48239/18]

Proposed Legislation

Thomas Pringle

469. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary No. 404 of 13 November 2018, if he will consider the prohibition by clinics here to engage in the activity of proactively arranging for couples to seek anonymous gametes in clinics located in other jurisdictions in which it may be legal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48310/18]

Departmental Funding

Thomas Pringle

672. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding a centre (details supplied) receives; the amount of funding it has received since 2012, in tabular form; if the funding was obtained from capital or public expenditure sources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47711/18]

Departmental Funding

Thomas Pringle

673. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding a centre (details supplied) has received in each year since it was established; the funding which is from capital or public expenditure sources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47712/18]

Housing Assistance Payment Implementation

Thomas Pringle

117. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a landlord register of HAP properties will be made available to persons in advance of taking up a tenancy with HAP support; his views on whether auctioneers and estate agents must be obliged to advertise HAP properties; the efforts he has made to date as regards same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47008/18]

Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks

Thomas Pringle

122. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the establishment of a mica redress scheme; the proposed commencement date of same; if homeowners previously unaware of mica contamination in their homes will be included in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47009/18]

Commencement of Legislation

Thomas Pringle

188. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delays in the commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; when these sections will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47282/18]

JobPath Data

Thomas Pringle

119. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the percentage of JobPath attendees that gained work after completing the course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46625/18]

Illness Benefit Waiting Times

Thomas Pringle

125. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her handling of delays in the issuing of illness benefit payments; if these delays have been fully addressed; if not, when she envisages payment issues will be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46624/18]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Pringle

230. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of negotiations on the issue of SNA training being funded by the State as opposed to by individual SNAs; if the recommendation for this change by the National Council for Special Education is being considered; if same will be supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46712/18]

Proposed Legislation

Thomas Pringle

404. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when the assisted human reproduction Bill will be introduced; if it will include a clause prohibiting donor tourism whereby a clinic based here facilitates couples attending clinics in other jurisdictions to access anonymous gametes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46949/18]

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Thomas Pringle

513. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) cannot access community childcare subvention and community childcare subvention plus schemes; the steps that can be taken to alleviate the person's situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46537/18]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

92. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person or family household is required to be on a social welfare payment to qualify for the special rate of SUSI grants when their income does not exceed €23,500; his views on whether this restriction is penalising for families that are working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46091/18]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

171. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason all parental income is taken into account on the means assessment for social welfare applicants under 25 years of age; the reason a parent in receipt of a carer's allowance parental income is normally disregarded under all other schemes yet it is taken into account when a person under 25 years of age is still living with their parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46092/18]

Deportation Orders Data

Thomas Pringle

379. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who hold an outstanding deportation order for timeframes in months (details supplied). [44640/18]

Deportation Orders Data

Thomas Pringle

380. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average length of time for an outstanding deportation order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44641/18]

Garda Recruitment

Thomas Pringle

408. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to recruitment and retention issues within An Garda Síochána in County Donegal; the efforts carried out to date to ensure adequate numbers of gardaí are present in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45137/18]

Drug and Alcohol Testing

Thomas Pringle

409. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the low rates of driver drug tests in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45140/18]

Home Help Service

Thomas Pringle

609. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting approval for home help hours in the north west in each month in each of the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45133/18]

Health Services Funding

Thomas Pringle

610. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the amount of extra funding allocated from budget 2019 to address the trolley crisis in Letterkenny University Hospital not taking into account funds allocated to cover the existing overspend in the health budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45134/18]

Ambulance Service Provision

Thomas Pringle

611. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his views on whether ambulance cover in County Donegal is sufficient for the needs of the county; the number of stations that exist; the criteria for deployment of ambulances at each station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45135/18]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Thomas Pringle

807. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a report (details supplied) recently published which outlines a policy trajectory in which Ireland could achieve a 70% renewable electricity share by 2030, which includes offshore wind and solar; his views on whether the wind energy guidelines are a potential barrier to the achievement of this goal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45619/18]

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Thomas Pringle

998. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding under the town and village renewal scheme awarded to projects in County Donegal in each year since its inception to date; the number of projects which applied for funding; the number of projects which were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45138/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

Thomas Pringle

1026. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the payment for a child dependent on the illness benefit claim by a person (details supplied) will be awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44786/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

Thomas Pringle

1027. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive an illness benefit payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44787/18]

Illness Benefit Applications

Thomas Pringle

1065. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will be awarded an illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45083/18]