Parliamentary questions

Disease Awareness

Róisín Shortall

174. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding the prevention and public awareness with respect to Lyme disease in view of recent developments in the United States (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40262/16]

Sports Capital Programme Data

Róisín Shortall

244. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the detail of the resource allocation model for the allocation of funds under the sports capital programme at the last round; and if he will provide a link to the place, the model and criteria, as published in detail. [40436/16]

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Róisín Shortall

81. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the delay in the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; the actions required before ratification will take place; the steps she is taking to address the delay; and the timeframe she is working to. [39430/16]

Passport Services

Róisín Shortall

82. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will establish the details of the case of a person (details supplied); the options open to the person to enable renewal of a passport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39435/16]

Residency Permits

Róisín Shortall

135. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will issue a temporary stamp 4 and an updated GNIB card to a person (details supplied) to allow them to continue to work while a review of their case is being carried out in view of the inadvertent miscommunication between the person and INIS. [40042/16]

Tax Data

Róisín Shortall

168. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons assessed for tax on foreign social security pensions for each of the tax years 2010 to 2015; and the number of persons assessed for tax on foreign occupational pensions for each of the tax years 2010 to 2015. [39778/16]

Legislative Measures

Róisín Shortall

169. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will instruct the Revenue Commissioners to initiate immediately a wide-ranging publicity campaign concerning the enactment of section 54 of the Finance Bill 2016. [39779/16]

Property Tax Collection

Róisín Shortall

176. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the 2017 local property tax liability for surrendered property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40036/16]

Pensions Data

Róisín Shortall

313. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of a secondary UK state pension as notified to his Department by the UK's Department for Work and Pensions in each of the years 2013 to 2016 to date; the number of persons here in receipt of a US social security pension, as notified by US authorities in each of the years 2013 to 2016 to date; and the number of persons in receipt of pensions from other EU or EEA states as notified to his Department in each of the years 2013 to 2016 to date, by country, in tabular form. [39775/16]

Pensions Data

Róisín Shortall

314. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of meetings his staff have held in each of the years 2013 to 2016 with staff of the Revenue Commissioners specifically to discuss the issue of non-disclosure of foreign pensions here. [39776/16]

Pensions Data

Róisín Shortall

315. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that are in receipt of pensions from other EU or EEA states as notified to his Department in each of the years 2013 to 2016 to date, by country, and who are also in receipt of a non-contributory pension from his Department, in tabular form. [39777/16]

Prescriptions Charges

Róisín Shortall

466. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 204 of 30 June 2016, 412 of 27 January 2015, 120 of 2 December 2015 and 334 of 2 February 2016, the status of the response by the Health Service Executive to this issue; if he will request an update from the pharmacy interface project; his plans with regard to resolving this anomaly; and if he will ensure that a final answer is issued without further delay. [39782/16]

Broadcasting Sector

Róisín Shortall

582. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the proposed outsourcing of children’s programming from RTÉ to private production companies; his views on this decision and the manner in which it was presented to staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39711/16]

Defence Forces Properties

Róisín Shortall

679. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current situation surrounding the former Columb Barracks site in Mullingar; if he has received any proposals regarding an alternative use for the barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39773/16]

Defence Forces Properties

Róisín Shortall

680. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the time that is remaining to submit proposals regarding the former Columb Barracks site in Mullingar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39774/16]

Courts Service Administration

Róisín Shortall

58. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of instances in each of the past three years of criminal cases involving child sexual abuse being delayed due to inefficient court resources such as the availability of a judge; the steps she is taking to reduce such delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39270/16]

Revenue Documents Publication

Róisín Shortall

71. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the number of tax opinions provided each year up to 2012; the number of companies involved; and the protocol and approval system for the issuing of these opinions. [39245/16]

Revenue Documents Publication

Róisín Shortall

72. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to a media report (details supplied), the circumstances whereby the Revenue Commissioners notified the European Commission in respect of tax opinions; and the number that have been notified to date broken down by year of issuance. [39246/16]

Revenue Documents Publication

Róisín Shortall

73. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the new policy in respect of the issuing of tax opinions to multinational companies and the estimated tax forgone as a result of these opinions being issued up to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39247/16]

Revenue Commissioners Investigations

Róisín Shortall

74. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the details of the Revenue Commissioners' current programme reviewing various share issues from reserves of co-ops; the estimated number of farmers under review; the likely additional tax yield; the extent of look-back involved and the details of the awareness campaign which he is undertaking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39273/16]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

87. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the budgetary process for the allocation of ASD special classes in mainstream schools; if additional funding is provided to schools for such classes; if the funding for these classes is included in the schools' budget or the budget of the NCSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39272/16]

Child Abuse

Róisín Shortall

274. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the geographic availability of dedicated child and adolescent sexual assault treatment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39269/16]

Child and Family Agency

Róisín Shortall

275. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the therapeutic interventions available for children exhibiting sexually harmful behaviour; the steps she is taking to ensure there is no undue delay in the provision of therapeutic services in view of the risk these children may be to themselves and other children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39271/16]

Liquor Licensing Laws

Róisín Shortall

87. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the continued requirement for licensed premises to remain closed on Good Friday; if she will update the law in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39067/16]

State Investments

Róisín Shortall

92. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his plans regarding the issue of fossil fuel divestment; if this divestment will be included in the Irish Strategic Investment Fund strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39135/16]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Grants

Róisín Shortall

128. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the details of all grant payment schemes for group water schemes; the total number of such schemes which are grant aided; and the total cost of these for each of the past three years. [39145/16]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Grants

Róisín Shortall

129. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the details of all grant payment schemes available for private wells; the total number of such wells which are grant aided; and the total cost of these for each of the past three years. [39139/16]

Social Welfare Benefits

Róisín Shortall

160. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will establish the circumstances whereby a family (details supplied) in which a person was previously in receipt of a jobseeker's allowance is now worse off with the person in part-time employment in view of the fact fuel allowance for another family member has ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39063/16]

Better Energy Homes Scheme Applications

Róisín Shortall

254. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the options open to a person (details supplied) who has been refused an SEAI grant despite their home having been built in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39059/16]

Property Tax Data

Róisín Shortall

117. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of 26 October 2016, if he will provide a breakdown within each county of the four categories of deferrals and detail the interest rate being applied in each category. [38575/16]

Teaching Contracts

Róisín Shortall

140. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if employees redesignated as tutors in order to retain posts but avoid the necessity to register with the Teaching Council are required to complete so-called Croke Park hours, or if they are exempt from same with regard to section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001, appendix B, section 2.2 specialised posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38420/16]

Third Level Funding

Róisín Shortall

161. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of 24 November 2016, if he will provide a breakdown of funding per capita for each third level institution. [38574/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Róisín Shortall

310. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when funding for nursing care to enable two persons (details supplied) attend school will be provided in view of the commitment given by him in early October 2016 that this funding was available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38421/16]

Disability Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

325. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 6 October 2016, if he will ensure that a response is provided by either him or the HSE to a proposal from a project (details supplied) without any further delay. [38474/16]

HSE Legal Cases

Róisín Shortall

150. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 618 of 15 November 2016, the reason the HSE’s legal advisers drafted this memo in the first instance; the person or body that sought this advice; the person or body that approved its issuing; the rationale behind this information being requested from the HSE’s legal advisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37952/16]

Arts Funding

Róisín Shortall

22. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps she will take to address the shortage of affordable studio space for artists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37698/16]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

414. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the rationale for the allocation of €2.175 million for the building of a centre (details supplied); her views on whether the allocation of funds represents good value for money; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37715/16]

Blood Donations

Róisín Shortall

496. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the categories of the population that are currently prevented from giving blood; and the percentage of the population that falls within these categories. [36846/16]

Speech and Language Therapy

Róisín Shortall

497. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of newly recruited speech and language therapists in 2016; the average contract provided to these new recruits; and the number of these which had the contract extended. [36847/16]

Speech and Language Therapy

Róisín Shortall

498. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of speech and language therapists currently employed. [36848/16]

Speech and Language Therapy

Róisín Shortall

499. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the policy of the HSE on the replacement of speech and language staff that are on maternity leave; the percentage of staff on maternity leave which have had their position covered by an additional member of staff in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36849/16]

Alcohol Treatment Programmes

Róisín Shortall

561. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 20 October 2016, if he will ensure a reply is provided to the question raised without further delay. [37319/16]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

587. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the proposed changes to the services provided at Tallaght children’s hospital due to occur as part of the development of the children’s hospital at St. James’s in Dublin; if the children’s hospital at St. James’s will become counties Wicklow, Meath and Kildare's only accident and emergency facility for children; the proposed date for transfer of those services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37502/16]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

588. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the services that will be provided in the proposed Tallaght urgent care centre, UCC; the number and type of beds available for children in Tallaght UCC; the types of illness that fall into the category of urgent as opposed to emergency; the proposed opening hours of the facility; the time at which all children that require overnight care will have to be transferred to the children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37503/16]

Health Services Data

Róisín Shortall

589. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of children from County Wicklow that are treated in Tallaght hospital accident and emergency each year, including the number that require overnight stays [37504/16]

Ambulance Service Data

Róisín Shortall

590. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an article (details supplied) regarding the access for ambulances to the children's hospital at St. James’s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37505/16]

Medical Card Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

608. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the Department of Health to ensure an anomaly in budget 2017 (details supplied) does not result in groups of pensioners losing their entitlement to medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37617/16]

Third Level Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

94. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average per capita spending allocation to universities and institutes of technology; and the basis on which different per capita allocations are made. [36686/16]

State Pensions

Róisín Shortall

324. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the State pension in 2015; the number of recipients at year end; the total number of beneficiaries, that is, counting qualified adults; if he will provide a breakdown of these figures by State pension contributory recipients and by State pension non-contributory recipients; and the projected equivalent figures in 2016, 2020, 2025 and 2030. [36345/16]

Human Rights Cases

Róisín Shortall

329. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional efforts which could be made by his Department to raise a person's (details supplied) case at European and international level; if he will explore these in order to raise this person's plight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35963/16]