Parliamentary questions

EU Directives

Róisín Shortall

87. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with EU partners regarding the overly restrictive nature of the EU VAT directive, Council Directive 2006/112/EC and the inability of member states to respond to emerging needs of their population through significant VAT reform; if Ireland has adopted a formal position on seeking greater flexibility; and if so, if he will outline this position. [31344/16]

VAT Registration

Róisín Shortall

88. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 13 October 2016, the other measures that are in place to support businesses supplying services who experience a very significant tax step effect at the VAT entry level. [31345/16]

Social Insurance Data

Róisín Shortall

139. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the way under Vote 37, it is expected that social insurance contributions will increase by 8%, while the Minister for Finance expects aggregate compensation for employees to increase by just 4.9%; and the expected percentage increases over 2016 assumed for employee, employer and self-employed contributions on which this figure is based. [31256/16]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Róisín Shortall

147. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an appeal for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will be made. [31284/16]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

217. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 205 of 6 October 2016, the timeframe for the commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the Act; the steps he is taking to address concerns regarding the interim period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31230/16]

Alcohol Treatment Programmes

Róisín Shortall

220. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a 12-month pilot project called CARE, which provided alcohol treatment to more than 140 persons with addiction problems in three areas of Dublin's northside; if he accepts that this project performed very well on evaluation; and if he will ensure that funding will be provided to enable this much needed project to continue. [31240/16]

Medical Card Administration

Róisín Shortall

229. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the situation in respect of medical card patients' entitlement to chiropody services and if there is any payment required. [31279/16]

Medical Card Administration

Róisín Shortall

230. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the charging of medical card patients for blood tests and if a courier charge applies. [31280/16]

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments

Róisín Shortall

270. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the potential inclusion of fossil fuel divestment amongst the recommendation to the autumn review of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund's strategy; the steps he is taking to ensure the terms of the Paris agreement are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31231/16]

Statutory Retirement Age

Róisín Shortall

298. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to legislate to extend the retirement age; and if such changes would apply to community employment participants. [31326/16]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Róisín Shortall

304. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports open to small businesses to offset the significant tax step effect experienced by businesses supplying services as their turnover rises above the €37,500 VAT registration threshold. [31346/16]

Vacant Sites Levy

Róisín Shortall

80. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if guidelines have been issued to local authorities on the operation of the vacant site levy; and if he will indicate where these are available to the public. [31083/16]

Nursing Staff Remuneration

Róisín Shortall

119. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has given approval to the restoration of the incremental credit for the 36-week clinical placement undertaken by graduate nurses between 2011 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31112/16]

Home Care Packages Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

133. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the average cost of providing a home care package for each CHO area, in tabular form; the total number of home care packages provided within each CHO; the number of persons currently waiting for home care package allocation within each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31073/16]

Vaccination Programme

Róisín Shortall

135. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address serious concerns of parents of girls who are reporting adverse reactions to the HPV vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31111/16]

Fiscal Data

Róisín Shortall

189. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to box one on page C.22 of the budget book, when each of the adjustments to the fiscal space calculation became known to his Department; and the reason these were not flagged as part of the pre-budget process with the budgetary oversight committee or to Opposition Deputies well in advance of the budget. [30620/16]

Fiscal Data

Róisín Shortall

190. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the €155 million adjustment that was made to the carryover effect of budget 2016. [30621/16]

Tax Reliefs Data

Róisín Shortall

191. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the uptake of the special assignee relief programme in each of the years since its inception; and the amount of revenue foregone in each of those years. [30741/16]

Tax Credits

Róisín Shortall

199. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the cost of introducing refundable tax credits. [30862/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Róisín Shortall

267. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the pupil-teacher ratios that will apply in 2017 as a result of budget 2017. [30861/16]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

277. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a 2015 National Development Finance Agency project (details supplied); his views on the fact that this project violates his Department's guidelines on social mix; the reason for his Department's decision to endorse this development as a public private partnership initiative despite violating these guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30580/16]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

292. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 137 of 29 September 2016 and 135 of 6 October 2016, if he will make public the exact data on which the site at a location (details supplied) was selected for development; his views on the fact that this area already has an extremely high concentration of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30579/16]

Housing Provision

Róisín Shortall

300. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will publish the results of the national housing needs assessment; and the reasons for the delay in doing so. [30832/16]

Personal Micro Credit Scheme

Róisín Shortall

324. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to an issue with the It Makes Sense personal micro-credit loan scheme which is being run in conjunction with his Department (details supplied); the status of the nationwide roll-out of the scheme; if he will provide an updated list of participating credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30516/16]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

328. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection when funding will be made available to an organisation (details supplied); his views on the negative impact the uncertainty regarding funding is having on this organisation's ability to provide support to persons with disabilities to secure employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30611/16]

Legislative Programme

Róisín Shortall

383. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timescale he is working to for the taking of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 in view of the fact that it has been published since December 2015 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31113/16]

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Róisín Shortall

473. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent public health nurse posts in the Finglas-Ballymun area for each of the past five years in tabular form; the number of these posts which are currently vacant; the number where staff are on maternity or other leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30581/16]

Home Care Packages Provision

Róisín Shortall

522. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of home care hours that will be delivered in 2017 arising from the total allocation made for this in budget 2017. [30833/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Róisín Shortall

523. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of extra personal hours budgeted for in 2017 arising from budget 2017; and the amount set aside for extra hours in 2017. [30834/16]

Horticulture Sector

Róisín Shortall

602. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to develop an industrial hemp based economic sector and to promote the development of adequate processing facilities for such an industry. [30920/16]

Child Care Costs

Róisín Shortall

670. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the weekly benefit to a family of the universal element of the affordable child care payment under her budget proposals and the eligibility criteria applying. [30835/16]

VAT Registration

Róisín Shortall

33. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider altering the current services threshold for VAT registration in order that the significant step effect for small businesses whose turnover exceeds €37,500 is eradicated. [30122/16]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Róisín Shortall

57. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he plans to increase funding to schoolbook rental schemes as indicated in the action plan for education 2016-2019 despite these schemes not being fully comprehensive or available in all schools and evidence from an organisation (details supplied) to suggest it would cost the State just €40 million to provide all school children with free school books; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30116/16]

Health Care Professionals

Róisín Shortall

393. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns raised by organisations (details supplied) regarding CORU registration for a profession that will allow persons without a bachelors or masters degree in the profession to register as a practitioner; his views on the fact that the registration process as it stands leaves Ireland out of step with other EU states in terms of regulating practitioners in this field to protect patient safety; if he will act to ensure that these concerns are addressed and only suitably qualified practitioners will be allowed register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29438/16]

Housing Issues

Róisín Shortall

627. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been brought to an issue (details supplied); the steps her Department has taken to ensure that this issue does not negatively impact job creation in the greater Dublin area; the specific measures that her Department has taken in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29527/16]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

117. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that funding that has been promised by his Department for the past 16 years (details supplied) is made available to an educational institution in order to complete a vital piece of infrastructural development. [29062/16]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

135. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 29 September 2016, if he will provide the data on which the claim on sustainability regarding social mix is based. [29073/16]

Legislative Measures

Róisín Shortall

205. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 604 of 27 September 2016, notwithstanding the genuine reasons for the necessity for a lead in period for Parts 2 and 3 of the Act, his views on whether the delay and failure to publish a timeframe for commencement is having a negative impact on couples who are currently expecting children; the preparatory work being carried out by his Department in respect of these sections of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29072/16]

Disability Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

228. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on a proposal to establish a pilot programme to provide day care and therapeutic supports to people with acquired brain injuries (details supplied) and if he will consider allocating funding for this proposal in the 2017 service plan. [29168/16]

Universal Social Charge Exemptions

Róisín Shortall

101. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the cost in 2017 and in a full year of addressing the step effect for persons whose income rises from just below the universal social charge entry level threshold to just above it; the number so affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28825/16]

Medicinal Products Availability

Róisín Shortall

201. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will report on recent shortages with the supply of gabapentin; the reason this occurred; and the steps he will take to prevent a recurrence. [28950/16]

Legislative Programme

Róisín Shortall

84. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015; when she expects to bring the Bill to Second Stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28132/16]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Róisín Shortall

402. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the HSE's policy in respect of the provision of mobility scooters and motorised wheelchairs in each of the nine community health care organisations, CHOs; the reason for the variation in these policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28276/16]

Drug Treatment Programmes Funding

Róisín Shortall

417. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a severe funding issue impeding the work of a facility that is the only residential detox service for adolescents (details supplied); his views on the appropriateness of the current funding model that allows this service to function; if he will commit to devising an appropriate long term funding model for this essential service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28336/16]

Bus Éireann

Róisín Shortall

582. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the profit or loss of Bus Éireann's various businesses such as public service obligations, PSOs, expressway services, school transport and other businesses (details supplied) in tabular form. [28279/16]

Social Workers Recruitment

Róisín Shortall

612. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of whole time equivalent social worker posts within each Tusla local area office, in tabular form; the number of posts that are currently filled; the number of posts that are on leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28594/16]

Direct Provision Data

Róisín Shortall

56. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the location of each direct provision centre in tabular form; the name of the companies managing the centres; the amount paid by the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, to each company in 2016; the number of persons currently housed in the centres, whether or not the centres are State-owned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27895/16]

Third Level Charges

Róisín Shortall

107. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost in 2017 and in a full year for every €250 reduction in the third level student contribution charge. [28016/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Róisín Shortall

116. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a special needs assistant, SNA, and appropriate learning supports will be made available to a child (details supplied) with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27871/16]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

137. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a 2015 NDFA project (details supplied); his views on whether this project violates his Department's guidelines relating to social mix; if he will make public the design brief that has been supplied to the chosen architects; the proposals for local consultations if these developments will be subject to fast-track planning regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27854/16]