Parliamentary questions

Coillte Teoranta

Bobby Aylward

1138. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make funding available through Coillte for required repair and maintenance of paths at an amenity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19385/17]

Basic Payment Scheme Applications

Bobby Aylward

1246. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason documentation in relation to a person (details supplied) has not been released by his Department, in view of the fact it was originally requested in January 2017 for the purpose of an appeal to his Department's appeals office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20644/17]

Special Educational Needs

Bobby Aylward

114. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a sensory processing disorder is not recognised as an assessed disability or medical condition that qualifies for access to SNA support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18962/17]

School Accommodation

Bobby Aylward

115. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the additional accommodation application from a school (details supplied); when decisions on applications for the summer works scheme will be returned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18964/17]

Hospital Equipment

Bobby Aylward

258. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if there are malfunctions with the autoclave machine in a hospital (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if so, when repairs or sourcing of a replacement machine will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18963/17]

Motor Insurance

Bobby Aylward

119. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Finance the progress the Government has made in implementing the recommendations made in the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach insurance report and the Government's motor insurance working group report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18546/17]

Employment Support Services

Bobby Aylward

211. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a participant of Turas Nua opting out of the scheme if he or she has been offered a full-time or part-time job by a public limited company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18547/17]

Social Welfare Appeals Data

Bobby Aylward

71. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection the average time it takes for a file to be sent from the carer's allowance section in County Sligo to the social welfare appeals office in Dublin once the file has been requested by the latter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17455/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Bobby Aylward

166. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available through his Department to assist a person in financing the cost of transporting a child with a learning disability to a school that specialises in assisting such children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17759/17]

National Training Fund

Bobby Aylward

195. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) is alleging that they are not being paid for services provided in 2014 and 2015 by a training company (details supplied) which is funded by his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are other sole traders in a similar position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17761/17]

Vaccine Damage Compensation Scheme

Bobby Aylward

531. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the details of research undertaken by his Department to ensure the safety of the Gardasil vaccine; his plans to engage with the advocacy groups for those that have suffered adverse health effects having received the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17760/17]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Bobby Aylward

226. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if the freestyle libre sensor for measuring blood sugars will be made available on the GMS and long-term illness cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17178/17]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Bobby Aylward

179. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the summer works scheme application from a school (details supplied); when decisions on applications for the summer works scheme will be returned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16932/17]

Garda Station Closures

Bobby Aylward

19. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if any of the Garda stations closed in counties Carlow and Kilkenny in 2012 and 2013 are included in the six stations being examined for reopening under the pilot programme. [15771/17]

Garda Deployment

Bobby Aylward

59. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of the new Garda recruits assigned to the Carlow-Kilkenny Garda division in each year since Garda recruitment resumed in 2014; and the attested personnel strength of the Carlow-Kilkenny Garda division in September 2014 and at the end of February 2017. [15770/17]

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Bobby Aylward

74. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Finance the supports available through his Department to persons with disabilities or limited mobility who wish to buy a car or adapt an existing car to hoist and transport a wheelchair or mobility scooter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15545/17]

Mobility Allowance Review

Bobby Aylward

125. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health when the schemes devised to replace the mobility allowance grant and the motorised transport grant will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15547/17]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review

Bobby Aylward

126. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health when the review process of the fair deal scheme in respect of farmers will be concluded and its recommendations published; if the changes made to equalise the scheme for farmers will be legislated for by the next budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15550/17]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Bobby Aylward

171. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in an AEOS 2 payment in respect of a person (details supplied); if he will expedite payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15628/17]

Inland Fisheries Regulation

Bobby Aylward

178. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to reopen the rivers Nore and Suir for snapnet fishing for this season (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15582/17]

Postal Codes

Bobby Aylward

180. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if insurance companies are permitted to use eircodes in assessing the eligibility of a person for insurance purposes and in particular flood insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15630/17]

Road Projects

Bobby Aylward

187. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to upgrade the N24 road between counties Waterford and Limerick; if he has given consideration to bypassing towns on this route such as Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Tipperary town, Mooncoin, Piltown and Limerick Junction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15583/17]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects

Bobby Aylward

94. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the results of the review of the Tower Road and Piltown junction on the N24 conducted by Transport Infrastructure Ireland will be published; when funding will be provided to TII to commence works on the safety measures recommended within the review results; whether his Department is in direct contact with Kilkenny County Council to ensure the process of appointing consultants to undertake a review of the Tower Road and Piltown junction on the N24 is concluded as efficiently as possible and that all necessary funding is made available to complete the review process as efficiently as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14230/17]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Bobby Aylward

108. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will clarify the legislation governing the release of results from a Director of Public Prosecutions investigation to a person (details supplied) who was the subject of an investigation; if the findings can be released to this person directly; the procedure for procuring same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14402/17]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Bobby Aylward

161. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason it has taken 14 weeks for the carer's allowance file of a person (details supplied) to be sent from the carer's allowance section in Sligo to the social welfare appeals office in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14377/17]

Carer's Allowance Waiting Times

Bobby Aylward

168. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting time for a decision on a carer's allowance application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14558/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Bobby Aylward

55. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures being taken to ensure efficient roll-out of the national broadband scheme to rural areas in particular; if he envisages that current timelines will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13937/17]

Better Energy Homes Scheme

Bobby Aylward

1143. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there will be any changes to the current criteria of the SEAI's better energy homeowner scheme which may cause an increase in the costs of the associated works for homeowners who avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14019/17]

Agriculture Scheme Data

Bobby Aylward

21. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons in counties Carlow and Kilkenny that have not received 85% of their total 2016 payment under GLAS 1, GLAS 2 and AEOS; the reason for this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12364/17]

Laboratory Facilities

Bobby Aylward

39. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the future of the regional veterinary laboratory in County Kilkenny, which serves the entire region of the south east, can be guaranteed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12365/17]

Insurance Coverage

Bobby Aylward

86. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Finance the level of engagement that has taken place between his Department and the insurance industry to ensure that appropriate insurance is available to persons residing in an area in which flooding has never occurred but who are being excluded from cover, en masse, by insurance providers due to their Eircode; his views on such practices; the measures which have been implemented by his Department to hold insurance providers to account and protect the consumer in such instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12596/17]

Medicinal Products Availability

Bobby Aylward

212. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health when the necessary legislative amendments will be made in order to facilitate the implementation of the cannabis access programme; if he will expedite this process; if he will consider granting a licence to an Irish registered doctor to authorise access to medicinal cannabis for named patients with conditions such as Dravet syndrome, rare forms of epilepsy and other such conditions in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12508/17]

HSE Funding

Bobby Aylward

71. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the HSE expedites the allocation of funding to a service (details supplied) which is the only residential detoxification and treatment service for adolescents in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12065/17]

Hospitals Funding

Bobby Aylward

96. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if additional resources will be allocated to the existing cardiac catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford in order to increase the laboratory's current capacity to accommodate the estimated 450 additional procedures that will be referred there through additional diagnostic angiograms set to be provided by the mobile catheterisation laboratory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12067/17]

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Bobby Aylward

604. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the provision of a nursing pin for a person (details supplied) from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11861/17]

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Bobby Aylward

605. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for the provision of nursing pins to new nurses from the Nursing and Midwifery Board; his views on whether the current waiting times for the provision of nursing pins are an issue for young nurses taking up employment here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11862/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Bobby Aylward

656. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the progress of the commitments he made in respect of reducing surgery waiting times for children suffering from scoliosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12066/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Bobby Aylward

657. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he has received an action plan on scoliosis from the HSE. [12106/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Bobby Aylward

658. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he has received an action plan on scoliosis from the HSE. [12107/17]

Local Authority Boundaries Review

Bobby Aylward

50. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide a detailed explanatory brief and timeline to outline the process of examining the report of the Waterford boundary review committee as part of the overall report on local government matter to be submitted to the Government and the Houses of the Oireachtas in mid 2017, as previously stated; if he will expedite the process of examining the Report of the Waterford boundary review committee to conclude the matter as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8830/17]

Teacher Recruitment

Bobby Aylward

180. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any of the permanent teaching posts announced in budget 2017, in particular special needs assistance or resource teaching, will be advertised in open competition for teachers with or without panel rights, to afford employment opportunities to those with specialised qualifications in this field during the recruitment process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8102/17]

Teacher Exchange Scheme

Bobby Aylward

181. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will investigate the possibility of a specialised transfer system in teaching to allow a change in location for permanent teachers, due to personal circumstances, without incurring the loss of panel rights; if an avenue of appeal exists within his Department or designated offices for special consideration to be given to teachers who have exchanged or transferred to another location but cannot return to their original placement due to extenuating circumstances and seek permanency in a new location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8103/17]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Bobby Aylward

191. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the summer works scheme application from a school (details supplied); when decisions on applications for summer works scheme will be returned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8372/17]

Health Services

Bobby Aylward

496. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 432 of 18 October 2016 and 339 of 6 December 2016, when the national steering group established by him to develop policy on a major trauma system for Ireland will publish its first report; if the group visited St Luke's Hospital to assess the current services; the status of the group's recommendations specifically in respect of St Luke's Hospital, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8681/17]

Hospital Appointments Administration

Bobby Aylward

201. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) had a surgery appointment cancelled at short notice; when surgery will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7812/17]

Local Authority Boundaries

Bobby Aylward

160. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide a detailed explanatory brief and timeline to outline the process of examining the report of the Waterford boundary review committee as part of the overall report on local government matters to be submitted to the Government and the Houses of the Oireachtas in mid-2017, as previously stated; if he will expedite the process of examining the report of the Waterford boundary review committee to conclude the matter as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7595/17]

Local Authority Boundaries

Bobby Aylward

161. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will disregard the recommendations contained in the report of the Waterford boundary review committee, in view of the near 20,000 persons who made submissions against the proposal; if he will discontinue, dismantle and disembowel every element of this process indefinitely with immediate effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7596/17]

Local and Community Development Programme

Bobby Aylward

220. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the local community development committee in each local authority territory will be accorded the role promised to it of playing a key role in decision making on EU and national funded programmes and interventions as promised in the Government’s White Paper, Putting People First, in terms of delivering the action plan for rural development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7148/17]

Rural Development Plan

Bobby Aylward

333. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the approved local action groups delivering Leader will be requested to take a role in delivering some of the actions outlined in the action plan for rural development that complement Leader to ensure efficiency and avoid wasteful duplication, in view of the fact that the plan includes explicit references to the EU co-funded Leader programme 2014-2020 and the plan mirrors much of the national framework for the current Leader programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7147/17]

Tourism Policy

Bobby Aylward

80. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of tourism and hospitality skills training positions allocated to counties Carlow and Kilkenny in 2015 and 2016; the amount of funding allocated to counties Carlow and Kilkenny for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016; the agency or State body that has oversight and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6524/17]

School Accommodation

Bobby Aylward

106. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider the decision to refuse grant aid for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) due to extenuating circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6530/17]

Road Projects

Bobby Aylward

51. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the results of the review of the Tower Road-Piltown Junction on the N24 conducted by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, will be published; when funding will be provided to TII to commence works on the safety measures recommended in the review results; if his Department is in direct contact with Kilkenny County Council to ensure the process of appointing consultants to undertake a review of the Tower Road-Piltown Junction on the N24 is concluded as efficiently as possible and that all necessary funding is made available to it to complete the process as efficiently as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6003/17]

Urban Renewal Schemes

Bobby Aylward

164. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there are any grant aid programmes currently within his Department or due to come online shortly which provide funding for assisting persons in the refurbishment of buildings in town centres for residential or commercial purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6230/17]

Departmental Funding

Bobby Aylward

191. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there are any grant aid programmes currently in operation within her Department or due to come online shortly which provide funding for assisting persons in the refurbishment of buildings in town centres for residential or commercial purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6229/17]

Home Help Service Provision

Bobby Aylward

231. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he will allocate additional funding for the provision of home help hours through the community service organisations in counties Carlow and Kilkenny to alleviate the exorbitant waiting lists and to improve access to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6369/17]

Better Energy Homes Scheme

Bobby Aylward

251. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are any grant aid programmes currently within his Department or due to come online shortly which provide funding for assisting persons in the sourcing, purchasing, construction or installation of solar panels and associated technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6231/17]

Local Improvement Scheme Funding

Bobby Aylward

259. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reinvest in the local improvement scheme, LIS, for improvement of isolated, neglected roads and lanes not taken in charge by the local authority which are often essential in providing access routes for communities in marginal areas by allocating separate funding to local authorities specifically for works under LIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6232/17]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Eligibility

Bobby Aylward

284. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will extend the terms and conditions of the mortgage-to-rent scheme to include local authorities as part of the review process of the scheme, as an action in the Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, in view of the very low level of engagement from housing agencies with the scheme in its current form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5964/17]

Road Improvement Schemes

Bobby Aylward

355. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW will allocate further funding to cover the 15% local contribution shortfall of €3,600 in respect of a project (details supplied) under the community involvement in road works scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5963/17]

Hospital Facilities

Bobby Aylward

374. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health when hospital management staff at Waterford University Hospital will be briefed in respect of the recently announced mobile catheterisation laboratory as to whether the unit will be made exclusively available for the use of the hospitals in the south east region; if it will be primarily utilised for reducing waiting lists or conducting emergency procedures; if it will be available to the communities of the south east on a 24-7 basis; the number of persons it is estimated that a mobile catheterisation laboratory can cater for on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5357/17]

Hospital Facilities

Bobby Aylward

375. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the current daily running costs of the catheterisation laboratory at Waterford University Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5358/17]

Eating Disorders

Bobby Aylward

445. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the State services currently available to those persons suffering from eating disorders and related illness in counties Carlow and Kilkenny who do not have private health insurance; if any provisions have been made within his Department for additional services to be introduced to communities in these counties; his plans to enable children, adolescents and adults in such a situation to access out-of-hours support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5844/17]

GLAS Payments

Bobby Aylward

17. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of delayed GLAS payments for 2016 to farmers in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and the reason for same. [4850/17]

Hospital Services

Bobby Aylward

269. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if the mobile catheterisation laboratory announced for Waterford University Hospital is currently under ownership of the Health Service Executive or if it is yet to be procured; the country of origin; the price paid by the Health Service Executive and the daily cost of operating the unit; if additional specialised consultants, theatre nurses and support staff will be hired to operate the unit; if not, if it will be operated by appropriate medical practitioners currently under employment of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5191/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Bobby Aylward

57. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he will instigate an independent clinical review of children's scoliosis surgery services in order to develop current services to an adequate level to reduce surgery waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4256/17]

Mental Health Services Provision

Bobby Aylward

89. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health his plans to enable children and young persons in counties Carlow and Kilkenny to access an out-of-hours child and adolescent mental health service team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4688/17]

Pension Provisions

Bobby Aylward

243. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he will commence negotiations on a successor to the Lansdowne Road agreement; if representatives of retired public servants will be included in such negotiations, having been excluded as part of the Haddington Road process; if he envisages any reduction or reversal to the current de facto pension cut of 5.5% for public sector workers who retired from March 2012 onward compared with those who retired previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4873/17]

Electoral Commission Administration

Bobby Aylward

292. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 286 of 18 October 2016, when the boundary review commission established to examine the boundary between counties Kilkenny and Waterford is expected to publish its concluding report in view of the fact that it is now ten months past the initial deadline for publication of 31 March 2016; the amount of money spent to date or the amount of funding approved by his Department on the process in respect of the Carlow-Kilkenny examination only from establishment in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3963/17]

Medical Card Drugs Availability

Bobby Aylward

516. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if the cost of the drug MacuShield was previously covered by the medical card scheme; if there has been any recent change to the status of MacuShield in respect of the medical card scheme; if so, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3962/17]

Hospitals Capital Programme

Bobby Aylward

570. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive Capital Plan for 2017 will provide funding for completion of phase two of the current developments at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, including the Susie Long Hospice, which is an integral part of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4241/17]

Mental Health Services Staff

Bobby Aylward

612. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the targets in place for the staff levels in child and adolescent mental health service teams in CHO 5 in 2017 to bring them closer to the target set in A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4689/17]

Road Improvement Schemes

Bobby Aylward

715. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will allocate funding to Kilkenny County Council under the specific improvement grant scheme or the non-national strategic improvement grant scheme for the R704 Listerlin road widening scheme (details supplied); his views on the fact that the project cannot be funded via the low cost safety improvement grant scheme due to the estimated cost of works of €80,000 which would represent 35% of the annual low cost safety scheme allocation and is therefore considered too high to come under same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4072/17]

Hospital Services

Bobby Aylward

161. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if the mobile catheterisation laboratory announced for Waterford University Hospital will be made available exclusively for the use of this hospital; if it will be primarily utilised for reducing waiting lists or conducting emergency procedures; if it will be available to the communities of the south east on a 24-7 basis; the number of persons for whom it is estimated a mobile catheterisation laboratory can cater on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3665/17]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Bobby Aylward

197. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the provisions that are being made for the protection of areas designated as areas of natural constraint in County Kilkenny in the forthcoming review of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3660/17]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Payments

Bobby Aylward

198. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when outgoing payments made under the areas of natural constraint scheme will be increased by €25 million in line with the previous commitment given by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3661/17]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland Reports

Bobby Aylward

211. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the results of the review of the Tower Road-Piltown Junction on the N24 conducted by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) will be published; when funding will be provided to TII in order to commence works on the safety measures recommended in the review results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3667/17]

Alternative Energy Projects

Bobby Aylward

257. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the use of biomass at Ireland's peat burning power stations, Edenderry, Loughree, and west Offaly; the percentage of biomass used in co-firing at the three peat power stations; the tonnage and percentage of biomass supplied from Bord na Móna willow plantations, Coillte Teoranta and a company (details supplied); the outlook for expanding willow production and Coillte Teoranta sourced biomass; if straw from agricultural tillage is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3308/17]

Teacher Recruitment

Bobby Aylward

49. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will approve the resources that may be necessary for the allocation of a temporary teaching post until June 2017 for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1300/17]

Information and Communications Technology

Bobby Aylward

411. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his plans to formulate and implement a universal policy to ensure that students who are enduring extended absences from the classroom have access to daily lessons and homework assignments through an online platform or integrated system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1157/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Bobby Aylward

413. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 285 of 27 September 2016 to outline the position regarding an application for temporary accommodation in respect of a school (details supplied), in view of the fact that no response has been forthcoming since the application was initially lodged in August 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1190/17]

Foreign Conflicts

Bobby Aylward

706. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to discuss reports emerging from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar with the European Union and United Nations that detail the infliction of serious human rights violations including torture, rape, sexual assault, summary executions and the destruction of mosques and homes upon the Rohingya people, 160,000 of whom are reported to be at risk of starvation and diseases; if there has been any change to the diplomatic relations between Ireland and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar since the reports emerged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1584/17]

Family Resource Centres

Bobby Aylward

1693. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the budget for the family resource centre programme will be increased in line with the 5.5% increase in funding to Tusla's budget allocated by the Department of Finance in budget 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1108/17]

Family Resource Centres

Bobby Aylward

1694. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will investigate the possibility of ring-fencing €21.126 million within the Tusla budget for the family resource national programme to support voluntary boards of management in meeting the basic operational costs for the 109 family resource centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1109/17]

TAMS Applications

Bobby Aylward

428. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in reaching a decision for a TAMS II application lodged by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40547/16]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Bobby Aylward

100. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason SUSI has failed to address a query lodged by this Deputy's office six weeks ago in respect of person (details supplied) except for a repeat response; the reason SUSI has failed to clarify which document can be provided in place of a notice of assessment from the Revenue Commissioners; the reason SUSI has failed to clarify the reason a previously submitted profit and loss account for 2015 in respect of a second property has not been accepted despite persistent contact from this Deputy's office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40340/16]

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Bobby Aylward

241. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the application process for the sports capital grant will commence; the closing date for submission of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40339/16]

Road Safety

Bobby Aylward

242. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will commission Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, to conduct a review on the N24 between Carrick on Suir and Mooncoin, inclusive of all junctions and assess the need for upgrades of the safety measures currently in place to ensure the necessity for same will be brought to the attention of him and TII and commenced immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40341/16]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Administration

Bobby Aylward

126. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will investigate the current level of engagement among housing agencies with the mortgage to rent scheme; if he is satisfied with same; if he will consider implementing legislation or amending the principal legislation to ensure that there is a higher level of engagement between housing agencies and applicants of the mortgage to rent scheme to ensure that they are not forced out of their home and onto the housing list which represents a failure in the current system and very poor utilisation of State funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39073/16]

Pension Provisions

Bobby Aylward

159. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in the issuance of a second lump sum payment of a pension scheme into the estate of a deceased person (details supplied); if he will ensure that procedural difficulties in respect of this specific payment are promptly resolved in order that it can be issued without further delay; the timeframe in respect of the time it will take to resolve such procedural difficulties and issue the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39062/16]

National Broadband Plan

Bobby Aylward

46. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures being taken within his Department to ensure equality in the roll-out of broadband services for rural areas, rural communities and regional towns under the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38310/16]

Electoral Commission Administration

Bobby Aylward

197. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 286 of 18 October 2016, if he will provide a further update as to when the Boundary Review Commission, established to examine the boundary between counties Kilkenny and Waterford, is expected to publish its concluding report in view of the fact that the results of the Roscommon-Westmeath border have been published in recent days and that it is now eight months past the initial deadline for publication of 31 March 2016; the amount of money spent to date or the amount of funding approved by his Department on the process in respect of the Carlow-Kilkenny examination only from establishment in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38557/16]

Hospital Services

Bobby Aylward

339. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 432 of 18 October 2016, if he will provide a further update as to when the national steering group established by him to develop policy on a major trauma system for Ireland will publish its first report; the status of the group's recommendations in respect of St. Luke's Hospital, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38556/16]

Inland Fisheries Data

Bobby Aylward

428. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the results of the survey of the River Barrow conducted by Inland Fisheries Ireland will be published in view of the fact that publication of same was expected in July 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38492/16]

Home Help Service Provision

Bobby Aylward

61. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the increase in home help hours the Carlow-Kilkenny local health area can expect in 2017. [38035/16]

Occupational Therapy

Bobby Aylward

89. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to address the fact that the latest figures indicate some 698 persons under 18 years of age are waiting more than a year for a first-time assessment for occupational therapy in counties Cork and Kerry. [38034/16]

School Transport

Bobby Aylward

158. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an alternative avenue of complaint exists, away from school transport inspectors, which is available to parents and pupils that wish to raise concerns regarding pick-up and drop-off points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38150/16]

Motor Tax Exemptions

Bobby Aylward

163. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider introducing tax relief on motor tax for persons providing valuable assistance in view of the significant responsibility which is undertaken by spouses or next of kin of persons suffering from severe visual impairment or sight loss in assisting in transport to medical appointments, everyday errands or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38113/16]

Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Applications

Bobby Aylward

271. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 566 of 11 October 2016 (details supplied), if a suitable source of funding is available within his Department that may be applicable to supplement a green energy project as previously detailed to his office, considering that the person has already been granted REFIT approval; if any such funding will be available through his Department at a future date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38101/16]

Intercountry Adoptions Agreements

Bobby Aylward

295. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress of the accreditation process between Ireland and Kazakhstan for the purposes of adoption between the two countries; the progress of the formalisation of an administration agreement between the relevant adoption authorities of both countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38141/16]

School Staff

Bobby Aylward

218. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will approve the resources that may be necessary for the allocation of a temporary teaching post until June 2017 for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37446/16]