Parliamentary questions

Skills Shortages

Noel Rock

133. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he is taking to combat the shortage of labour in the construction industry as outlined in a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17248/18]

Schools Building Projects

Noel Rock

154. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an Educate Together school will be built in Whitehall, Dublin 9 (details supplied); if so, the timeframe for the building of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17244/18]

School Funding

Noel Rock

155. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the decision to withdraw funding from a school (details supplied) which will effectively close the school entirely in June 2018 will be postponed; if the school will be phased out over a two year period to allow the older students from the Traveller community to complete the leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17250/18]

Citizenship Applications

Noel Rock

177. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the administration costs for an EU citizen to become an Irish citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17243/18]

Roads Maintenance Funding

Noel Rock

302. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if emergency funding to local authorities to undertake emergency repairs of road surfaces and footpaths damaged during recent extreme weather conditions will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17245/18]

House Prices

Noel Rock

346. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has examined a report by an organisation (details supplied); his views on the projected 10% increase in housing prices in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17247/18]

Health Services Funding

Noel Rock

885. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if funding will be granted to a day care centre (details supplied) for two full-time staff members to meet its obligations under health and safety legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15925/18]

Environmental Policy

Noel Rock

1181. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce legislation to ensure that all food containers are recyclable rather than plastic; if discussions have taken place with industry representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15807/18]

Irish Water

Noel Rock

1559. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the detail of Irish Water’s figures on the first fix free scheme for each quarter in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15803/18]

Irish Water

Noel Rock

1560. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason Irish Water’s figures on the first fix free scheme are no longer being published on its website as a matter of course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15804/18]

Irish Water

Noel Rock

1561. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if Irish Water will be penalised for ceasing to publish data on the first fix free scheme on its website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15805/18]

An Bord Pleanála Appeals

Noel Rock

1562. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will ask local authorities to provide full details of planning permission decision appeals to An Bord Pleanála including observations deadlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15808/18]

Passport Controls

Noel Rock

156. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to allow the new public services card to be used as an alternative to a passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13679/18]

Foreign Policy Review

Noel Rock

163. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the review of strategic relations with Germany; the objectives of the exercise; when it commenced; the policy areas being reviewed; the Departments and Ministers that are involved; the timelines involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13995/18]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Noel Rock

345. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the status of the primary care centre for Finglas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13677/18]

Blood Transfusion Service Provision

Noel Rock

346. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding for mobile blood donation vans to travel to workplaces and schools in an effort to increase blood supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13678/18]

Child Benefit Administration

Noel Rock

562. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review the policy on the amount of information required from a non-Irish citizen who applies for child benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11071/18]

Child Benefit Eligibility

Noel Rock

563. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review the policy on child benefit payments that prevents a father applying for child benefit payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11072/18]

Road Traffic Offences

Noel Rock

226. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he will take to address the problem of young persons and others driving scramblers (details supplied); the further steps he will take to address the lack of enforcement of road traffic legislation; the status of his Department's engagement with An Garda Síochána on this issue; and his plans to draw up a strategy to address this issue. [8144/18]

Vaccination Programme

Noel Rock

300. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the shortage of the BCG tuberculosis vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8143/18]

Home Care Packages

Noel Rock

401. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a home care package by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8655/18]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Noel Rock

402. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address long waiting lists for knee and hip replacement surgeries; when he expects waiting times to be cut; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8656/18]

Household Benefits Scheme

Noel Rock

563. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for a payment to persons with a disability for their television licence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8654/18]

Sports Capital Programme

Noel Rock

16. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects to unveil the large-scale projects under the sports capital programme. [7524/18]

Sports Events

Noel Rock

45. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding plans to host a number of UEFA Euro 2020 games here. [7525/18]

Animal Welfare

Noel Rock

231. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if resources will be increased to local authorities or animal protection authorities to increase efforts to seize horses which are abandoned or left to roam free in housing estates or public green spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7870/18]

School Meals Programme

Noel Rock

283. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if funding will be restored to three schools (details supplied) in Dublin 11 that have lost funding for their breakfast clubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7871/18]

Angling Sector Promotion

Noel Rock

27. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to support the expansion of angling across communities, in particular among younger persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7250/18]

Cyber Security Policy

Noel Rock

87. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the work to ensure adherence to the network information systems directive with particular reference to cyber security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7251/18]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Noel Rock

199. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that medical card holders in Finglas have been transferred to a general practitioner in Ballymun; if he will address the need for a general practitioner in Finglas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6220/18]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Noel Rock

200. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of the primary care centre for Finglas; if this development will be expedited due to medical card holders in the area being left without a general practitioner and being referred to services in Ballymun; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6221/18]

Hospital Appointments Status

Noel Rock

385. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied). [5654/18]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Noel Rock

222. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the FreeStyle Libre blood glucose monitor to persons with diabetes under the long-term illness scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5287/18]

Services for People with Disabilities

Noel Rock

137. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the capacity of the early intervention team in the HSE to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3764/18]

Derelict Sites

Noel Rock

79. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason there have been delays in processing the deed of waiver in relation to the transfer of a derelict site in Charlestown to Fingal County Council which was submitted on 24 November 2017 with no formal response or acknowledgment of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3530/18]

Home Care Packages

Noel Rock

306. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that no representatives from organisations (details supplied) or a parent representative will be present at an upcoming meeting of the primary care steering group which will discuss the introduction of the loco parentis rule; if he will request the HSE to include such representatives in the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2772/18]

EU Directives

Noel Rock

510. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there is a delay in the State passing the necessary legislation in relation to the EU package travel directive 2015/2302 into domestic law by 1 January 2018 in view of the fact that it was required to do so by Article 28.1 of the directive; the steps that will be taken to ensure the consumer protections in the directive become operative on 1 July 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2771/18]

Excise Duties Yield

Noel Rock

240. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Finance the excise returns by category to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1727/18]

Schools Property

Noel Rock

309. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration has been given to asking schools to develop plans for traffic entering and egressing school grounds and surrounding areas to ease traffic congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54379/17]

Schools Relocation

Noel Rock

310. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration has been given to a school (details supplied) being located outside its catchment area; his plans to make provision for a site within its catchment area or to request Dublin Bus to link Finglas with Broombridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54380/17]

Services for People with Disabilities

Noel Rock

488. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration has been given to introducing provisions for banks to deal with deaf persons on the telephone including nominated contacts or alternative forms of contact (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54378/17]

Sports Events

Noel Rock

615. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if discussions were held between his Department and the FAI regarding the possibility of bidding for the extra games in Euro 2020 after Brussels lost the right to host matches for the tournament; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53523/17]

Sport Ireland

Noel Rock

616. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if officials from his Department have studied the Australian Institute of Sport; his plans to fund something similar to exceed the State's goals in sporting tournaments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53524/17]

Land Availability

Noel Rock

724. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to dispose of the land at a location which is under the ownership of the State for the use of housing by a group (details supplied) for a nominal fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53525/17]

Credit Union Regulation

Noel Rock

123. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Finance his plans to increase the cap on €60,000 savings within a credit union to assist persons saving for deposits for properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52764/17]

Teachers' Remuneration

Noel Rock

164. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for pay restoration for primary teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52766/17]

School Curriculum

Noel Rock

165. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review the English curriculum in the primary level education cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52767/17]

Legislative Programme

Noel Rock

217. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the Intoxicating Liquor (Breweries and Distilleries) Bill 2016 to be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52763/17]

Narcolepsy Issues

Noel Rock

252. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if the funding for St. James's Hospital national narcolepsy service has been included in the 2018 Estimates process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52629/17]

Tobacco Control Measures

Noel Rock

253. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the level of product inconsistency and trade confusion at retail level regarding sales of e-cigarettes and refill liquids, specifically with labels which reference to taste, smell and or flavours (details supplied); if section 30(1)(d) of SI 271 of 2016 makes it an offence to reference taste or smell or other additives on the label of e-cigarettes and refill containers; if this prohibition includes references to a flavouring which the Tobacco Products Directive, TPD2, defines as an additive that imparts smell and or taste; his plans to either amend his Department’s guidance document to make this clear or amend SI 271 of 2016 to make an exception to permit flavour references on e-cigarettes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52630/17]