Parliamentary questions

Flood Relief Schemes

Thomas Byrne

581. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary question No. 509 of 21 May 2019, if he is satisfied with the involvement of Inland Fisheries Ireland instream experts in a design capacity in relation to the Bandon flood relief scheme. [26146/19]

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Thomas Byrne

582. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of stakeholder attendance at the recent Inland Fisheries Ireland funding workshops which were held nationally; and the number of expression of interest forms returned. [26147/19]

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Thomas Byrne

583. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a commitment was given by Inland Fisheries Ireland to undertake a review of the deficiency of instream design skillset among the consultant instream panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26148/19]

Credit Union Regulation

Thomas Byrne

75. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the Central Bank signalling its intention to significantly increase the industry funding levy which applies to credit unions; his views on whether this is an unfair and disproportionate increase on credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25984/19]

Heritage Sites

Thomas Byrne

85. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress of work at the Hill of Tara, County Meath. [25862/19]

Garda Stations

Thomas Byrne

86. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his engagement with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána on new Garda premises and facilities in County Meath. [25863/19]

Special Educational Needs Data

Thomas Byrne

132. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school children on the waiting list for a special classroom in Ashbourne, County Meath. [25729/19]

Special Educational Needs Data

Thomas Byrne

133. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school children waiting on a place in a special room in County Meath. [25730/19]

Religious Persecution

Thomas Byrne

76. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the continuing steps he is undertaking to highlight and address the persecution of Christians worldwide with particular reference to the recent Easter bombings in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25216/19]

Passport Applications Data

Thomas Byrne

77. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the waiting times for passport express and online passport applications; and his views on the level of staffing and resources in the passport office. [25217/19]

Schools Establishment

Thomas Byrne

205. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a new secondary school will be provided in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, in view of recent planning decisions. [25297/19]

Schools Establishment

Thomas Byrne

206. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for further provision of second-level places in Ashbourne, County Meath. [25298/19]

Electric Vehicles

Thomas Byrne

670. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to provide guidelines to the planning authorities with regard to the minimum number of electric car charging points there should be in new car parking facilities seeking planning permission. [25417/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

90. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the decision to deny SNA provision for a student (details supplied) will be reviewed. [24797/19]

National Monuments

Thomas Byrne

34. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a report commissioned by her Department on the conservation and management of the Hill of Tara will be published; and her views on whether there is a need for increased services such as more parking and toilet facilities at the location. [24056/19]

Heritage Projects

Thomas Byrne

53. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to create a specific funding scheme for community groups to assist them in the care, conservation and promotion of old graveyards and burial sites; and her views on whether community groups require more assistance to carry out this work. [24057/19]

Digital Strategy for Schools

Thomas Byrne

106. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the focused evaluation that has taken place or is planned to take place on the way in which schools are implementing the digital learning strategy and its impact on the quality of learning and teaching and student performance in State examinations. [24404/19]

Local Authority Housing Funding

Thomas Byrne

61. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to ensure that Meath County Council has sufficient funding to meet the housing needs of the county; his views on whether the fact that County Meath is the lowest funded local authority in the country is inhibiting Meath County Council in seriously addressing the local housing demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23490/19]

Home Loan Scheme

Thomas Byrne

93. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to ensure that Meath County Council has sufficient funding to approve applications for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23489/19]

Tax Credits

Thomas Byrne

168. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Finance when a response to a query will issue (details supplied). [23833/19]

Heritage Sites

Thomas Byrne

195. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of tourism access to a heritage site (details supplied). [23551/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff Data

Thomas Byrne

251. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the allocation of SNAs, by school, for the September term in each of the years 2016 to 2019, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23585/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff Data

Thomas Byrne

252. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the allocation of new SNA posts announced on 27 May 2019, by school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23586/19]

Digital Strategy for Schools

Thomas Byrne

287. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if schools are required to have a digital learning plan; the position regarding schools not having such a strategy; and if the matter is monitored by his Department. [24242/19]

School Equipment

Thomas Byrne

288. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rules regarding preferred suppliers of computer technology in schools in cases in which only one supplier is allowed to be purchased from by parents. [24243/19]

School Textbooks

Thomas Byrne

289. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether notes written by teachers and stored on databases (details supplied) are an adequate replacement for textbooks. [24244/19]

Junior Cycle Reform

Thomas Byrne

290. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the schools involved as junior cycle technology leads from 2012; and the reviews that have taken place as a result. [24245/19]

Digital Strategy for Schools

Thomas Byrne

291. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the outcome of reviews of schools involved as pilot or lead schools in the digital learning framework. [24246/19]

School Equipment

Thomas Byrne

295. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the policy regarding the particular tablet only (details supplied) policies in schools. [24283/19]

Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal

Thomas Byrne

329. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied with the turnaround times of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal and the staffing of the board of the tribunal. [23477/19]

Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal

Thomas Byrne

330. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a person (details supplied) can expect a decision from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal. [23478/19]

Ministerial Functions

Thomas Byrne

210. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the ownership of lands at a location (details supplied) which may have been vested in him. [21555/19]

Speech and Language Therapy Waiting Lists

Thomas Byrne

382. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the waiting list for speech therapy in County Meath from three years. [21566/19]

Inland Fisheries

Thomas Byrne

507. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1225 to 1228, inclusive, of 8 May 2019, the angling federations and stakeholders he has met with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21377/19]

Inland Fisheries

Thomas Byrne

508. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he plans to take to repair relations between Inland Fisheries Ireland and its stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21378/19]

Flood Relief Schemes

Thomas Byrne

509. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the lack of involvement by Inland Fisheries Ireland in the Bandon flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21379/19]

Bus Services

Thomas Byrne

579. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of applications made to the NTA by an organisation (details supplied) for new bus routes that await decision; the proposed new routes; and when the NTA plans to make decisions on the applications. [21753/19]

Disability Services Data

Thomas Byrne

7. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of young persons with disabilities in County Meath seeking post-school placements at the end of the academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20917/19]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Thomas Byrne

103. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement that has taken place and the status of the proposed site for a school (details supplied) in order that it can relocate from its existing temporary site to the new school; when the site for the new school will be identified and allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20964/19]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems Provision

Thomas Byrne

133. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application for CCTV in an area (details supplied). [21068/19]

Health and Social Care Professionals Regulation

Thomas Byrne

150. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce a regulation or statutory instrument recognising the title of guidance counsellors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20420/19]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Thomas Byrne

192. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a site has been identified for a school (details supplied); his plans to provide permanent accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20849/19]

Abbey Theatre

Thomas Byrne

405. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will be supplied to an area (details supplied). [20650/19]

Jobseeker's Payments

Thomas Byrne

476. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a weekly reduction is being taken from a weekly social welfare payment in the case of a person (details supplied). [20482/19]

Beef Industry

Thomas Byrne

25. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a compensation package will be introduced for beef farmers who have seen incomes severely impacted since autumn 2018. [20111/19]

School Staff

Thomas Byrne

1. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for talks to commence with school secretaries; if a date will be set for the commencement of negotiations with representatives of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20075/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Thomas Byrne

3. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he will take in 2019 to address the low take-up of apprenticeships by women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20076/19]

Schools Building Projects

Thomas Byrne

5. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the completion of remedial works in schools identified as requiring remedial works or precautionary measures for schools constructed by a company (details supplied). [20077/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

7. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied with the level of access to education for children with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19837/19]

Schools Inspections

Thomas Byrne

10. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the factors driving a decline in the number of full-time equivalent primary district inspectors in 2018; the actions he is taking to address vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19840/19]

School Staff

Thomas Byrne

24. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when talks will begin with representatives of school secretaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19839/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Thomas Byrne

35. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of remedial works and the completion of external precautionary measures identified as required at 42 schools built by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19838/19]

Junior Cycle Reform

Thomas Byrne

40. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the position of history at junior cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19841/19]

School Expulsions

Thomas Byrne

254. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he has taken in 2019 to investigate the prevalence of exclusion of pupils from schools for behavioural reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18445/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Thomas Byrne

255. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprenticeships under way; the number of female apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18446/19]

Teachers' Remuneration

Thomas Byrne

256. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the resolution of an issue that resulted in additional taxes being paid by substitute teachers in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18447/19]

Technological Universities Status

Thomas Byrne

257. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of university status to institutes of technology which have indicated an interest in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18448/19]

School Patronage

Thomas Byrne

258. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a patronage process will be announced for schools to be established in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18449/19]

Third Level Funding

Thomas Byrne

259. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the referral of an economic analysis related to third level funding to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18450/19]

School Funding

Thomas Byrne

260. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an analysis has been conducted of the prevalence of voluntary contributions to schools by county; if so, if the analysis will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18451/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Thomas Byrne

301. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale for the exclusion of mental injury which may arise as a result of an assault for the leave of absence following assault scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18902/19]

Home Care Packages Provision

Thomas Byrne

610. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when an application for home support by a person (details supplied) will be assessed. [18409/19]

Disability Support Services

Thomas Byrne

613. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the future of a care facility (details supplied); if there are plans to close the facility; and the arrangements made for patients if closure is imminent [18427/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Thomas Byrne

614. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when an appointment for cataract surgery will be allocated for a person (details supplied). [18429/19]

Hospital Services

Thomas Byrne

799. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if the department of clinical genetics will move from Crumlin hospital to the national children's hospital; if not, if it will stay in place; and the improvements scheduled for same. [19100/19]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Thomas Byrne

896. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if Crohn's disease is covered under the long-term illness scheme. [19457/19]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Thomas Byrne

1116. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce free general practitioner care for children under 12 years of age [20091/19]

Inland Fisheries

Thomas Byrne

1225. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason there was no national angling forum from April 2018 to January 2019 in view of the availability of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18817/19]

Inland Fisheries

Thomas Byrne

1226. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 472 of 16 April 2019, the type of review and the timescale for the review to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18818/19]

Inland Fisheries

Thomas Byrne

1227. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether the failure of an organisation (details supplied) to accept input from the forum floor is contributing to the decrease in attendance at forum meetings; his further views on whether there is a lack of faith in the forum rather than a lack of interest from the stakeholders and is another symptom of the low level of engagement with stakeholders of the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18819/19]

Inland Fisheries

Thomas Byrne

1228. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will chair a forum meeting of an organisation (details supplied) in the interest of reconciliation. [18820/19]

Planning Issues

Thomas Byrne

1229. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an organisation (details supplied) can avail of a class 35 planning exemption. [18821/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

1254. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will be provided to an area (details supplied). [19445/19]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Byrne

104. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the outcome of a pilot programme on the provision of specialised therapists for schools and preschools announced in May 2018. [18085/19]

National Council for Special Education

Thomas Byrne

105. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of vacancies within the NCSE by area in March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18086/19]

Junior Cycle Reform

Thomas Byrne

106. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the consideration undertaken of history by the NCCA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18087/19]

National Council for Special Education

Thomas Byrne

107. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of referrals to the NCSE by county to date in 2019. [18088/19]

National Council for Special Education

Thomas Byrne

108. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of appointments carried out by the NCSE by county to date in 2019. [18089/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Thomas Byrne

120. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school inspectors employed in each of the years 2008 to 2018. [17900/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Thomas Byrne

122. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new apprenticeships established in each of the years 2016 to 2018. [17976/19]

Religious Persecution

Thomas Byrne

55. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the diplomatic steps Ireland is taking to highlight and end the persecution of Christians worldwide. [17616/19]

Human Rights

Thomas Byrne

82. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the diplomatic actions Ireland is taking in respect of new homophobic laws in Brunei; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17617/19]

Revenue Commissioners Data

Thomas Byrne

137. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the number of tax compliance auditors the Revenue Commissioners employ; the number of non-compliant tax cases which were both opened and successfully closed in each of the years 2014 to 2018; the yields obtained in the five principal tax regions in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17278/19]

Departmental Advertising Expenditure

Thomas Byrne

161. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent over the past year on social media advertisements directed at Irish teachers abroad encouraging them to return home to work in schools here. [17211/19]

Teacher Supply

Thomas Byrne

170. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of a reduction of one at all points of the staffing schedule for primary schools from September 2020; and the net number of additional teaching posts involved in view of his predictions of falling enrolments in primary schools commencing in 2019 and continuing at a greater rate of fall thereafter. [17299/19]

School Staff

Thomas Byrne

171. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of posts of responsibility which would be needed in primary schools to restore posts at the level which pertained prior to the moratorium; the estimated number of posts which were lost through the moratorium; the number that have been restored to date; the number of posts at AP1 and AP2 level being restored in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years; and the estimated cost of full restoration to the pre-moratorium level for the school year 2020-21. [17300/19]

Energy Efficiency

Thomas Byrne

467. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if funding is available for elderly persons for domestic boiler replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17688/19]

Inland Fisheries

Thomas Byrne

471. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether despite relatively poor attendances at the national angling forum it is good practice to hold and facilitate meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17834/19]

Inland Fisheries

Thomas Byrne

472. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the letter of resignation from the chairperson of the national angling forum was received. [17835/19]

Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports

Thomas Byrne

75. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he has taken on foot of a recommendation of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Action that his Department should by the end of 2019, in consultation with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and other relevant experts, review the curriculums for primary and secondary education for coverage and accuracy to ensure that students are fully literate on climate change and its potential impact. [17070/19]

Local Authority Housing

Thomas Byrne

204. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding new social houses at a location (details supplied) in County Meath. [16885/19]

Housing Data

Thomas Byrne

81. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding affordable housing availability and discounts on house prices in developments assisted by LIHAF funding and infrastructure. [16061/19]

Home Loan Scheme

Thomas Byrne

92. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when new and existing applicants in County Meath will be able to avail of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme. [16060/19]

School Patronage

Thomas Byrne

227. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the information provided to parents in Malahide and Portmarnock in terms of the divestment survey process underway. [16563/19]

Childcare Services

Thomas Byrne

241. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he has taken on foot of the action plan on school aged-childcare. [16719/19]

Medicinal Products Availability

Thomas Byrne

308. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the reason access to Versatis patches was removed from a person (details supplied). [16035/19]

Inland Fisheries

Thomas Byrne

492. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to chair the National Inland Fisheries Forum in the interim before a chair is appointed. [16055/19]

Tidy Towns Committees Funding

Thomas Byrne

62. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to improve the funding available to Tidy Towns groups nationally. [15469/19]

LEADER Programmes Funding

Thomas Byrne

97. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding committed to date under the 2014 to 2020 LEADER programme in County Meath; and if he is satisfied with the level of drawdown in County Meath under the programme. [15468/19]

Road Network

Thomas Byrne

21. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for future investment in the secondary routes in County Meath. [15150/19]