Parliamentary questions

Brexit Issues

Niamh Smyth

541. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the concerns of farmers regarding tariffs following the British Prime Minister, Ms Theresa May's Brexit speech; his plans to meet with Ms Theresa May; the protocols being put in place to address the concerns of farmers, particularly in counties Cavan and Monaghan and the Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2897/17]

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Pat Breen

542. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 415 of 6 December 2016, the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2898/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

543. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2901/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

544. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of assistant secretaries general in his Department; the annual pay of each assistant secretary general within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2917/17]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Pat Breen

545. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2949/17]

State Bodies

Clare Daly

547. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process that will be undertaken for the replacement of the CEO of the Irish National Stud, whose tenure commenced in 2010 and is presumably about to expire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2961/17]

Horse Racing Ireland

Clare Daly

548. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will initiate an external independent audit of racecourse attendance in order to verify the claims being made by Horse Racing Ireland in that regard. [2962/17]

Horse Racing Ireland

Clare Daly

549. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has satisfied himself with the independence of two appointees whom he recently nominated to Horse Racing Ireland in view of the fact that both persons had a connection with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2963/17]

Horse Racing Industry

Clare Daly

550. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process of regulation of drug testing in the horse racing industry; if he is satisfied with it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2969/17]

Agriculture Scheme Applications

Pat Breen

551. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2973/17]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Pat Breen

552. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3065/17]

Agriculture Scheme Data

Brendan Smith

553. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of GLAS payments due to be issued to persons in County Cavan before the end of 2016 which were not issued by the target date; the number of those payments that have issued in the interim; the number outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3100/17]

Agriculture Schemes

Robert Troy

554. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the exact acreage of forestry and grassland that is on file with his Department for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3104/17]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Pat Breen

555. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3150/17]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

556. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the agriculture cashflow support loan scheme; if all aspects of this scheme are operational at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3153/17]

Fishing Industry

Paul Kehoe

557. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to encourage the fishing industry to use more environmentally sustainable products; the actions proposed to hold those accountable in the fishing industry regarding the waste generated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3170/17]

Aquaculture Licences

Pat the Cope Gallagher

558. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the terms of reference of the newly established aquaculture licensing review group; if the review will involve a round of public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3200/17]

Departmental Staff

Jim Daly

559. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason two staffing positions within his Department were not filled from the central transfer list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3210/17]

Food Waste

Róisín Shortall

560. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated amount of food waste generated here, with a breakdown by sector; the steps he is taking to promote the reduction of such waste; and the targets and timelines he is working to. [2876/17]

Inland Fisheries

Seán Sherlock

561. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to reopen the trout hatchery at Mallow, County Cork. [3128/17]

EU Directives

Charlie McConalogue

562. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the European Commission has commenced enforcement proceedings against Ireland for not implementing Directive 2014/53/EU on the harmonisation of the laws of the member states relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the failure to implement the directive is placing Irish industry at a disadvantage; when it will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2596/17]

National Broadband Plan

Seán Sherlock

563. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the date on and year in which the national broadband plan will begin. [2665/17]

Energy Conservation

Brendan Griffin

564. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if grants for window replacements will be introduced to compliment the energy saving grant aid already available to home owners from Sustainable Energy Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2799/17]

Natural Gas Grid

Robert Troy

565. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the provision of a gas line extension to cater for Longford town. [2801/17]

Electricity Transmission Network

Willie Penrose

566. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, in the context of situations whereby the Electricity Supply Board has access to farmers' lands to erect transmission poles thereon, he will take steps to ensure that if a pole is accidentally damaged thereon the farmer should not be levied with the cost of repairing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2836/17]

Rural Broadband Scheme

Dara Calleary

567. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the rural broadband scheme in Foxford, County Mayo. [2871/17]

Air Quality

Thomas P. Broughan

568. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current systems for monitoring NOx emissions from diesel fuelled vehicles in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford; the current levels of those emissions in each city; the international health standards which apply; if his Department or the Environmental Protection Agency made any submissions to the preparations for the Finance Bill 2016 on any move to equalise excise duty rates on petrol and diesel fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2877/17]

Broadband Service Provision

Robert Troy

569. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the name of the service provider tasked with delivering broadband in the Granard area of County Longford; if there are plans by this company to improve the service in this area and in particular the service provided to a business (details supplied); and if his Department will contact this business, as outlined in a previous parliamentary reply, in order to provide assistance in this regard. [2886/17]

Wind Energy Generation

Thomas Pringle

570. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the rationale used to determine each of the 12 exclusions listed at 4.3.1 of the report on wind turbine noise modelling commissioned by his Department through the SEAI and published in draft format in March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2889/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

571. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within his Department at 1 Jan 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2904/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

572. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of assistant secretaries general in his Department; the annual pay of each assistant secretary general within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2920/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Seán Sherlock

573. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress Eir has made on meeting commercial milestones specifically in relation to commitments to the blue areas of the national broadband plan map. [3123/17]

Communications Market Regulation

Seán Sherlock

574. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has been communicated to by Eir on whether it is endeavouring to have the universal service obligations softened particularly in respect to the true cost of phone line installation at a nominal cost. [3124/17]

Bord na Móna

Fiona O'Loughlin

575. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of his discussion with Bord na Móna with regard to its new acquisition in Liverpool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3159/17]

Bord na Móna

Fiona O'Loughlin

576. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he sought any assurances from Bord na Móna with reference to job security for workers in its Kilberry plant, Athy, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3160/17]

Bord na Móna

Fiona O'Loughlin

577. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the assurances he will provide that the existing jobs in the Bord na Móna Kilberry Plant, Athy, County Kildare will not be impacted by the new acquisition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3161/17]

Air Quality

Róisín Shortall

578. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the plans and initiatives being put in place to measure and monitor air emissions and pollutants as required under a forthcoming EU directive (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3175/17]

Air Quality

Róisín Shortall

579. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of any additional funding being provided to the Environmental Protection Agency to enable it to measure and monitor air emissions and pollutants in order to ensure Ireland meets commitments set out in the revised Gothenburg protocol which a new directive (details supplied) incorporates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3176/17]

Air Quality

Róisín Shortall

580. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will request a baseline air quality study to be carried out in Dublin city before the Poolbeg incinerator is fully operational in view of the fact the initial study was completed in 2005 and therefore may not be an accurate baseline measure for future air quality monitoring; if the operators of the incinerator will be required to use the initial baseline measurement when measuring emissions as set out in the EPA licence for the operation of the incinerator in the event that an up to date study is not completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3177/17]

National Digital Strategy

Róisín Shortall

581. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the operation of the e-benefit programme; the total funding provided each year since 2008 by county; the sum allocated to each group per year; the new selection criteria for the 2017 digital skills for citizens grant scheme; the number of successful and unsuccessful applications by county in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3195/17]

Road Projects

Jonathan O'Brien

582. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be made available to Cork City Council in 2017 to construct a pedestrian crossing and associated traffic calming measures at a location (details supplied); and if so, the timeframe for same. [2592/17]

Bus Éireann Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

583. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of senior anagement and executives of Bus Éireann that received severance packages from the company in each of the years 2008 to 2016; the total cost to Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2647/17]

Coast Guard Services

Martin Ferris

584. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will enact statutory instrument legislation in order that the Irish Coast Guard can become a stand-alone primary response agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2720/17]

Dublin Bus Fleet

Catherine Murphy

585. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the percentage of the Dublin Bus fleet now accessible by wheelchair users; the planned timeline to have 100% accessibility; the funding set aside for this; the routes that currently do not have 100% accessibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2583/17]

Sports Facilities Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

586. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a progress report on a boxing centre (details supplied). [2593/17]

Tourism Project Funding

Brendan Griffin

587. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide support to a project (details supplied). [2626/17]

Departmental Contracts

Robert Troy

588. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 562 of 25 October 2016, the details of the discussions and the clear position his Department has taken with regard to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2627/17]

Taxi Licences Renewals

James Lawless

589. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to difficulties taxi drivers are experiencing in renewing their licences in certain circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2651/17]

Sport and Recreational Development

Noel Rock

590. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will legislate to make it mandatory for all sports clubs to have a code of conduct for youth coaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2661/17]

Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme

Robert Troy

591. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the potential investment projects his Department put forward to the Department of Finance task force report for the European Fund for Strategic Investment. [2675/17]

Road Projects Status

Imelda Munster

592. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the funding, provision and commencement date for the port access northern cross route, in view of the daily gridlock and congestion in Drogheda currently and to cater for the projected increase of an additional population of 20,000 under the northern environs plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2743/17]

Road Projects

Imelda Munster

593. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be made available to local authorities in County Louth for the provision of road safety measures, including the provision of a mini roundabout and-or staggered junction at Leonard's Cross, Upper Mell, Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2747/17]

Traffic Management

Catherine Martin

594. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the circumstances under which a zebra crossing may be constructed; the requirements that must be adhered to in such cases; the number of such pedestrian crossings constructed in 2015 and 2016; the circumstances under which a pedestrian crossing made up of a yellow box may be constructed (details supplied); if such yellow box crossings require a person employed as a crossing guard when built near schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2804/17]

Traffic Management

Catherine Martin

595. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a zebra crossing (details supplied) is in compliance with statutory guidelines on the construction of pedestrian crossings; the circumstances under which the crossing is permissible at this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2805/17]

Road Safety Authority Reports

Thomas P. Broughan

596. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide the full Road Safety Authority report on disqualified drivers which it produced based on a survey of the national vehicle and driver file in August 2016; the full figures revealed from this survey; the main figures which led to the finding that banned drivers are responsible for the deaths of between 11 and 14 persons yearly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2808/17]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Thomas P. Broughan

597. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will next meet the CEO of Transport Infrastructure Ireland; the issues that will be discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2879/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

598. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2916/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

599. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of assistant secretary generals in his Department; the annual pay of each assistant secretary general within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2932/17]

Driver Licences

Thomas P. Broughan

600. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process required by the Road Safety Authority, RSA, for An Garda Síochána to establish the validity of a driving licence number; the number of inquiries received by the RSA from the Garda on driving licence numbers in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the average amount of time it takes the RSA to respond to the Garda with the required information in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2975/17]

Driver Licences

Thomas P. Broughan

601. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons per annum that have informed the Road Safety Authority, RSA, of a change of address or other change of details to their ten-year driving licence since the RSA took over responsibility for driving licences in 2013 administered through the National Driver Licence Service; the process involved, including the length of time it takes for the replacement licence to be provided by the RSA to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2976/17]

Driver Licences

Thomas P. Broughan

602. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of times each year that the Road Safety Authority, RSA, has successfully undertaken a matching exercise to match a conviction with a specific driving licence whereby the licence number was not recorded in court on conviction since the RSA took over responsibility for driving licences in 2013 administered through the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS); the number of times each year that the RSA has not been able to match a conviction with a specific driving licence whereby the licence number was not recorded in court on conviction; the follow up that occurred in these instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2977/17]

Bus Éireann

Robert Troy

603. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of press requests he has received since 1 December 2016 to discuss ongoing financial difficulties at Bus Éireann. [3064/17]

Road Safety Data

John Curran

604. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an analysis as to the causes in road fatalities in 2016 has been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3112/17]

Bus Éireann

John Curran

605. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action he plans to take to deal with the ongoing financial difficulties at Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3113/17]

Dublin Bus Fleet

John Curran

606. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to budget 2017 which provided for 110 new buses for the PSO fleet for the Dublin region, when these new buses will come into operation; the number of the 110 buses that will be replacement buses; the number that will be additional buses to increase the Dublin Bus fleet size; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3114/17]

Road Safety Strategy

John Curran

607. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action he plans to take to deal with an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3115/17]

Roads Maintenance

Jackie Cahill

608. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to address the traffic bottleneck at Thurles, County Tipperary as part of the Capital Plan 2016-2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3139/17]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland Funding

Pat the Cope Gallagher

609. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the budgets allocated to Donegal County Council from Transport Infrastructure Ireland in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3201/17]

Bus Services

Denise Mitchell

610. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the bus rapid transport in Dublin north. [3209/17]

Ticket Touting

Shane Cassells

611. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to develop protections for buyers of tickets for sporting, cultural and musical events from so-called ticket touting (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3189/17]

EU Directives

Jan O'Sullivan

612. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to amend the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 to give effect to the Court of Justice of the European Union decision (details supplied) in order to give clarity on the issue of payment for travelling time for employers and employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2630/17]

Company Law

Brendan Griffin

613. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on whether there is enough awareness in the business community about the implementations of the Companies Act 2014 (details supplied). [2636/17]

Research and Development Funding

Fiona O'Loughlin

614. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the funding allocated for research in each of the third-level institutions for each of the years from 2006 to 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2680/17]

Company Law

Pearse Doherty

615. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason Ireland is one of only four countries, including Belgium, Portugal and China, with audit firms registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, PCAOB, that does not allow PCAOB inspectors examine registered firms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2710/17]

IDA Supports

Willie Penrose

616. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress that has been made recently in relation to securing alternative industry for Mullingar in the context of the major loss of jobs at a company (details supplied) in Mullingar in recent months; if the IDA Ireland enterprise park at Marlinstown, Mullingar is being actively marketed in order to attract much needed and vital employment opportunities to Mullingar; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2841/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

617. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Secretaries General in her Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within her Department at 1 Jan 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2911/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

618. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of assistant secretaries in her Department; the annual pay of each assistant secretary within her Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road Agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2927/17]

Workplace Relations Services Provision

Brendan Smith

619. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 502 of 8 November 2016, if there has been any progress in relation to the need to have hearings before the Workplace Relations Commission held at local level in Cavan and Monaghan instead of imposing undue costs on persons travelling to Sligo and elsewhere for such hearings; if she will ensure that this issue is addressed as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3063/17]

IDA Data

Jackie Cahill

620. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the general location, that is the nearest town, of the IDA Ireland sponsored site visits to County Tipperary in each of the years from 2012 to 2016 (details supplied), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3138/17]

Foreign Direct Investment

Maurice Quinlivan

621. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons employed in foreign direct investment companies here, by sector, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3149/17]

Research and Development Supports

Brendan Smith

622. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if specific research and development programmes will be introduced to assist companies to develop new products with specific reference to companies that are at present heavily reliant on the British market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3174/17]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Jan O'Sullivan

623. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the delay in the processing of Garda vetting for early childhood professionals, which can take in excess of ten weeks; if she has raised this with the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality; if priority will be given in view of the importance of vetting in this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2555/17]

Children's Rights

Noel Rock

624. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of concerns regarding children lodged by sports clubs to Tusla in the past five years. [2658/17]

Sports Organisations

Noel Rock

625. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will legislate to make it mandatory for all sports clubs to have a child welfare officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2659/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

626. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of Secretaries General in her Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within her Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2903/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

627. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of assistant secretaries general in her Department; the annual pay of each assistant secretary general in her Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2919/17]

Child Care Services Data

Jan O'Sullivan

628. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childminders in the home that are registered with Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3197/17]

Area Based Childhood Programme

Denise Mitchell

629. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding status for a project (details supplied). [3208/17]

Defence Forces Personnel Data

Mick Barry

630. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of days' leave that have been surrendered to the State on foot of paragraph 16 of Defence Force Regulation A11, which limits an annual carry over to 19 days regardless of whether members of the Defence Forces can actually avail of their leave entitlement due to tours of duty, leave cancellation and post-tour rest and recuperation; if he will have the regulations altered to ensure members of the Defence Forces can avail of their full leave entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2610/17]

Defence Forces Pensions

Mick Barry

631. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will effect the necessary changes to Defence Forces regulations to allow post-1994 and pre-2004 entrants to the Defence Forces extend their service beyond 21 years in order that they may accumulate 21 years pensionable service if their initial 21 years service was broken by a career break, unpaid maternity leave or term-time leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2611/17]

Defence Forces

Mick Barry

632. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on representations that have been made to his Department and-or the Irish Prison Service by representatives from the Defence Forces regarding the substandard conditions of work they have to endure at Portlaoise Prison; the steps that are being taken to address these grievances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2612/17]

Civil Defence

Marc MacSharry

633. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason members of the Civil Defence did not receive the 1916 Commemoration medal; if he will reconsider and present these medals to them in view of the invaluable service that they carry out on a voluntary basis for the State (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2629/17]

Irish Red Cross Funding

Seán Sherlock

634. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the engagement he has had with the Irish Red Cross in terms of funding operations domestically. [2670/17]

Defence Forces Museums

Martin Heydon

635. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to further develop the military museum on the Curragh, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2693/17]

Defence Forces Reserve

Jonathan O'Brien

636. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the single force concept for the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Forces has achieved its stated goals of 4,069 persons. [2695/17]

Defence Forces Reserve

Jonathan O'Brien

637. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the figures for recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces for each of the years 2013 to 2016. [2696/17]

Defence Forces Reserve

Jonathan O'Brien

638. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the numbers in service and the number of discharges of the Reserve Defence Forces for each of the years 2013 to 2016. [2697/17]

Defence Forces Reserve

Jonathan O'Brien

639. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he plans to stand down the Reserve Defence Forces. [2698/17]

Defence Forces

Jonathan O'Brien

640. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason one unit in Cork City, 1 Brigade Artillery Regiment, BAR, Collins Barracks, was selected to be decommissioned. [2699/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

641. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2905/17]