Parliamentary questions

Child Care Services Provision

Thomas Pringle

10. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs how the €85 million in funding for child care will improve affordability and accessibility to early childhood care; if there is a reduction in available child care places due to the extra free pre-school year announced in budget 2016; how he will address this sudden increase in demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42675/15]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Thomas Pringle

32. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding to be allocated to County Donegal and the number of children to benefit from the recently announced new programme which will provide supports for children with disabilities attending the free pre-school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42674/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

50. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if persons who were previously on a jobseeker's allowance and who were moved onto a supplementary welfare payment due to illness, but who are not entitled to illness benefit due to a lack of stamps, are entitled to the Christmas bonus in 2015, given that they are unable to seek work and are financially vulnerable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43121/15]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Thomas Pringle

84. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the implementation of the working group's recommendation to prioritise applicants for asylum who are waiting for a decision for five years or more; if she is aware that information on implementation has not been communicated to a number of persons in this circumstance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42376/15]

Legislative Measures

Thomas Pringle

100. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when legislation reducing bankruptcy terms from three years to one year will be introduced to Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42377/15]

Action Plan for Jobs

Thomas Pringle

237. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the aspects of the north-west and north-east regional action plan that will target the chronic lack of investment in County Donegal, which has led to low numbers of job creation in the past number of years in comparison with the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42824/15]

Traveller Accommodation

Thomas Pringle

585. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of an ongoing situation (details supplied); the steps he will take to resolve it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42827/15]

Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas

Thomas Pringle

586. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress he has made in implementing the recommendations of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42829/15]

Aquaculture Data

Thomas Pringle

8. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for data on the prevalence of Bonamia Ostreae in shellfish in Irish coastal waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41358/15]

Fisheries Protection

Thomas Pringle

33. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will call for the establishment of independent observers in factory trawlers operating off the Irish coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41359/15]

Fish Exports

Thomas Pringle

215. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he is taking on the Chinese demand for certificates of compliance with cadmium levels of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram or less of live crabmeat and the decision by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority to cease issuing certificates for exporters from 15 November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41383/15]

Horse Racing Industry

Thomas Pringle

283. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will regulate the farrier trade to ensure that horse owners have access to a register of qualified farriers, and to ensure that the farrier they employ is suitably qualified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41807/15]

Fish Quotas

Thomas Pringle

284. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the north west herring fishery will re-open; if he will ensure that there is a ring-fenced quota for vessels under ten metres in length; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41808/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Thomas Pringle

501. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied in County Donegal is the only school in the county on the recently announced School Building Programme 2016 to 2021 which is in a 100% prefabricated school, with no permanent structure in place; why this school building is listed for construction in 2019 to 2021, and is not a priority, in line with the plan to eradicate prefabricated only schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41581/15]

Post Office Network

Thomas Pringle

19. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance when a consultation with the Central Bank of Ireland will commence and conclude in relation to drafting a ministerial order pursuant to section 67 of the Post and Telecommunications Act 1983; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40375/15]

Tax Credits

Thomas Pringle

28. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance his plans to address the issue of single parents who reside in this jurisdiction, who are not in receipt of child benefit and whose families reside in Northern Ireland, but who cannot access the single person child carer tax credit; if he will recognise the value and costs of shared parenting across the Border in Ireland by extending the scheme to parents living here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40374/15]

Legislative Process

Thomas Pringle

109. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Spent Convictions Bill 2012 will be brought before Dáil Éireann; if Government amendments will seek to amend the Bill to such a degree that would warrant the Bill going back to Committee Stage for effective debate; if Opposition Members will be given adequate time to review those amendments and make their own proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40768/15]

Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

62. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will address, the anomalies in relation to the coding of part-time farmers as self-employed in her Department, even if they engage in off-farm seasonal work as employees; that coding them as self-employed excludes them from obtaining a payment under the jobseeker's benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40182/15]

Respite Care Grant Payments

Thomas Pringle

72. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to address the respite needs of carers, despite the fact that the respite care grant was renamed as the carer's support grant in recent budget changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40143/15]

Fuel Allowance Payments

Thomas Pringle

81. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has factored in the increase in the cost of fuel due to the national ban on smoky coal in the increases to the fuel allowance in the 2016 budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40142/15]

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Thomas Pringle

94. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to allow for an increase in payments under the jobseeker's allowance scheme for those under 25 years of age who may be at risk of homelessness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40141/15]

Immigration Policy

Thomas Pringle

96. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the operation of the habitual residence condition in relation to returning immigrants who had been resident in the common travel area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40139/15]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Thomas Pringle

101. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the number of refusals of applications for a carer's allowance has increased due to the changes in the Social Welfare Act 2014 which allowed deciding officers to overrule medical evidence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40140/15]

Fishing Industry

Thomas Pringle

288. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the activities of the factory freezer ships (details supplied) fishing off the coast of County Donegal; the species they are fishing; and if these vessels have been inspected by the Naval Service or by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40479/15]

Prisoner Transfers

Thomas Pringle

332. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when an application by a prisoner (details supplied) in Maghaberry Prison in Northern Ireland to complete his sentence here will be concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40472/15]

Consular Services Provision

Thomas Pringle

491. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a consular visit for a prisoner (details supplied) who is in Low Moss Prison, Glasgow, Scotland and who has suffered a recent assault in the prison, given concern for the prisoner's ongoing safety. [40473/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Thomas Pringle

573. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for further details, including background information, on the companies (details supplied) which made submissions to his Department, and which met with the social housing clearing house group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40487/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Thomas Pringle

574. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the last date for submissions from interested groups to submit to the social housing clearing house group; if these submissions will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40488/15]

Transport Infrastructure Provision

Thomas Pringle

23. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the transport improvements planned for County Donegal over the next ten years; if these plans will address areas along the Wild Atlantic Way in view of increasing tourist numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39249/15]

Employment Rights

Thomas Pringle

70. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the consultation process on zero-hour contracts will commence; how it will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39666/15]

Refugee Data

Thomas Pringle

327. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the 4,000 refugees agreed with the European Union as part of this State's response to the refugee crisis will arrive here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39311/15]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Thomas Pringle

340. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the next meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on social policy and public service reform will take place; when its analysis of the report of the working group on the protection process will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39629/15]

Nursing Home Services

Thomas Pringle

445. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if his Department will request the Health Service Executive to take the operation of Áras Ghaoth Dobhair community nursing home in County Donegal in charge in order to ensure its long-term viability and to allow it to expand, given the aging demographic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39511/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Thomas Pringle

536. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the membership of the social housing clearing house group; the organisations that made submissions and presented their proposals for financing social housing to the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39312/15]

Renewable Energy Incentives

Thomas Pringle

566. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will launch the renewable heat incentive being developed by his Department; and if it will include an incentive for domestic dwellings as well. [39512/15]

Election Management System

Thomas Pringle

18. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of unplanned absences on election polling days, if he will consider providing the option of casting a vote, other than a postal vote, in order to accommodate persons who cannot meet the postal vote deadline or present themselves at a polling booth on the day, as is the case for many workers in the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38231/15]

Election Management System

Thomas Pringle

36. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on concerns raised by teachers and parents regarding the use of schools as polling stations on voting days, as schools are closed for the day, and parents have to seek child-minding arrangements as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38230/15]

Employment Rights

Thomas Pringle

6. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made on the University of Limerick report into zero-hour contracts; if he will confirm whether seasonal workers were consulted in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37943/15]

Enterprise Ireland Funding

Thomas Pringle

12. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of start-up companies that have been supported by Enterprise Ireland in County Donegal over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37944/15]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Thomas Pringle

222. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills when her Department will release the list of schools to receive funding from the capital spending plan, 2016 to 2021, as part of the programme to replace existing prefabricated school buildings with permanent classrooms and facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38521/15]

Foreign Conflicts

Thomas Pringle

106. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the concrete and effective pressure that his Department will place on Israel to curb the recent influx of violence in the region and to prevent the possible development of another violent conflict in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36846/15]

Northern Ireland Issues

Thomas Pringle

124. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on his Department's contacts with the independent chairperson of the review regarding the situation in Maghaberry Prison, and the working out of the issues in the prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36847/15]

Credit Unions

Thomas Pringle

327. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance for an update on his intentions to commence certain provisions of the Credit Union and Co-operation with Overseas Regulators Act 2012, as part of the Consultation Paper 88 issued by the Central Bank which is to be enacted by 1 January 2016; if he is aware of the concerns raised by members of credit unions, such as the imposition of a €100,000 cap and lending restrictions, and the regulatory reserve ratio, which ultimately restrict credit unions' involvement in important social issues, such as funding social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38114/15]

Spent Convictions Legislation

Thomas Pringle

558. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Spent Convictions Bill will proceed in Dáil Éireann; if Report Stage will have been taken by the end of the current Dáil term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37628/15]

Spent Convictions Legislation

Thomas Pringle

561. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Spent Convictions Bill will proceed in Dáil Éireann; if Report Stage will have been taken by the end of the current Dáil term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37632/15]

Cabinet Committees

Thomas Pringle

567. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the progress on the working groups' recommendations; when she expects her Department to finalise a report on the recommendations for consideration by the cabinet committee on social policy and public service reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37774/15]

Private Rented Accommodation Costs

Thomas Pringle

1089. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe by which rent certainty proposals will be brought before the Cabinet; and consequentially before Dáil Éireann. [38110/15]

Emergency Services Personnel

Thomas Pringle

52. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided for more community first responder teams and more paramedics that will go directly to County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36467/15]

HIQA Reports

Thomas Pringle

75. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the actions he will take in response to the Health Information and Quality Authority's report which found issues of hygiene compliance at Letterkenny General Hospital in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36468/15]

Child and Family Agency Funding

Thomas Pringle

7. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps he will take in response to the funding pressures to child and family services, as highlighted by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency; if he will respond to the agency's need for increased funding over a period of three years to fund cases where children and families are not allocated a social worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35511/15]