Parliamentary questions

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Charlie McConalogue

49. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to ensure that Ireland's grass-based agriculture, forestry and boglands are taken into account as methods of carbon sequestration in upcoming European Union discussions on 2030 emissions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14835/16]

Milk Quota

Charlie McConalogue

71. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he considered postponing remaining milk super levy payments by up to two years, given the severe market crisis in the dairy industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14475/16]

Employment Investment Incentive Scheme

Charlie McConalogue

145. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review the employment investment incentive scheme, EII, so as to ensure that any incentives it provides are at least equivalent to incentives available under the seed enterprise investment scheme, SEIS, in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14689/16]

Mobility Allowance

Charlie McConalogue

519. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when he will finalise a replacement scheme for the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant which were removed from new applicants over three years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15060/16]

Grant Payments

Charlie McConalogue

659. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the successful applicants to the community enterprise initiative 2015-17 will be announced; if an organisation (details supplied) has been successful with its application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14412/16]

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Charlie McConalogue

35. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health why he is not providing the necessary infrastructure and staff to the orthodontic department at Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal, resulting in clinics being cancelled on a continuous basis and waiting lists growing; why no radiography equipment is available in-house for the department; when he will provide a full complement of six dental nurses for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13675/16]

HSE Funding

Charlie McConalogue

39. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if the €8 million funding announced for therapy services for young persons in the 2016 Health Service Executive service plan has been released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13819/16]

Health Services Staff

Charlie McConalogue

251. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health his plans to implement the national transfer policy for non-rostered paramedics (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14181/16]

Parliamentary Questions

Charlie McConalogue

270. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when he will issue a final reply to an interim reply (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14243/16]

Broadband Service Provision

Charlie McConalogue

290. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the provision of broadband in County Donegal, given correspondence from a person (details supplied) and the announcement of a former Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in April 2014 in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14241/16]

Arts Funding

Charlie McConalogue

41. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her objectives for arts funding in the coming years; the specific commitments that are in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13344/16]

Flood Risk Assessments

Charlie McConalogue

142. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of a number of reports commissioned on flooding in County Donegal following the completion of the public consultations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13936/16]

Agriculture Schemes

Charlie McConalogue

193. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will open applications under the new sheep scheme; when he will issue the first payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13852/16]

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme

Charlie McConalogue

199. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications; the number of these he has approved; the number of participants who have received payments; the number of payments that have not yet issued and when he will issue the outstanding payments under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 in 2016 by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13923/16]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Data

Charlie McConalogue

200. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number applications submitted; the number of these which were ineligible; and the number which he has not yet paid under the areas of natural constraint scheme in 2015, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13924/16]

Live Exports

Charlie McConalogue

201. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to deal with the sharp decline in live cattle exports in 2016; the new markets that will be opened in 2016 for Irish farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13925/16]

Fisheries Offences

Charlie McConalogue

202. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will amend S.I. No. 125 of 2016, given that the Attorney General has been requested to review it and to ensure that no penalty points are applied to owners' licences until after they have been found guilty in the courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13926/16]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Charlie McConalogue

203. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that Ireland's grass-based agriculture, boglands and forestry are taken into account as carbon sequesters in the upcoming discussions at European level for European Union 2030 emission targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13927/16]

Irish Language

Charlie McConalogue

294. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will issue a reply to an interim response (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12533/16]

School Accommodation

Charlie McConalogue

300. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 398 of 20 April 2016, when a written decision will issue to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal regarding the building of a new classroom; if he will permit this classroom to be built as part of the main school building rather than a stand-alone building; if not, the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12811/16]

School Costs

Charlie McConalogue

318. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will cover the cost of an overspend incurred by a school (details supplied) for the construction of an autism unit; if his Department's position has changed regarding this overspend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13173/16]

State Examinations Commission

Charlie McConalogue

320. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if direction has been given from his Department to the State Examinations Commission to review all refusals of readers, given the recent High Court ruling on the provision of readers for students with dyslexia; if such direction will be given in advance of the leaving certificate examinations, if it has not been to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13234/16]

Respite Care Services Provision

Charlie McConalogue

734. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if respite care will be arranged for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13481/16]

GLAS Payments

Charlie McConalogue

771. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue payment to a person (details supplied) under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12529/16]

GLAS Issues

Charlie McConalogue

774. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delays in getting tranche 1 and 2 approvals issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12617/16]

GLAS Establishment

Charlie McConalogue

775. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next phase of green low-carbon agri-environment options scheme will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12619/16]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Charlie McConalogue

776. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for the review of the areas of natural constraint scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12630/16]

GLAS Data

Charlie McConalogue

777. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who were excluded from green low-carbon agri-environment scheme phase 2; his plans for their exclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12632/16]

Basic Payment Scheme Applications

Charlie McConalogue

778. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the Scottish derogation measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12710/16]

GLAS Applications

Charlie McConalogue

779. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; if he will approve and issue payment for the commonage element of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12711/16]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Charlie McConalogue

821. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13462/16]

GLAS Payments

Charlie McConalogue

824. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under tranche 1 of the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13513/16]

Driving Test

Charlie McConalogue

846. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure that persons wishing to complete the lorry driving test, category C, in Inishowen, County Donegal, can sit the test in Buncrana instead of having to travel to Letterkenny; if not the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12750/16]

Enterprise Support Schemes

Charlie McConalogue

904. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to announce the results of the competitive community enterprise initiative scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13559/16]

School Staff Appeals Mechanism

Charlie McConalogue

91. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will issue a reply to an interim response regarding a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12313/16]

Drainage Schemes

Charlie McConalogue

169. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he will issue a reply to this Deputy regarding correspondence on the Office of Public Works investigations into a river (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12481/16]

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Charlie McConalogue

227. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the 2015 private contract clause; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12337/16]

Agriculture Schemes

Charlie McConalogue

231. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following more flexible State aid measures agreed at European Union level to deal with market volatility in the dairy and pigmeat sectors, the criteria that farmers must meet in order to access temporary finance up to a maximum amount of €15,000 per farm per year; if he will introduce a scheme to avail of new State aid flexibility in the area to bridge liquidity shortfalls for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12412/16]

Farm Assist Scheme Administration

Charlie McConalogue

43. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has analysed the impact the changes to farm assist and income disregards have had on farmers; if he will reconsider the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11651/16]

Farm Assist Scheme

Charlie McConalogue

54. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection to reverse the changes made to farm assist and income disregards, given their serious negative effect on the income levels of already struggling farming families; to analyse and assess the impact the changes have made on those families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11652/16]

TAMS Data

Charlie McConalogue

316. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide, in tabular form on a county basis, the number of applications to the TAMS I and TAMS II schemes to date; the number of applications that have been approved thus far; the number of participants that have received payments to date; the number of payments that have not issued yet; when outstanding payments will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12114/16]

Live Exports

Charlie McConalogue

317. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the progress to secure new market access for live cattle exports in non-European Union countries, including Egypt, Iran and Turkey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12115/16]

Farm Household Incomes

Charlie McConalogue

318. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has examined the development of additional volatility tools to deal with the current income crisis across several farming sectors, including risk insurance programmes, and forward selling of fixed-price contracts of commodities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12116/16]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Data

Charlie McConalogue

319. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide, in tabular form on a county basis, the number of applications submitted to the areas of natural constraint scheme in 2015; the number of submitted applications that have been approved thus far; the number of participants that have received payments to date; the total number of payments that have not issued yet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12117/16]

Agriculture Scheme Data

Charlie McConalogue

320. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide in tabular form a breakdown between total expenditure incurred in 2015, and the annual amount of funds originally allocated to the beef data and genomics programme, rural environment protection scheme, agri-environment options scheme, green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, locally led environmental schemes, organic farming schemes, land mobility, targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, horticulture industry, the organic sector and areas of natural constraint scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12118/16]

Young Farmers Scheme Eligibility

Charlie McConalogue

321. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the criteria blocking young farmers who are under 40 years of age but who have been farming for more than five years from accessing measures under the new Common Agricultural Policy programme for young farmers, including being able to apply for the national reserve and for top-up entitlements; the reason for their exclusion; the discussions he has had at European Union level concerning this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12119/16]

GLAS Data

Charlie McConalogue

322. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have received payments under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; the average payment made to these farmers; the percentage payment made to them; if GLAS+ payments have been made yet; if not, when they will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12120/16]

GLAS Issues

Charlie McConalogue

323. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on admitting all eligible applicants under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme tranche 2 into the scheme; the date from which their contracts will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12121/16]

Beef Data and Genomics Programme

Charlie McConalogue

324. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have submitted data notifications under the beef data and genomics programme 2015; the number who have submitted the required genomic testing under the same programme to date; the number of farmers who have received payments to date for 2015; the amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12122/16]

Beef Data and Genomics Programme

Charlie McConalogue

325. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who applied to join the beef data and genomics programme; the number of these who have informed his Department that they wish to leave the programme; the number of farmers of the remainder who have failed to furnish any genomic testing results to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12123/16]