Parliamentary questions

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Brian Stanley

24. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he will take to ensure Ireland meets its targets under the Paris agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32045/16]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Brian Stanley

27. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the procurement process for the national broadband plan will be complete; and the estimated ratio of public to private spending on the project. [32044/16]

Brexit Issues

Brian Stanley

34. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which it is estimated Ireland's gas supply will be affected by Britain's exit from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32041/16]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

62. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health his plans to transfer maternity services from Portlaoise Regional Hospital; and if such matters are being considered by his Department and the HSE. [30304/16]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

126. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a date for the publication of the report on the future of services at Portlaoise Regional Hospital. [30305/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Brian Stanley

392. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an appointment at Tullamore hospital. [30226/16]

School Transport Expenditure

Brian Stanley

67. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the school transport scheme; and if his Department will consider increasing funding to the scheme in line with the recommendation of a charity (details supplied) of €5 million resulting in the abolition of fees for parents. [30152/16]

Schools Building Projects

Brian Stanley

22. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made in resolving the issues that are delaying a new school (details supplied). [28359/16]

School Patronage

Brian Stanley

23. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made regarding the patronage of the proposed new secondary school in Portlaoise. [28358/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

77. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Taoiseach the number of staff employed by his Department or seconded to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28998/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

126. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff employed by her Department or seconded to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28996/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

153. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff employed by his Department or seconded to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28992/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

213. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff employed by his Department or seconded to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28990/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

250. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of staff employed by his Department or seconded to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28991/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

314. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff employed by his Department or seconded to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28997/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

331. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff employed by his Department or seconded to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28993/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

342. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff employed by his Department or seconded to his Department. [28661/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

482. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed by his Department or seconded to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28994/16]

Electricity Generation

Brian Stanley

572. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken by his Department to ensure that small micro generation projects such as the gas extraction at Kyletalesha landfill at Portlaoise are connected to the national grid. [28662/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

574. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of staff employed by his Department or seconded to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28988/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

608. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff employed by her Department or seconded to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28995/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

615. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff employed by her Department or seconded to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28987/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Brian Stanley

618. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff employed by his Department or seconded to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28989/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Brian Stanley

626. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists currently working with Offaly early intervention team, EIT, and school age team, SAT, and also in Laois EIT and SAT. [26755/16]

Psychological Assessments Waiting Times

Brian Stanley

629. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for psychology services with Offaly early intervention team, EIT, and school age team, SAT, and also Laois EIT and SAT. [26766/16]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Brian Stanley

630. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of additional psychology posts approved under the progressing disability services scheme that have been filled and the number still vacant. [26768/16]

Psychological Services

Brian Stanley

633. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the interim measures in place to provide psychology services with Offaly early intervention team, EIT, and school age team, SAT, and Laois EIT and SAT until additional psychology posts have been filled. [26774/16]

Farm Assist Scheme Payments

Brian Stanley

679. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will restore the farm assist payment to the levels prior to the cuts made to the scheme three years ago as part of budget 2017. [24370/16]

JobPath Implementation

Brian Stanley

751. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of participants in the JobPath scheme who have been placed in permanent employment by each of the operators of the scheme, namely, Turas Nua and Seetec, since the scheme was rolled out. [25616/16]

JobPath Implementation

Brian Stanley

752. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount paid in job sustainment fees to the operators of the JobPath scheme since it was rolled out, namely, Turas Nua and Seetec; and if he will provide these amounts paid to each operator separately. [25617/16]

JobPath Implementation

Brian Stanley

753. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount paid in registration fees to the operators of the JobPath scheme, namely, Turas Nua and Seetec, since the scheme was rolled out; and if he will provide the amounts separately for each operator. [25619/16]

JobPath Implementation

Brian Stanley

754. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons who have been referred to the JobPath scheme since it was introduced. [25620/16]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

1300. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in publishing the report on the future of services at Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; and when the report is likely to be published. [25635/16]

Beef Data Programme

Brian Stanley

1497. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider re-opening the suckler cow scheme to new entrants for the coming year to facilitate those not already participating in it. [24367/16]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Brian Stanley

1498. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will seek to have included in budget 2017 the €25 million areas of natural constraint scheme disadvantaged areas increase in order that this can be made available to applicants in the 2017 financial year. [24368/16]

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme

Brian Stanley

1499. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in payments to farmers who have been approved for TAMS, for tranches 1 and 2, and if he will consider extending TAMS to the tillage sector. [24369/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Brian Stanley

308. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in processing an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme which has been with a social welfare inspector since 9 April 2016. [23400/16]

Renewable Energy Generation

Brian Stanley

2. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to provide similar subsidies for solar power as are currently available for wind energy developments. [21699/16]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

11. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has estimated the future capital value of the national broadband network by 2043. [21518/16]

Bord na Móna

Brian Stanley

17. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to request Bord na Móna to produce a plan for the future use of the natural resources that it owns at the Coolnamona group of bogs in County Laois and at Kilberry in south County Kildare. [21521/16]

Energy Policy

Brian Stanley

26. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for connecting community energy projects into the national grid. [21519/16]

Media Mergers

Brian Stanley

37. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has concerns regarding News Corporation's purchase of Wireless Group radio stations; and his response to the Broadcast Authority of Ireland report on ownership and control of media businesses in Ireland. [21517/16]

Legislative Measures

Brian Stanley

94. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his progress in implementing the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. [21520/16]

Emergency Departments Closures

Brian Stanley

221. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he has commissioned a trauma steering group to examine the 29 emergency departments here, and if this group is now recommending the closure of the emergency departments in Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise in County Laois and in Naas General Hospital in County Kildare. [21901/16]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

101. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the effect of adopting the full concession model for the national broadband plan on the State's balance sheet. [21421/16]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Brian Stanley

366. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the guidelines in place for community welfare officers for the payment of rent supplement; and if this payment will be withdrawn if a tenant is paying rent above the permitted ceilings. [20621/16]

Dental Services Provision

Brian Stanley

622. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the actions he is taking to address the failure by the Health Service Executive to provide a primary school dental scheme in County Laois; and the improvements that will be made in the service. [21299/16]

Orthodontic Services Provision

Brian Stanley

623. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the actions he is taking to address the failure by the Health Service Executive to provide a reasonable level of orthodontic services for County Laois; when the improvements will be made in this regard. [21302/16]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Brian Stanley

624. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve the general practitioner service in the Monasterevin and Kildangan areas of County Kildare. [21304/16]

Pension Levy

Brian Stanley

84. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance why a pension provider (details supplied) is still deducting a pension levy of 0.15% from 1 July 2016 from the Procter and Gamble Ireland defined benefit pension scheme as a result of the 2015 pension levy. [19925/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brian Stanley

225. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills his progress on the planned construction of the new amalgamated primary school in Monasterevin, County Kildare; when the project will move to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19720/16]

Wildlife Protection

Brian Stanley

402. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to set out the status of the two sets of regulations referred to in sections 8(1) and 8(2) of the Heritage Bill 2016 relating to burning and hedgerows; whether these regulations are complete given the Government has now re-initiated this Bill; if they are completed, to identify the persons who have been consulted; when they will be available for review to the Oireachtas and consultation with the public concerned; if they are not ready, when they will be ready, who will be consulted on them and when; the basis on which she considers the Oireachtas can advance this Bill in the absence of any sight of the regulations, given what they provide for; when the next stage of the Bill will be and when it will come before Seanad Éireann; her views on the concern of the wider public, as evidenced by a petition of some 18,000 persons opposed to the changes she is introducing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19285/16]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Brian Stanley

625. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure that the infrastructure to facilitate the roll out of the national broadband plan will be kept in State ownership. [19540/16]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Brian Stanley

626. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the date on which he will announce the awarding of the contract for the roll out of the national broadband plan. [19541/16]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Brian Stanley

54. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to regulate developments in the wind turbine sector, and the engagement he will make with local communities affected by these developments. [16410/16]

Natural Heritage Areas Designation

Brian Stanley

145. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if and when she will designate the Curragh Plains a natural heritage area as requested by Kildare County Council. [18643/16]

Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

Brian Stanley

200. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland will release its research project on media ownership. [16285/16]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Brian Stanley

8. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action being taken to address the need for special needs assistants in early childhood care and education programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14828/16]

Legislative Measures

Brian Stanley

28. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she assessed the possible unforeseen effects of the Aftercare Bill 2014; her plans to amend this legislation in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14827/16]

Mental Health Policy

Brian Stanley

10. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health his role in formulating the mental health policy to be implemented in schools; and how he has co-operated with other relevant Departments in this regard to ensure the provision of best practice and adequate funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13716/16]

Mental Health Services Report

Brian Stanley

12. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of A Vision for Change being undertaken, including the terms of reference, the membership of the panel, the progress to date and when it will completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13717/16]

Tax Yield

Brian Stanley

287. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the revenue that would be raised by increasing the taxes on exploration and drilling for oil and gas by 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. [14177/16]

Sustainable Energy Communities Scheme

Brian Stanley

288. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the national spend under the sustainable energy communities scheme; and if he will extend the scheme. [14178/16]

Electric Vehicles

Brian Stanley

289. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the spend under the Aran Islands electric vehicle project; and if he will extend the scheme elsewhere. [14179/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Brian Stanley

657. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) is unable to get sufficient personal assistant support. [12685/16]

Better Energy Homes Scheme Expenditure

Brian Stanley

240. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the national spend under the better energy warmer homes scheme and if he will extend the scheme. [12317/16]

Capitation Grants

Brian Stanley

93. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the capitation grants in the next budget for schools. [12010/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Brian Stanley

108. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to bring forward pay equalisation for new teachers and to reverse the pay cuts introduced for new entrant teachers. [12008/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Brian Stanley

109. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reduce class sizes in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12009/16]

School Accommodation

Brian Stanley

138. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the technical examination his Department carried out on the site of a school (details supplied) showed that the best option to facilitate the relocation of another school to this site is the provision of a new building as opposed to refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11231/16]

School Accommodation

Brian Stanley

139. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has completed the schedule of accommodation and the brief for the project in a school (details supplied). [11232/16]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

404. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when he will conclude the report and publish the recommendations on the future provision of services at Portlaoise Hospital in County Laois [11233/16]

School Accommodation Provision

Brian Stanley

300. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will provide a gaelcholaiste in County Laois as children from the county currently have to travel to counties Kildare and Carlow and to other counties. [10171/16]

Mortgage Data

Brian Stanley

347. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households in mortgage arrears with commercial lending institutions that have been moved from mortgages to a mortgage-to-rent scheme and who have completed all stages of the process in counties Laois and Kildare. [10029/16]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Brian Stanley

350. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to introduce regulations for the development of wind farms including setback distances, noise and shadow flicker. [10216/16]

Rural Practice Allowance Scheme

Brian Stanley

659. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when he will issue the circular outlining the new criteria for the rural practice allowance scheme to the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9479/16]

Rural Practice Allowance Scheme

Brian Stanley

759. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when he will announce the new criteria for the rural practice allowance scheme for general practitioners; and when he will issue a circular. [10031/16]

Foster Care Supports

Brian Stanley

1205. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is the same access and level of services available to children with special needs who are either fostered or adopted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9919/16]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Brian Stanley

160. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who is awaiting a place in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire will be granted a place. [8941/16]

Mental Health Services Funding

Brian Stanley

48. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the total amount that it is intended to cut from the mental health budget in 2016; and if he will provide a breakdown of which services will be affected and the amount of funding removed from each service [8570/16]

Mental Health Services Funding

Brian Stanley

49. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider and not proceed with the planned cut to the €35 million funding for mental health services in 2016 [8572/16]

Banking Operations

Brian Stanley

103. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the status of a company (details supplied) that is located here, trading, paying all its taxes, has its certificate of incorporation and has business permission, but is unable to avail of banking services as the directors are originally from Syria but no longer reside there. [8233/16]

Financial Services Regulation

Brian Stanley

104. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the status of the list of prohibited countries, described as such by Bank of Ireland, which is used as the criteria for immigrants from those listed countries to open bank accounts. [8239/16]

Social Welfare Code

Brian Stanley

20. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to review and revise the casual dockets signing-on system to cater for those persons whose working week does not align with that of her Department (details supplied). [7298/16]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Brian Stanley

94. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to deal with the 38,000 mortgages that are in arrears of 90 days or more; and if he will provide reasonable protection for these borrowers. [7284/16]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data

Brian Stanley

449. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons in mortgage arrears who have been given the option of the mortgage to rent scheme in counties Laois and Kildare. [7282/16]

Homeless Accommodation Funding

Brian Stanley

456. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to make an additional allocation for homeless services in the four midland counties, given only 1.5% of the total budget for the homeless goes to the region and the increased demands on services. [7307/16]

Broadband Service Provision

Brian Stanley

494. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount to be invested in providing broadband under the Connecting Communities initiative, that is, to areas where it is not commercially viable to provide the service throughout the State; and the years in which the investments will be made. [7449/16]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Brian Stanley

536. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has considered the scientific evidence regarding Coolrain bog in County Laois that a better outcome could be achieved by using compensatory habitat which is available. [7301/16]

Public Sector Pensions

Brian Stanley

10. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to provide a pension scheme for community employment scheme supervisors. [6381/16]

Water Conservation Grant Data

Brian Stanley

18. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total amount paid out in water conservation grants in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6505/16]

Health Services Staff

Brian Stanley

377. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when the post of psychologist in the Spraoi Centre in Portlaoise in County Laois which has been vacant since 4 March 2016 will be filled. [6356/16]

Health Services Funding

Brian Stanley

380. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when he will provide capital funding for the refurbishment and extension of the day care centre in Monasterevin in County Kildare [6379/16]

School Accommodation Provision

Brian Stanley

669. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has conducted a financial assessment to determine if a new build or refurbishment is the best option for relocating a school (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will provide the findings of this assessment. [6383/16]

Local Authority Housing

Brian Stanley

760. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of the lands owned by each local authority and zoned for social housing. [6382/16]