Parliamentary questions

Brexit Issues

Declan Breathnach

69. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach the date and location of the second plenary all-island civil dialogue. [36923/16]

Brexit Issues

Declan Breathnach

74. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach if he has requested that Southern sectoral interest groups be invited to participate in the Northern dialogue in order that cognisance be taken of interests from a Southern perspective in view of the fact that the British Government has agreed to have sectoral interest meetings to discuss Brexit. [37121/16]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Declan Breathnach

100. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the slow processing of disability allowance appeals; if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36393/16]

Disability Allowance Applications

Declan Breathnach

104. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the issue of slow processing of disability allowance claims, in particular with regard to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36485/16]

Good Friday Agreement

Declan Breathnach

131. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received assurance from his counterpart in the UK Government of a solid commitment to uphold and underpin the Good Friday Agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36505/16]

Good Friday Agreement

Declan Breathnach

132. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the commitments under the INTERREG and PEACE programmes up until 2020 will be fully honoured as indicated to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement by a representative from SEUPB on 17 November 2016; if he will commence the development of a model of funding post-Brexit to accommodate project funding streams between EU and non-EU governments; if such a model will be agreed and in place to provide certainty to the funding programmes that are to come into place post-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36508/16]

EU Issues

Declan Breathnach

158. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the correspondence her Department has had with the EU migration commissioner, Dimitris Avrampolous, in regard to the impact of the European travel information and authorisation system in view of Brexit with regard to Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36349/16]

EU Issues

Declan Breathnach

159. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has re-assessed the impact of the European travel information and authorisation system in view of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36350/16]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

260. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will examine an anomaly under the tenant incremental purchase scheme to determine if a person's (details supplied) carer's allowance and other social protection payments can be considered part of their weekly income; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that carer's allowance is taken into account when deciding the amount of rent to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36113/16]

Brexit Issues

Declan Breathnach

363. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the value of contracts awarded to companies and businesses in Northern Ireland; the post-Brexit implications for those companies that have contracts under EU law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36114/16]

Nursing Home Services

Declan Breathnach

434. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the exact location of the 1,000 beds being offered by an organisation (details supplied) to the HSE to alleviate overcrowding in winter 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36074/16]

Minor Works Scheme Applications

Declan Breathnach

137. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the school minor works grant will be paid in 2016 in respect of schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35557/16]

River Basin Management Plans

Declan Breathnach

161. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress on the development of second cycle river basin management plan; if consideration will be given to the Neagh Bann river basin plan which crosses the Border counties, in view of Brexit; if these plans will be in place by the end of 2017, as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35610/16]

Crime Levels

Declan Breathnach

47. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if recorded crime statistics for County Louth are an accurate reflection of the reality of crime in the area; if all Garda stations in County Louth have access to the PULSE system; if not, the details of the stations without access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34671/16]

Garda Deployment

Declan Breathnach

85. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí in each in County Louth on 31 October 2010 and on 31 October 2016; the proportion of the proposed 800 additional recruits in 2017 that are likely to be assigned to County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34673/16]

Home Care Packages Provision

Declan Breathnach

538. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if he will restore a home care package for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34759/16]

Prisoner Health

Declan Breathnach

80. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the medical and psychological interventions and supports that have been provided to a person (details supplied) since the person was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and remanded to prison; if she will liaise with the Department of Health to urgently provide the person with necessary psychiatric medical intervention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33325/16]

Tax Code

Declan Breathnach

110. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance to set out his views on the situation whereby self-employed persons are unable to avail of trans-border workers relief; if his attention has been drawn to the impact this is having on self-employed persons; his plans to address this unequal situation; if he has discussed this matter with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33313/16]

Mental Health Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

306. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the medical and psychological interventions and supports that have been provided to a person (details supplied) since the person was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and remanded to prison; if his Department will liaise with the Department of Justice and Equality to urgently provide the person with necessary psychiatric medical intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33324/16]

Tax Code

Declan Breathnach

491. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the unfair situation whereby self employed persons are unable to avail of trans-border workers relief; her proposals to address this unequal situation; if she has discussed this matter with the Minister for Finance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33314/16]

Road Tolls

Declan Breathnach

428. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend to heavy goods vehicles and trucks the 10% discount on tolls given to cars on pre-payment for trips in multiples of 20 or more; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this discount is not being allowed to heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, and trucks who electronically pre-pay and is only given to them if they stop at a toll booth and purchase a prepaid card thereby causing traffic build up at toll booths; if he will instruct the toll companies to pass on the legislated discount to HGV owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32598/16]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Declan Breathnach

401. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to address the deficit in staffing requirements in nursing, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other disciplines using the extra funding announced in the budget; if he will consider a possible sponsorship scheme whereby graduates would guarantee to work in the public service in return for college fees or training; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that graduates are being enticed abroad with attractive packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31558/16]

National Treatment Purchase Fund Waiting Times

Declan Breathnach

77. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health his views on the September 2016 figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund which showed that 1,805 persons are waiting more than 12 months for an outpatient appointment in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30673/16]

General Practitioner Services

Declan Breathnach

136. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if it is illegal for general practitioners to charge medical card holders a €15 fee for blood tests as is the situation with a practice (details supplied); if such persons who have been charged for this service are entitled to a refund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30042/16]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Declan Breathnach

606. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to sign the 42 tonnes derogation on vehicle weights for five axle articulated vehicles into legislation in line with France and other countries; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the restriction to 39 tonnes for these vehicles has resulted in an 8% drop in productivity for these vehicles; if he will make available a report issued by Transport Infrastructure Ireland on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29633/16]

Third Level Funding

Declan Breathnach

197. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider increasing funding to third level institutions to bring it back in line with 2009-2010 levels; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that third level institutions are severely underfunded according to the Cassells report published in July 2016; if there are measures planned to address this underfunding issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28600/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Declan Breathnach

28. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the role her Department will play in minimising the effect of Brexit on County Louth. [27395/16]

Community Policing

Declan Breathnach

66. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to increase the number of community gardaí in the Louth Garda division. [27394/16]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Declan Breathnach

194. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the cross-Border crime agency; the total number of staff involved, agencies engaged and annual budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26399/16]

Fuel Laundering

Declan Breathnach

292. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a resurgence in the practice of diesel washing around the Border counties; his views on the continued effectiveness of the marker introduced to mark rebated fuels in March 2015 against illegal fuel laundering; the number of arrests that have been made for fuel laundering in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25599/16]

State Pension (Contributory)

Declan Breathnach

744. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address inequalities in the pension system following on from the increase in the required number of contributions needed to qualify, particularly for mothers who took time out of the workforce to care for their children before the homemaker's scheme was introduced in 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25530/16]

EU Funding

Declan Breathnach

880. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the current INTERREG programme funding of approximately €258 million and the current PEACE programme funding of €250 million will be honoured by the EU in order that the many projects due to commence by mid-summer can commence, including those projects planned for completion post-Brexit. [24479/16]

GLAS Issues

Declan Breathnach

1529. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the detail of the locally led agri-environment schemes (details given) run in conjunction with the broader GLAS; if he will encourage locally driven solutions to address local environmental and biodiversity challenges; if he will provide details and examples of the way to apply for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25041/16]

Cross-Border Projects

Declan Breathnach

1852. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the available options for the completion of the Narrow Water Bridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26398/16]

Community Welfare Services

Declan Breathnach

366. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection the future status of a community welfare office (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24131/16]

Cross-Border Projects

Declan Breathnach

279. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the projected European Union funding specifically for North-South projects; the amount of co-funding provided by the Irish State to these projects in each of the years from 2016 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23293/16]

Voluntary Housing Sector

Declan Breathnach

362. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide details of the 520 voluntary housing bodies here; the number of persons employed by these organisations; the number of housing units provided and managed by these organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22499/16]

Environmental Policy

Declan Breathnach

96. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he has taken about a "Do Not Swim" notice which was issued on 4 July 2016 at Clogherhead Beach, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21717/16]

TAMS Applications

Declan Breathnach

54. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21008/16]

Passport Services

Declan Breathnach

153. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider the establishment of a passport office in County Louth, given the result of the British referendum on exiting the European Union and increase in applications from Northern Ireland, to make it easier for persons from the north east and north west to access the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21454/16]

Road Toll Operators

Declan Breathnach

275. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will intervene in a dispute (details supplied) regarding the operation of eFlow barriers on the M1 near Drogheda, County Louth; the M7 and M8 south of Portlaoise; and the N25 at Waterford, which will severely impact on the daily users of these busy motorways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21476/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Declan Breathnach

88. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the reason for the substantial increase between December 2015 and May 2016 in the number of outpatients waiting more than a year for a consultation in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Meath. [20982/16]

Northern Ireland

Declan Breathnach

95. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has met with the Truth and Reconciliation Platform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19358/16]

Northern Ireland

Declan Breathnach

341. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met the Truth and Reconciliation Platform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19359/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Declan Breathnach

342. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total number of personnel in his Department currently based in the Northern Ireland section; his plans to expand that section in light of the Brexit referendum result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19500/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Declan Breathnach

343. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total number of personnel in his Department currently based in the Irish embassy in London broken down by section; his plans to expand that section in light of the Brexit referendum result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19501/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Declan Breathnach

344. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of personnel in his Department focused specifically on dealing with the implications of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19502/16]

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

505. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the number of persons here who have used the cross-border health care directive per annum since its inception to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19311/16]

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

506. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have used the cross-border health care directive, by county in tabular form. [19312/16]

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

507. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the total amount of money reimbursed to persons under the cross-border health care directive per annum since its inception, in tabular form. [19313/16]