Parliamentary questions

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Catherine Murphy

183. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a student (details supplied) in County Kildare will be assisted in accessing specialised education to assist with their needs, as the student is currently attending mainstream playschool, with the support of a teaching assistant, and would benefit from a more specialised environment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7548/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Catherine Murphy

184. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will locate the funds to re-open a special needs playschool (details supplied) in County Kildare that was closed down in June 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7549/15]

Planning Issues

Catherine Murphy

193. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 18 of 28 January 2015, when the findings and outcomes of the investigations, under the planning review of the performance of planning functions, will be released; if he has received a copy of the finished report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7410/15]

Planning Issues

Catherine Murphy

196. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the legal status of the recently published Planning Policy Statement 2015 (details supplied); his plans to issue a ministerial policy directive to planning authorities, under section 29 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7472/15]

Data Protection

Catherine Murphy

471. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 162 of 11 February 2015, if the Data Protection Commissioner has raised concerns with her Department regarding the primary online database; if so, if she will make these concerns known, her Department's response and the measures intended as a consequence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7162/15]

Water Meters Installation

Catherine Murphy

502. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the requirement that 25% of employed sub-contractors, under the regional water meter installation contracts, should come from the live register has been complied with; the percentage to date; if the contracts remain valid if this figure has not been attained; its implications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6928/15]

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Catherine Murphy

29. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the Government's position on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations; how he plans to address concerns that the main goal of the partnership is to remove regulatory barriers which restrict the potential profits to be made by transnational corporations on both sides of the Atlantic; and his views that by doing so, the partnership will undermine Irish sovereignty by giving global corporations the right to sue the Irish Government should it bring in policies and/or rules which these corporations may consider restrict their ability to engage in business, such as worker’s rights and wages, health and safety, food standards, genetically modified organisms, toxic chemicals, digital privacy, and new banking safeguards to prevent a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis. [2467/15]

Common Agricultural Policy Reform

Catherine Murphy

127. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the submission that is proposed from Ireland to the European Union Commission on the new Common Agricultural Policy, including measures to simplify payments or processes; the timeframes for same; the consultation process to support same; the reason there appears to have been no formal consultation call; the mechanisms for making submissions to his Department and-or the European Commission and the contact points proposed; the specific proposals which Ireland is considering at this time, and the rationale for same; when any submission or draft will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6452/15]

Common Agricultural Policy Reform

Catherine Murphy

128. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process that his Department is undertaking in respect of the recording and updating of hedgerow, ditch and buffer zones; the process where these areas are being considered as an ecological focus area in the new Common Agricultural Policy; the timeframes for same; the process for updating this data; the control and oversight and verification mechanisms in place to ensure the accuracy of the final data set and to ensure mature established hedgerows important for biodiversity are recognised and protected; the consultation there has been on the process; the cross-compliance implications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6453/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Catherine Murphy

12. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the Public Appointment Service does not keep track of the status of applicants for temporary clerical officer positions; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, for the minimal effort to record such information, large efficiency savings can be made and offers of employment can be sent to those who are in a position to accept at the time the offers are made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5741/15]

Pupil Data Collection

Catherine Murphy

154. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that the collection of data concerning primary school children for the primary online database is legally permissible; the way schools have gathered and processed sensitive personal data, as defined under the Data Protection Acts 1988 - 2003; the way this has been done in a manner consistent with statutory obligations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6275/15]

Pupil Data Collection

Catherine Murphy

155. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way it is legally permissible for schools to gather and process the personal data of primary school children for a purpose other than the purpose for which the data has been collected; if she will categorically list the purposes for which data is being collected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6276/15]

Pupil Data Collection

Catherine Murphy

156. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm that capitation grants and staffing resources are linked to the provision by parents of personal information regarding their children to schools for the primary online database; that there is an inherent coercion in this, in that schools feel obliged to gather and process this information, for fear of losing funding; if this places the schools in an invidious position considering their statutory obligations, as data controllers, under the provisions of the Data Protection Acts 1088-2003; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6277/15]

Schools Data

Catherine Murphy

157. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views that the creation of the primary online database without the protection of the provisions of the Statistics Act 1996 is an appropriate method of gathering and processing the personal data of primary school children. [6278/15]

Pupil Data Collection

Catherine Murphy

158. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that her Department has instructed schools to make a copy of the personal data collected and processed for the purposes of populating the primary online database; to store and process it on site; the way such actions could possibly meet the security requirements as mandated by data protection legislation, and the way she has satisfied herself of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6279/15]

Pupil Data Collection

Catherine Murphy

162. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has been cognisant of concerns arising from the Data Protection Commissioner as far back as 2010 over the collection of personal information regarding students (details supplied); if she will provide a detailed copy of the legal opinion which her Department has utilised to justify the present primary online database scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6322/15]

Genealogical Services

Catherine Murphy

132. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans, once access to the records and indexes in the Government Records Office, GRO, is made available at www.irishgenealogy.ie, to provide free access, without charge, to these records and indexes, just as records currently accessible at the site are; what the fee regime will be if not; if she will acknowledge that the introduction of a fee for access to full records would present a serious impediment to the accessible, open nature of the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5598/15]

National Cultural Institutions

Catherine Murphy

134. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide details of how the recently announced extra €2 million funding for the national cultural institutions is to be distributed; the basis on which the formula for distributing the funds was agreed; if need assessments have been carried out; if so, if she will publish the findings and details of the specific needs being targeted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5600/15]

Departmental Strategies

Catherine Murphy

138. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Question No. 621 of 18 December 2014, if her Department is now in a position to publish the finalised national landscape strategy; the expected timeframe towards implementation of the strategy; if it remains her opinion that no legislative changes will be required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5506/15]

Wildlife Conservation

Catherine Murphy

140. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will confirm that all outstanding matters brought by the European Commission against Ireland concerning the State’s transposition and implementation of the birds directive, details supplied, relating to the protection of endangered birds have been resolved; the measures that have been put in place to ensure implementation; if fines have accrued against Ireland; if so, the amount; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5507/15]

National Heritage Plan

Catherine Murphy

149. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there has been no national heritage plan in place since 2007; the reason this is the case; her views on introducing a new plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5510/15]

National Archives

Catherine Murphy

151. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the fact that the spend on the storage of records intended for the National Archives in 2013 was, at minimum, €1,227,807, her views on reviewing the current abilities of the staff of the National Archives of Ireland to properly catalogue, digitise and store these records, in an effort to reduce both pre-cataloguing storage costs and to reduce potential degradation of records; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5509/15]

Census of Population Publication

Catherine Murphy

155. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the digitisation project for the 1926 census which would deliver online access similar to the 1901 and 1911 records; the estimated cost involved; the specific challenges which must be overcome; the staffing required; if space will be provided at the National Archives of Ireland; if industry stakeholders have been consulted; when it is envisaged the project will be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5508/15]

Departmental Offices

Catherine Murphy

180. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the serious concerns of stakeholders regarding the current location of the General Register Office, the unsuitability of the current facilities; the need to urgently relocate the office to a location that reflects its cultural and genealogical significance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5680/15]

Defence Forces Operations

Catherine Murphy

323. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the extent of co-operation that the G2 Directorate of Intelligence undertakes with other intelligence agencies; if he will list the multinational surveillance programmes which the State is involved with or contributes to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5934/15]

Garda Career Breaks Data

Catherine Murphy

339. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda personnel in each Division who availed of a three-year career break in each year during which the facility was available; the number expected to return to their positions and when; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5706/15]

Genealogical Services

Catherine Murphy

647. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide the timeframe for the full implementation of the all-island approach, including a timeframe for all the measures involved, in facilitating genealogical research and heritage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5599/15]

National Archives

Catherine Murphy

648. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress that has been made in cataloguing the 70,000 boxes of uncatalogued material in the possession of the National Archives; the number of staff that have been assigned to this task; the number of new staff hired to assist in this work; if she will highlight all cases of record degradation that she has been made aware of; her views on the present quality and physical integrity of the records in storage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5601/15]

Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge

Catherine Murphy

651. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the consultations her Department has had with the Department of Education and Skills relating to the 20-year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, specifically with regard to the State’s support for gaelscoileanna and gaelcholáistí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5678/15]

Commemorative Events

Catherine Murphy

652. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the consultation process regarding the 1916 commemoration; the funding that will be made available; the specific projects that are under consideration; the timeframe for implementation of the commemoration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5679/15]

Hedge Cutting Season

Catherine Murphy

667. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a review of section 40 of the Wildlife Act, as amended, or any regulations under the same Act, has taken place, or is under way; the purpose of this review; the purpose of the consultation which took place over the Christmas 2014 period on section 40 of the Act; if amending legislation is planned to be moved, as a consequence, or if a new ministerial order is envisaged; the timeframe envisaged for same; if she will provide all ministerial orders and requests made under the terms of the Act in 2014 and to date in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6126/15]

Water Conservation Grant

Catherine Murphy

6. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost to her Department of administering the water conservation grant; the number of staff who have been taken on or it is intended are to be taken on; the total supplementary funding sought in relation to administering the scheme; the anticipated transaction costs of handling the various methods by which the grant shall be awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4980/15]

Local Employment Service

Catherine Murphy

30. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that funding for the County Kildare local employment service network has dropped by over 60% in 2015 compared to 2014; if her attention has been drawn to the enormous impact this will have on the ability of persons to get back to work, at variance with her stated aims of moving persons off social welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4973/15]

Departmental Policy Reviews

Catherine Murphy

75. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason citizens who avail of the services of her Department are referred to throughout departmental communications and publications as customers; her views that such nomenclature originates in an ideological mindset more disposed towards a vision of a market-oriented society and, as such, is perhaps unnecessary for a Department whose primary role is to maintain a social floor and more cohesive and equal society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5303/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Catherine Murphy

145. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason employees holding prison administration and support officer grades are deemed ineligible to apply for vacancies for Civil Service grades in other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5184/15]

Prison Staff

Catherine Murphy

181. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason employees holding prison administration and support officer grades are deemed ineligible to apply for vacancies for Civil Service grades in her Department; her views on altering the rules to permit such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5309/15]

Local Authority Housing Data

Catherine Murphy

265. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers of local authority dwellings by building energy rating in each local authority area in the State in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5271/15]

Local Authority Housing

Catherine Murphy

266. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the numbers of grant applications for home energy retrofit of local authority dwellings approved in each local authority area in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; the total amount spent in each year towards these grants; the total contribution in each year from local authority resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5273/15]

Local Authority Staff Data

Catherine Murphy

267. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the most recently available numbers of whole-time equivalent staffing in each local authority in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5274/15]

Local Authority Housing Data

Catherine Murphy

268. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government using the most recently available data, if he will provide, in tabular form, the total number of local authority dwellings in each local authority in the State; the proportion of such dwellings in each area which are single bed, two-bed, three-bed, four-bed or more than four-bed; the proportion of such dwellings in each area which are detached, semi-detached, terraced, apartment or other; the proportion of such dwellings in each area which were built prior to 1930, between 1930 and 1949, between 1950 and 1969, between 1970 and 1989, between 1990 and 2000 and after 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5275/15]

Local Authority Staff Recruitment

Catherine Murphy

273. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the effect the present recruitment embargo has had over the past number of years upon the ability of local authorities to deliver their services effectively; if he will highlight the local authorities which have most suffered as a result of staffing shortages; the measures he has proposed to address these high-pressure areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5305/15]

IBRC Operations

Catherine Murphy

30. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 16 December 2014, if he will indicate if, notwithstanding the commercial independence of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation at the time, his Department endeavoured to query the reason such a large loss to the State, amounting to over €100 million, was permitted to happen in the sale of the company concerned (details supplied); if not, the reason his Department was not concerned that such a large loss had occurred when the clear objective of IBRC was to maximise the return to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4700/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Catherine Murphy

155. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a child (details supplied) in County Kildare cannot be facilitated in an appropriate second level school closer than 50 km from that child's home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5088/15]

Climate Change Negotiations

Catherine Murphy

132. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport now that the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill has been published, his Department's response in terms of the preparation of a sectoral emissions reduction plan; if he plans to prepare a draft plan in anticipation of the national adaptation plan; if such a plan will be left until the latter end of the 2017 timescale envisaged in the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4337/15]

Road Projects

Catherine Murphy

146. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to confirm funding for the upgraded M7 Naas-Osberstown interchange and Sallins bypass; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this stretch of motorway is the most dangerous in the State in terms of incidents recorded annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4347/15]

Community Welfare Services Provision

Catherine Murphy

226. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection whether front-line services provided by her Department to the individual citizen have suffered dramatically, given that many urban centres are without community welfare officer access and rely instead on a telephone number which is often not answered; whether she is aware that many persons attempting to make contact with CWOs are doing so in distressing situations; whether communication with these citizens has fallen to an unacceptable level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5024/15]

Electric Vehicle Grants

Catherine Murphy

14. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on progress towards the 2020 target for electric vehicle use in the State; the number of EV charge points that have been installed by location and type of charge point in each year since 2008; the number of charge points that have been installed by Electric Ireland at private dwellings, by county; if it is likely that the 2020 target will be met; the additional supports he has planned to boost take-up; if his Department has had any discussions with a company (details supplied) with regard to the deployment of their vehicles in the Irish market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3892/15]

Fish Producer Organisations

Catherine Murphy

84. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the various roles of fishing producer organisations; the oversight and control exercised over them; in what circumstances a fishing producer organisation will be excluded and-or disqualified from its role under the Common Fisheries Policy or other legislative provisions; the circumstances in which they will be shut down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4249/15]

Legislative Measures

Catherine Murphy

85. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the European and international legislative provisions and relevant sections of same under which fishing producer organisations operating here operate; if he will provide and list the associated provisions and sections of same in legislation here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4250/15]

Legislative Measures

Catherine Murphy

86. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the State’s regulation of fishing producer organisations, if he will provide specific administrative arrangements or legislative specifications which differ from those in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4251/15]

Fish Producer Organisations

Catherine Murphy

87. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if membership of a fishing producer organisation is at individual boat level; if not, the level at which it is assigned; if he will identify any legislative provision here specifying this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4252/15]

Fish Producer Organisations

Catherine Murphy

88. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria which must be met to qualify as a member of a fishing producer organisation; the legislative provisions specifying this; the categories of membership for fishing producer organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4253/15]

Fish Producer Organisations

Catherine Murphy

89. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the information provided to the European Commission on fish producer organisations concerning their funding, quota allocation, membership and landings; if he will provide a copy of the most recent set of such reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4254/15]

Irish Water Funding

Catherine Murphy

3. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of the funding model of Irish Water; the net income from the model annually broken down by category; the estimation of households in the State that Irish Water is relying on to determine the full cost of the €100 allowance and the cost in each year up to 2019; the plans of Irish Water to engage any supplementary measures such as borrowing to augment income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3675/15]

Unfinished Housing Developments

Catherine Murphy

9. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to initiate any legislative reform to address the continued difficulties that exist in the taking in charge of estates where outstanding issues have not been addressed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that with construction activity increasing the need for these measures has never been greater; if he proposes to tackle the problems caused by extended permissions making it impossible for estates to be taken in charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3610/15]

Planning Issues

Catherine Murphy

18. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress of the planning review of the performance of planning functions reopened by his Department in July 2013; when it is likely to report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3611/15]

Housing Data

Catherine Murphy

27. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to the annual planning statistics produced by his Department, the reason the number of planning decisions taken nationally where the decision differs from the recommendation of the planner officer jumped from an average of just 400 per year between 2003 and 2007 to an average of 5,600 per year between 2010 and 2012 with particularly high differences recorded in counties Cork, Donegal, Kildare, Meath and Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3609/15]

Homelessness Strategy

Catherine Murphy

29. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the objectives agreed at the homelessness conference which took place in his Department in December 2014; the progress on each of the agreed points to emerge from that conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3612/15]

Parliamentary Party Allowances Expenditure

Catherine Murphy

56. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular format, the total amounts paid to each qualifying political party in respect of annual Exchequer payments under the Electoral Acts in each of the years 2012, 2013 and 2014; the fixed payment amount each year; the variable amount in each case and the way this was calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3953/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Catherine Murphy

118. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has allocated the planned expansion of social housing across each local authority in the State; the criteria being used to determine the greatest need and to ensure a fair demographic spread of the extra investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3676/15]

School Enrolments

Catherine Murphy

119. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on establishing a forum on school enrolment in north Kildare considering the major obstacles which have arisen in recent years; her views on whether such a forum is useful in establishing a full appreciation of parental choice in the area; if it will assist in achieving greater diversity, particularly with regard to Gaelscoil provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3370/15]

Schools Data

Catherine Murphy

130. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will demonstrate the figures which her Department is relying on to determine forward planning in north Kildare, in particular with regard to achieving a balanced diversity of choice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3372/15]

Ministerial Travel

Catherine Murphy

164. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will itemise the exact cost of the Irish delegation's attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in each of the past three years and the estimated cost for 2015; if all such costs will be broken down by admittance-ticket price per attendee, accommodation costs, travel costs, including use of the Government jet, food and entertainment costs, security costs; the number of persons that had all or part of the cost of their attendance covered by the State in each of the past three years and in 2015. [3708/15]

Climate Change Policy

Catherine Murphy

538. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason his Department considers it appropriate to include a timeframe of up to 2017 for the preparation and implementation of the national and sectoral mitigation plans under the proposed Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Environmental Protection Agency projects that domestic non-ETS emissions will exceed the former EU 2020 targets from 2016 on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3719/15]

Legislative Programme

Catherine Murphy

539. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he anticipates publishing planning legislation that will introduce greater certainty and obligations with regard to bonds and securities which are required by a planning authority as part of a permission; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are many cases where a bond has expired or cannot be activated to help complete unfinished estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3720/15]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

52. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to provide a front-line service for those living in towns where no community welfare officer is in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3182/15]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

53. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to enable front-line staff to triage applications for benefit related schemes made by the public, ensuring applicants do not spend months waiting on a decision for a scheme for which they should not have made application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3183/15]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

54. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to manage community staff resources where staff move to other areas internally or externally through job progression, retirement or ill health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3184/15]

Financial Services Ombudsman

Catherine Murphy

80. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a significant number of persons who made investments during a time when the economy was very healthy and some banks engaged in irresponsible lending practices, and who now find that they fall foul of the six-year limitation period placed upon complaints that can be registered with the Financial Services Ombudsman (details supplied); if he will amend legislation to extend this period and further resource the office of the FSO to support this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3217/15]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Catherine Murphy

207. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the upgrade to insulation of social housing stock; if he has prepared a targeted plan for the retrofit of the worst affected housing; if he will provide a table of intended retrofit projects by town and by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3185/15]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Catherine Murphy

208. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the obligations on local authorities to ensure that the building energy rating is improved in social housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3186/15]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Catherine Murphy

209. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the obligations that lie with local authorities in relation to repairs for housing stock, targets and standards for resolving issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3187/15]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Catherine Murphy

210. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if damp that is occurring in social housing stock is an issue that should be dealt with by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3188/15]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Catherine Murphy

21. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on the optimum number or range of beds in the public system; the current number of available beds; the demographic projections taken into consideration when determining the optimum deployment of beds around the country; the way the existence of centres of excellence at major hospitals has impacted on the general medical services historically provided at those hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2411/15]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Catherine Murphy

42. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way the current staffing situation at Naas General Hospital, County Kildare, is being addressed; if his attention has been drawn to serious shortfalls in resources and staffing capability; the long-term investment plan for the hospital in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2389/15]

Tax Collection

Catherine Murphy

109. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if there has been a change in the rules regarding the Revenue Commissioners' correspondence with the TAIN-registered agent or representative of a customer; the reasons the Revenue Commissioners may cite to refuse to correspond with such an agent or representative in respect of a person's tax affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3033/15]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Catherine Murphy

116. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the annual fees mandated by the Irish Tax Institute that can in some cases cause severe financial hardship for smaller and solo CTA operators; if, in view of the Government's objective to support small and medium enterprises, he will raise this matter with the Minister for Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3002/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Catherine Murphy

166. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) who requires urgent surgery has not yet received confirmation of this surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2996/15]

Hospital Beds Data

Catherine Murphy

169. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the total number of publicly-funded beds available in each acute hospital in the State for each year from 1985 to date in 2015; the total number of privately-funded beds available in the State for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3009/15]

Hospital Beds Data

Catherine Murphy

170. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the total number of inactive, unfunded beds which currently exist in each acute hospital here; the same figure in each of the past eight years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3010/15]

Hospital Beds Data

Catherine Murphy

171. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the total number of critical care beds which are available in each acute hospital in the State at present; the number of such beds which are unfunded and inactive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3012/15]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Expenditure

Catherine Murphy

172. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount of money that has been derived from the fair deal nursing home scheme in each year of its operation; the total cost of implementing the scheme in the same period; the average cost per person and average intake per person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3013/15]

Home Care Packages Provision

Catherine Murphy

174. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a shortage in availability of agency nurses trained in the correct management of tracheotomies; the measures he will take to address same; the total number of respite and home care package situations which the Health Service Executive is utilising agency nurses for; the total number of these which require training in tracheotomy application and supervision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3017/15]

School Enrolments Data

Catherine Murphy

203. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of prospective pupils whose parents have indicated a preference to attend three primary schools (details supplied) in County Kildare in September 2015, September 2016, September 2017, September 2018 and September 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2986/15]

School Enrolments Data

Catherine Murphy

204. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide figures in respect of each year in the past five years on the total number of intake students at primary level in north Kildare who commenced in a Gaelscoil; the total numbers whose parents had indicated a preference for a Gaelscoil education but did not secure a place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2993/15]

School Patronage

Catherine Murphy

205. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way her Department has measured school diversity in Kildare North in terms of facilitating the major prevailing preferences of parents; the types of schools her Department has identified at this stage as being the likely ones to need more investment to meet this demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2994/15]

School Patronage

Catherine Murphy

206. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria used by her Department in measuring choice with regard to school models; the way diversity, co-education, cultural diversity and multilingualism are factored in; if she will provide an update on the reform of patronage models; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2998/15]

School Enrolments Data

Catherine Murphy

207. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 854 of 14 January 2015, if she will provide a copy of the nationwide demographic review on primary school places; if she will share the data with regard to north Kildare and the reasoning by which the Department has come to the conclusions that it has; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3008/15]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Murphy

112. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the terms of reference for the commission of investigation into mothers and baby homes and certain related matters do not cover former Magdalen institutions and adoptions which occurred at State hospitals during the relevant periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2201/15]

Child Protection Services Provision

Catherine Murphy

115. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children that are currently waiting to be allocated a social worker; the number of these that are high priority and emergency; if he will provide a breakdown in tabular format of the number of each of these that have been waiting for less than six months, between six months and one year, between one year and 18 months, between 18 months and two years and longer than two years; the number of social workers that are employed at present; the number of these that are on maternity leave; his plans to address the shortfalls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2189/15]

Courts Service Data

Catherine Murphy

323. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of court exemption orders that were issued to permit a marriage where one or both of the spouses were below the age of 18 years in 2010 to 2014, inclusive; her plans for legislative changes in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2435/15]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Catherine Murphy

59. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason short-term employment contracts based in her Department are being offered to persons who are engaged in short-term contracts in other Departments, and consequently cannot accept those positions even though they may only have two or three weeks left on their existing contract; the reason this is marked as a rejection of an offer against them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2104/15]

Departmental Staff Data

Catherine Murphy

60. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of employees of her Department, who were engaged on short-term contracts, that opted to take extra payment in lieu of holiday entitlement accrued at the expiration of their contracts in each of the past three years; the proportion of all employees hired on short-term contracts over this period who opted to do so; if her attention has been drawn to any specific policy within her Department which may serve to encourage persons not to take holiday time accrued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2105/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Catherine Murphy

81. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a serious problem exists within the processes of the Public Appointments Service whereby persons who are working short-term contracts with one Department are being offered contracts with different Departments before the completion of their current contract, that, as a consequence of not being in a position to accept such offers, the PAS record this as a rejection of an offer, which carries a number of consequences for the person concerned; the reason it is possible for this error to repeatedly occur; if he will commit to compensate in some fashion those who have been forced into this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2103/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Catherine Murphy

82. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason a person (details supplied) was offered a 12 week contract of employment with the Department of Social Protection even though they were at the time engaged on a 15 week contract with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and had three weeks remaining; the reason, even though they were obviously not in a position to accept the Department of Social Protection's offer, this was recorded as a rejection within the PAS system; the consequences this has had for their future employment opportunities; if he will review this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2110/15]

Banks Recapitalisation

Catherine Murphy

166. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if it is still his policy to seek retrospective recapitalisation of formerly guaranteed institutions; the progress made to date; his views on comments made last month (details supplied) that the health of such banks now points towards a partial selling off of Government stakes; if this course of action is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1648/15]

Banks Recapitalisation

Catherine Murphy

172. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if an application under the direct recapitalisation instrument of the European Stability Mechanism treaty to attain a retrospective recapitalisation of certain Irish financial institutions since the treaty has been constituted; if not, his plans to do so; when it will happen; if this option has been ruled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1717/15]

Local Government Fund

Catherine Murphy

179. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of all transfers which have taken place from the local government fund to the Central Fund in 2014 by date and amount concerned; all transfers which took place in the reverse by date and amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1750/15]

IBRC Liquidation

Catherine Murphy

180. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance in view of the proceeds from the sale of the combined portfolio off floating rate notes and fixed rate bonds which had been acquired by the Central Bank of Ireland following the liquidation of IBRC, the amount of these proceeds which were destroyed in 2014; the dates this occurred; the amount of interest which was paid in 2014 on the elements of the bond portfolio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1778/15]

Banks Recapitalisation

Catherine Murphy

181. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the discussions and or meetings he has held in the past six months with the European Central Bank and eurozone Ministers for Finance regarding the stated Government policy of seeking retrospective recapitalisation of formerly covered financial institutions; if he has conveyed any change in policy in this regard to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1780/15]