Parliamentary questions

Water Meters Installation

Catherine Murphy

227. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections carried out by the Health and Safety Authority at water meter installation sites by date and location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1461/15]

Crime Data

Catherine Murphy

470. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason certain crime statistics, in particular rates of theft and burglary, are higher in the commuter belt counties of Kildare and Meath; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Garda resources per capita in these counties are the worst in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1681/15]

Garda Deployment

Catherine Murphy

474. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the most up-to-date numbers of gardaí by district and division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1757/15]

Garda Transport Data

Catherine Murphy

475. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a list in tabular form, of all Garda vehicles by vehicle type in each Garda district; the number of vehicles of each type that were retired from service in 2014; the number of new vehicles of each type that were introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1758/15]

Gaelscoil Issues

Catherine Murphy

854. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the reduction of an entire class of available spaces at a Gaelscoil (details supplied) in County Kildare; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this situation has arisen in part because of the lack of forward planning to take into account the demand for Gaelscoil education in the area; her plans to initiate an immediate assessment of need with a view to catering for this high demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1687/15]

Parliamentary Questions

Catherine Murphy

48. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department performs analysis on the nature of parliamentary questions submitted to it in order to try to ascertain trends and developments which require urgent attention or policy change; if so, the way this feeds into policy formation within her Department; if the nature of withdrawn questions is recorded or analysed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49114/14]

Property Tax Exemptions

Catherine Murphy

88. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he has received revised information as to the number of housing estates which qualify for an exemption from the local property tax since the introduction of the tax; if he will provide a list of all such estates indicating their location and the nature of their exemption, that is, unfinished, pyrite damage and so on, in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49084/14]

National Pensions Reserve Fund Investments

Catherine Murphy

89. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if any portion of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund has been accessed by a company (details supplied) as part of a programme of investment; if so, if he will provide the amount and nature of the funds awarded; the conditions stipulated concerning same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49117/14]

Crime Data

Catherine Murphy

291. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality regarding stolen firearms, if statistics are available indicating the proportion of all firearms recorded as stolen that are in cases where such firearms were taken from a licenceholder; if she will provide this ratio for each year in the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49103/14]

Firearms Licences

Catherine Murphy

292. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the court challenges which are mounted against a refusal to award a firearms licence, if she will indicate the cost to the State of court proceedings in these matters since 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49106/14]

Health Services

Catherine Murphy

424. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason a child cannot simultaneously occupy a place on a list for occupational therapy and a place on the waiting list for access to child and adolescent mental health services; if it is permissible for one service to deny treatment based on the fact that a child has attempted to access another service; if not, if he will investigate this matter (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49222/14]

Planning Issues

Catherine Murphy

543. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the forthcoming planning policy statement will be published; the way it will feed into legislation currently being drafted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49107/14]

Departmental Strategies

Catherine Murphy

621. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the final national landscape strategy will be published and implemented; the legislative proposals she envisages to provide statutory effect to its provisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49108/14]

IBRC Liquidation

Catherine Murphy

58. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an itemised list of all disposals made by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation prior to the appointment of a special liquidator; the original value of the liability or loan concerned, in each case; the amount realised at disposal; the method the disposal was made through including examinership, receivership, direct sale or other; the date at which the disposal was made; if he will provide the same information in respect of the period IBRC has been in special liquidation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48755/14]

Irish Water Administration

Catherine Murphy

249. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of water application packs that have been returned to Irish Water to date; of the water packs returned, the number that have completed the section F declaration; the number that were returned without any completed information; the number that were returned illegible; of all packs returned, the number that have been counted by Irish Water as indicating the returner wishes to be counted as a registered customer of Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48754/14]

IBRC Operations

Catherine Murphy

220. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, in its disposal of a company (details supplied) in March 2012, acted in the best financial interest of the State; if his attention has been drawn to the company being sold to a much lower bid; if so, if he sought a satisfactory answer as to the reason; the reason the company was not put into examinership or receivership; if he has questioned the reason the same legal representatives acted for both the company in question and the purchaser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48159/14]

Social Welfare Code Reform

Catherine Murphy

18. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that where a young person who is having a domiciliary care allowance payment awarded in respect of them reaches 16 and applies for a welfare payment in their own right, pending the successful outcome of that application the parent-guardian concerned loses their payment entirely, and must wait to apply for a carer's allowance payment to be successful before having key financial support restored; her views that this creates a very serious lack of support for vulnerable families during this period; her plans to help alleviate this pressure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47092/14]

Exchequer Savings

Catherine Murphy

20. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the reported budgetary savings made in her Department throughout her time as Minister that have had a real and adverse effect on the quality and efficiency of the service provided to citizens who access their services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47093/14]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Catherine Murphy

59. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that long term sick claimants of illness benefit supports are not permitted to avail of the Christmas bonus announced recently for unemployed recipients; her plans to widen the Christmas bonus qualifying criteria for persons claiming illness benefit for up to eight years and more; if she will widen the fuel allowance scheme to allow these claimants to avail of equal treatment than those availing of unemployment supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47458/14]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Catherine Murphy

61. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who have been continuously unemployed for more than the 391 cumulative-paid total days are required to avail of the Christmas bonus, due to the fact that they are no longer part of another person's claim; if this qualifying period of 391 days will be assessable against joint claims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47467/14]

Tourism Promotion

Catherine Murphy

168. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is his Department's intention to increase the tourism potential of the Liffey Valley amenity area; the deliberations he or his predecessor has had with interested parties regarding this; if his Department has had any contact with the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs with respect to the tourist potential of establishing a national park in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47370/14]

Genealogical Services

Catherine Murphy

97. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if, in the pursuit of a vital all-island approach to genealogical heritage, a conflict arises in the different legal regimes surrounding access to digitised records online versus digitised indexes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46866/14]

National Cultural Institutions

Catherine Murphy

109. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has conducted a needs assessment regarding future funding of the national cultural institutions, in particular the National Archives, National Museum and National Library; if she is cognisant of the urgent need to invest in these areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46865/14]

Pension Provisions

Catherine Murphy

145. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the most recent LCP Ireland pensions accounting briefing (details supplied) which estimated the current deficit in the 29 largest defined benefit pension schemes to have more than doubled in one year to €8.5 billion; if her Department had performed a risk analysis of the State's potential exposure if the scenario continues to deteriorate; the measures she is proposing to address this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44336/14]

Rail Network

Catherine Murphy

16. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the review of the business case for DART underground by the National Transport Authority is complete; if so, if he will share the findings of the report; the timeframe now envisaged for the project; if it is still the intention to move forward under the existing railway order; if compulsory purchases necessary to the project are envisaged; if so, will the notices to treat process be concluded by September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46014/14]

National Children's Hospital

Catherine Murphy

150. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the business case for the siting of the proposed national children's hospital at St. James's Hospital; the advantages that site has which were the overriding factors in choosing to site the hospital there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46592/14]

Data Protection

Catherine Murphy

109. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that information which schools are requested to collect on parents, medical card status, social welfare status and then forward to the NCSE in accordance with the latest allocation model for resources for children with special needs is done in full compliance with data protection legislation; if she will indicate the use made of this information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46452/14]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Catherine Murphy

97. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the revised wind farm planning guidelines will be available; the number of submission received; if it is unfair for local communities and planning authorities to be operating in the dark with large-scale proposed developments in advance of the publication of the new guidelines; if it is within his power to initiate a moratorium on decisions in this area until the guidelines are published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40945/14]

Water Meters

Catherine Murphy

103. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the cost of water meters installation has had to be revised upwards significantly; if he will make available the precise terms of the final contracts with all agents contracted to install meters; if it is anticipated that, as a result of the changed timetable for water metering to commence, there will be any financial implications for the State under the terms of these contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45850/14]

Health Services Access

Catherine Murphy

394. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the range of supports which are available for sufferers of fibromyalgia; if his Department is monitoring reported rates; the cases which have been reported in each of the past five years; if there is a strategy in place to try and tackle the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46038/14]

National Parks Projects

Catherine Murphy

621. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps taken by her Department towards the creation of a Liffey Valley national park in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46167/14]

Gaelscoil Issues

Catherine Murphy

26. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the significant demand for a new Gaelcholáiste in the north Kildare area with parents of over 200 children seeking access to such an educational environment as their first choice; her views that at this point An Aonad does not come close to recognising this need; if she will revise earlier statements that it will take up to five years to determine need in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45228/14]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Catherine Murphy

44. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that class sizes here are the second highest of EU members; to set out her views on the fact that class sizes in County Kildare are among the highest here; her plans to tackle this in view of the fact that the increases in her Department's funding is only sufficient to maintain present pupil-teacher ratios given the changing demographics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45229/14]

Local Government Fund

Catherine Murphy

71. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide all occasions where he has requested a payment from the Local Government Fund under the provisions of S6 (2C) of the Local Government Act 1998 as amended, indicating the dates the request(s) were made; the amounts requested; the dates such moneys transferred; his plans to seek further funds in this manner before the end of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45622/14]

Irish Water

Catherine Murphy

200. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money paid out of the local government fund to Irish Water under the provision of section 6(2CA) of the Local Government Act 1998 (as amended), indicating the amounts paid, the dates moneys transferred; the purpose of the transfer in each case; his plans to transfer further funds in 2014 or 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45621/14]

Tax Clearance Certificates

Catherine Murphy

54. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the processes by which a company may apply for a tax clearance certificate; the timeframe such a process takes; the diligence the Revenue Commissioners have to conduct in order to issue a certificate; the number of tax clearance certificates that were sought in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and of those the number awarded; if his attention has been drawn to any companies receiving a tax clearance certificate within one or two days of application; if so, the number of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45491/14]

Foreign Policy

Catherine Murphy

101. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions in which he is involved at European level regarding the growing movement towards recognition of Palestinian statehood; if Irish policy is developing in this regard towards offering recognition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44955/14]

Foreign Policy

Catherine Murphy

102. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to seek Cabinet approval to begin the process of offering Irish recognition of Palestine as a nation State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45050/14]

Water Meters Installation

Catherine Murphy

151. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the eligibility criteria for applying for the contract to install water meters; the number of bids received; if he is satisfied that all bidders were fully tax-compliant at the time of making their bids; the timeline by which the tendering process was conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45489/14]

Industrial Relations

Catherine Murphy

133. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on bringing forward legislation to provide for the right of former employees and pension beneficiaries to be represented and negotiate on their own behalf within the industrial relations architecture of the State; the reason such a measure has not been considered up to now; if he will confirm that there is a precedence for such a measure going back to the 1970s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44334/14]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Catherine Murphy

150. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has encountered any unforeseen difficulties arising from the phasing out of the State pension transition payment; if in particular her Department has had difficulties reported to it of persons being forced to retire at 65 and move to a jobseeker's payment; if a particular cohort of persons have been adversely affected by the change; and if she is considering either re-introducing the payment or devising a compensatory payment for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44858/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Catherine Murphy

174. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the services of the tenancy protection unit to the areas surrounding Dublin which are suffering a severe housing and homelessness crisis but who have far less resources to deal with the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45138/14]

Pension Provisions

Catherine Murphy

373. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that a person (details supplied) was inadvertently and incorrectly not provided with an adequate pension following 30 years working as a home help provider with the Health Service Executive and its predecessors; the reason they were informed that they were too old to avail of the pensions scheme at the time of their retirement in January 2014; if he will review this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45292/14]

Teachers' Remuneration

Catherine Murphy

438. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when she plans to action the directive contained in circular 0053/2014 where it was announced that teachers who began their service after January 2011 were to have their pay restored to the pre-cut scales so as to alleviate some of the disparity between teachers’ pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45139/14]

Electromagnetic Fields Studies

Catherine Murphy

485. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the policy that is relied upon to define acceptable levels of electromagnetic fields associated with high-tension power lines; if the policy is to be reviewed to take account of updated expert research in both the engineering and medical disciplines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45304/14]

Electromagnetic Fields Studies

Catherine Murphy

522. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the policy that defines acceptable levels of electromagnetic fields associated with high-tension power lines when planning for the proximity of such power lines to residences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45248/14]

Electromagnetic Fields Studies

Catherine Murphy

523. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way policy that covers acceptable proximity between residences and the electromagnetic fields levels associated with high-tension power lines compares with corresponding policies in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45250/14]

Postcode Implementation

Catherine Murphy

547. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total cost to date of developing the forthcoming postcode system, Eircode; if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the names of all external consultants engaged in the development of the new system, including amounts paid to each consultant on each individual contract and the dates paid; the further expenditure in respect of same for which a commitment has been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44776/14]

Postcode Implementation

Catherine Murphy

549. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his response to concerns that the proposed postcode system, Eircode, will not be utilised by freight and courier companies due to an intuitive address adjacency not being included within the new code, and because of this companies will start to adopt their own codes from the private sector using part of the data contained in Eircode; his views that emergency services will not be able to rely on the code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44819/14]

Schools Building Regulations

Catherine Murphy

127. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to cases where the minimum floor space guidelines for classrooms are being breached; if she will provide a list of these cases; her Department's intention to alleviate this overcrowding in view of the maintenance of the pupil-teacher ratio at the second worst level in the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44682/14]

Local Authority Finances

Catherine Murphy

138. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the €323,102,783 cash balance of development contributions held by local authorities but which has not been spent, the amount that was paid in relation to water and wastewater services; if this money can be accessed by local authorities now that Irish Water has taken over responsibility for these services; if this is part of the service-level agreements in place between Irish Water and local authorities; the way local authorities are pursuing the outstanding €394,157,880 of development contributions owed but not paid; the amount that has been written off each year in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44674/14]

Local Authority Finances

Catherine Murphy

140. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities are still restricted in accessing cash balances of development contributions held by them; if he is considering any changes in this area in view of the significant sums on balance and sums still owed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44676/14]

Local Government Fund

Catherine Murphy

141. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the moneys formerly paid in respect of the since-abolished borough and town councils from the local government fund and through other State grants were factored into the calculations for the awarding of moneys from the equalisation portion of the local property tax for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44696/14]

Local Authority Housing Bonds

Catherine Murphy

152. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any development contributions in respect of water services or wastewater services have been attached to planning permissions by any planning authority in the State since 1 January 2014; if any moneys have been taken in respect of these permissions; if any moneys have been returned; if he is satisfied that planning authorities have fully abided by circular PL 21/2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44752/14]

Garda Resources

Catherine Murphy

102. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to seek further funding for An Garda Síochána personnel and resources in order to address existing imbalances in Garda provision which cannot be accounted for due to necessary operational requirements and crime rates; if her Department has a role in determining forward planning for the targeting of Garda resources taking into account likely demographic changes; if not, if it is her plan to pursue such a role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43813/14]

Garda Deployment

Catherine Murphy

107. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that County Kildare has the lowest ratio of gardaí to population of any Garda district in the country; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that such under-investment makes it impossible to engage in effective community policing; if it is her objective to seek a resolution to the extreme imbalances in Garda resourcing which exist around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43812/14]

Water Charges Introduction

Catherine Murphy

226. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage of Irish Water application packs issued that have been returned; the percentage of those returned that contained no PPS number; the percentage that have been returned blank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43607/14]

Waste Management

Catherine Murphy

228. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a waste licence, permit or certificate will allow a waste processing operator to continue operations where the exemption planning permission that was relied upon to operate the waste processing on the site was overturned by An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43610/14]

Waste Management

Catherine Murphy

229. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a waste licence, permit or certificate held by a waste processing operator provides for a third-party waste collector to continue to deliver waste to the site where an exemption planning permission for waste delivery to the site was overturned by An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43611/14]

Road Network

Catherine Murphy

247. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of kilometres of paved road within each local authority area, including national primary roads, broken down by road classification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43702/14]

Swimming Pool Programme Status

Catherine Murphy

248. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of each public swimming pool in the State by location; if he will also provide a list of all planned swimming pools and pools under construction by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43705/14]

Local Government Fund

Catherine Murphy

206. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if the development contribution fund located at local authority level continues to be set against the general Government deficit; if so the dialogue there is between the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43061/14]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Catherine Murphy

273. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that removals of greenhouse gases resulting from the LULUCF sector are not counted towards the European Union’s 20% greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 2020, the way it is proposed to reduce emissions from the Irish agriculture sector up to 2020 to help meet Ireland's binding obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43240/14]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Catherine Murphy

505. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the contingency plans and budget he has put in place to address the possibility that Ireland may not meet its legally binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets under the EU effort sharing decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43070/14]

Electric Vehicle Grants

Catherine Murphy

547. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress that has been made in achieving the Government target of a 10% share of electric vehicles here by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43173/14]

Electric Vehicle Grants

Catherine Murphy

548. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made in achieving the Government target of a 10% share of electric vehicles here by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43368/14]

Bus Éireann Services

Catherine Murphy

571. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proposed service level reductions on the Bus Éireann route 120/121 from Tullamore, County Offaly to Clane, County Kildare; if passengers will be informed of same; if the implication for users of the Irish Wheelchair Association services in Clane has been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43058/14]

Irish Water Administration

Catherine Murphy

40. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has signed the order permitting the collection of personal public service numbers by Irish Water as a scheduled body under the Act; if it has been signed; when it was signed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42546/14]

Smarter Transport

Catherine Murphy

259. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to the recent publication of the draft policy document, Investing in our Transport Future: A Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport, if the target of reducing the total share of car commuting from 65% to 45% in 2020, that is, 500,000 more persons taking alternative means to commute to work, introduced in 2009 under the previous policy Smarter Travel: A Sustainable Transport Future, has now been formally abandoned as Government policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41829/14]

Energy Conservation

Catherine Murphy

19. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the fall in the take-up of grants for home energy retrofit since 2011; if his Department has conducted any estimate of the energy costs which would have been saved had the programme been maintained at prior levels; his strategy in relation to improving take-up; the reason the pay-as-you-save scheme has been persistently delayed during the Government's time in office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40326/14]

Departmental Customer Charters

Catherine Murphy

83. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the key performance indicators and measures of evaluations that are in place to underpin the performance of the customer charter and action plan for 2013 to 2015; if she will provide an assessment of the way the charter and action plan is performing in regard to each criterion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39802/14]

Visa Applications

Catherine Murphy

328. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current waiting times for the processing of spouse reunification visas by INIS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40077/14]

Irish Water Establishment

Catherine Murphy

585. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate, by category and value, the extent of assets which were transferred to Irish Water upon its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40354/14]

National Monuments

Catherine Murphy

622. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the consents sought to film a movie (details supplied) on Skellig Michael off the coast of County Kerry; the type of assessments done to determine potential impacts, that is, habitats directive appropriate assessment or archaeological assessment; the fee sought; the amount of income used to conserve and protect the UNESCO World Heritage site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40042/14]

Industrial Relations

Catherine Murphy

19. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to ongoing disputes involving retired staff of bodies where no forum or audience is possible for pensioners' representatives to engage with the industrial relations mechanism of the State; his plans to bring forward legislation addressing this omission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39069/14]

Proposed Legislation

Catherine Murphy

25. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no mention of copyright legislation on the Government's legislative programme; if he expects heads of such legislation to be ready before the end of the current Dáil Éireann term; if his attention has been further drawn to the urgent need for updated legislation in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39097/14]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Catherine Murphy

84. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the surgical supports available for both adults and children with scoliosis in the State; the waiting times for each surgical centre; if additional resources are intended to address this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39469/14]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Catherine Murphy

88. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to tackle the extreme waiting lists for spinal surgery at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12 which is increasingly resulting in children not being able to access vital corrective surgery before they mature to a stage where intervention is less effective and conditions tend to become permanent; the number of children that are currently waiting for spinal surgery by length of time spent waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39485/14]

Pension Provisions

Catherine Murphy

95. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm that employment scheme supervisors who were working for FÁS up until its dissolution and who continue to work in that capacity for SOLAS and who paid pension contributions during their time at FÁS may have their prior contributions counted towards their current occupational pension plan with SOLAS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39506/14]

School Accommodation

Catherine Murphy

119. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to substantial concerns that parents of children attending a school of 277 pupils (details supplied) in County Kildare have expressed in relation to substandard accommodation, the prevalence of vermin in classrooms, the functionality of fire doors, unsuitable flooring and so on; if the school in question cannot apply for remediation or a new build process, or even minor works grants, due to a recognition issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39468/14]

Education Policy

Catherine Murphy

120. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the historical model that has been utilised by her Department when anticipating future educational needs across the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39478/14]

School Accommodation

Catherine Murphy

121. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a minimum floor area that is specified for a classroom; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some schools are approaching 40 pupils per class and that this situation is exacerbated by a cramped physical environment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39483/14]

Gaelscoileanna Issues

Catherine Murphy

123. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that progression from Gaelscoil to Gaelcholáiste is close to 100% where commute distance is not a significant factor and falls markedly with a slight increase in distance to travel each day; if this is taken into account when determining new Gaelcholáistí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39492/14]

Gaelscoileanna Issues

Catherine Murphy

124. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the broader Gaelscoil-Gaelcholáiste strategy of her Department over the next five years with regard to responding to a growing demand; if a refocusing of resources is required to accommodate the growing trend toward Irish-only instruction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39500/14]

Gaelscoileanna Issues

Catherine Murphy

125. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that, in the north east Kildare area, in September 2015 there will be over seven full classes of pupils attending Gaelscoileanna who cannot be accommodated at a Gaelcholáiste as is the clear wish of parents and students; the measures she proposes to address before numbers grow even further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39501/14]

Irish Water Remit

Catherine Murphy

136. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the protocol between Irish Water and local authorities in view of the fact that construction bonds to cover costs of public foul water services will expire on the taking in charge of estates by local authorities, and where Irish Water will not have completed the taking of charge of public foul services. [39320/14]

Irish Water Remit

Catherine Murphy

146. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the contingencies that are in place should a local authority decide to take an unfinished estate in charge, effectively relinquishing any bond in force in respect of the estate, and subsequently water infrastructure problems are identified; in such a case, if Irish Water will pay to alleviate the deficiencies; if the first-fix-free policy will apply in these cases if leaks are discovered on residents' side of the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39435/14]

Water Meters

Catherine Murphy

157. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water has taken all necessary steps to ensure that every digit on the meters can be read by a homeowner and that none are obscured; if the obstruction of lower numbers on a meter is commonplace; if so, the measure he proposes to ensure that a full meter reading can be taken by homeowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39486/14]

Climate Change Policy

Catherine Murphy

83. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when publication of the sectoral adaptation plan for agriculture envisaged under the national policy position for tackling climate change will be; the preparations and progress his Department has made towards the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38932/14]

Foreign Conflicts

Catherine Murphy

223. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will follow the example of the Government of Sweden and offer full recognition to Palestine as a sovereign and equal nation state; his response to the change in policy by Sweden with regard to the impact it will have on efforts towards a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38867/14]

School Accommodation

Catherine Murphy

283. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in County Kildare will have its deteriorating accommodation situation addressed; the applications in process in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39301/14]

School Enrolments

Catherine Murphy

284. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way the expected surge in numbers of children seeking admittance to schools in the Leixlip area of County Kildare due to ongoing recruitment by large employers in the area will be accommodated; if her Department maintains links with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to better anticipate where and when spikes in numbers seeking school admittance will occur; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39303/14]

Education Policy

Catherine Murphy

285. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the exact process by which population and changing demographics are factored into her Department's forward planning in respect of achieving an even standard in all areas of school buildings and teacher numbers; if she will concede that measures now have fallen short of achieving this even spread; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39304/14]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Catherine Murphy

286. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average class size in each local authority area at present and in each year for the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39305/14]

Water Meters Installation

Catherine Murphy

295. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the number of water meters that have been installed by Irish Water each month to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38847/14]

Irish Water Remit

Catherine Murphy

297. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the precise charging formula which will apply in cases where water leaks are discovered inside a customer's property; if he will clarify that, once the capped rate no longer applies, the amount of water wasted from when a leak develops to when it is discovered will be a chargeable amount either under the fix first policy or subsequently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38852/14]

Irish Water Remit

Catherine Murphy

298. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government under which legal provision does the responsibility and authority for maintenance of water infrastructure installed under a footpath outside a private dwelling place fall to the dwelling owner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38853/14]

Irish Water Remit

Catherine Murphy

300. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the first fix free policy will apply to all leaks in cases where there are multiple leaks discovered; if the full policy will apply if multiple leaks are discovered at intermittent stages but all arise from the same event for example an extreme weather occurrence such as heavy rain or severe frost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38855/14]

Water Meters Installation

Catherine Murphy

301. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, records of all instances in Irish Water of when their agents encountered ransom strips when seeking to install water meters; the way each was resolved; if any money has been paid in respect of these; and if so, the amount in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38856/14]

Climate Change Policy

Catherine Murphy

307. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when publication of the four key sectorial adaptation plans envisaged under the national policy position for tackling climate change will be; when the national adaptation plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38931/14]