Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

EU Meetings

Jack Chambers

43. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the May 2018 meeting of EU defence Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27756/18]

Defence Forces Training

Jack Chambers

44. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the development of a new institute for peace support and leadership training at the Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh Camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27757/18]

Defence Forces Strength

Jack Chambers

51. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to increase the number of women in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27754/18]

Planning Issues

Jack Chambers

57. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action that will be taken by the Defence Forces on foot of the recent decision regarding the construction of an incinerator at Ringaskiddy and its possible impact on operations at Haulbowline naval base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27755/18]

Overseas Missions

Jack Chambers

59. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if changes are planned to the Defence Forces current overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27758/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Jack Chambers

184. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development and location for a school (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the demand for school places in this area and the urgent need for information for parents and schoolchildren in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27541/18]

Transport Support Scheme

Jack Chambers

366. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the status of the health (transport support) Bill; if there are supports in the interim for those who would benefit from the legislation but were not in receipt of the mobility allowance prior to its closure and are receiving no State supports; if consideration is being given in the proposed legislation to allow for scenarios in which a person who qualifies for the scheme but is unable to obtain a car loan from a financial lender to purchase a car could arrange for a payment through the transport support scheme to go directly to a car dealership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27668/18]

Rail Network Expansion

Jack Chambers

481. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the planned train station at Ashington and Pelletstown, Dublin 7; the precise location of the station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27560/18]

Irish Aviation Authority

Jack Chambers

228. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 511 of 29 May 2018, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there has been an effective change in the way in which the IAA is recognising written examination certificates issued by the UK authorised examiners which are held by many student pilots in training to become qualified pilots (details supplied); if he will examine the matter in view of the fact that this is causing great distress for the students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27274/18]

Home Loan Scheme

Jack Chambers

49. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the outcome of all applications to the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; the reason there is such a high refusal rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26726/18]

Housing Adaptation Grant Data

Jack Chambers

75. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing adaptations that have been carried out by local authority in each of the past five years and to date in 2018; the average wait times for houses to be assessed for adaptations; the steps he is taking to accelerate the funding provision for housing adaptations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26727/18]

Commemorative Medals

Jack Chambers

61. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the awarding of a medal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25791/18]

Medicinal Products Availability

Jack Chambers

125. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 198 of 28 March 2018, the status of the process of negotiations for the funding of the drug Translarna; the definition of a timely manner as stated in the response; if consideration will be given to engaging with the drug provider to provide information on the steps the resubmission process would involve for the drug provider; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the meeting he held with an organisation (details supplied) and the HSE occurred six months ago and that affected families are distressed by the apparent lack of progress being made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25823/18]

Recycling Policy

Jack Chambers

163. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures being introduced to reduce the level of plastic and single use plastics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25800/18]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Jack Chambers

356. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will receive the necessary level of special needs assistant, SNA, support as advised by health professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24764/18]

Pension Provisions

Jack Chambers

1247. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a matter regarding changes to pension calculations and age of eligibility for a pension (details supplied) will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25011/18]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Jack Chambers

97. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be allocated the necessary level of special needs assistants it requires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23815/18]

Emergency Departments

Jack Chambers

66. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the reason for the substantial increase in overcrowding in Connolly Hospital emergency department over the first four months of 2018 relative to the same period in 2017. [23530/18]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Jack Chambers

225. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason SNA services at a school (details supplied) have been cut for the next academic year; if this cut will be reversed in view of the fact that the service is of enormous importance to the development of children at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23100/18]

Transport Policy

Jack Chambers

277. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress he has made with the Ministers for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Housing, Planning and Local Government, Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Garda Commissioner and other relevant agencies in identifying more effective possible solutions which can assist in dealing with the use of scrambler and quad bikes; the responsibilities he has assigned to each agency; the timeframe in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23133/18]

Irish Aviation Authority

Jack Chambers

511. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Aviation Authority is no longer recognising written examination certificates issued by the UK CAA authorised examiners held by many student pilots in training to become qualified pilots (details supplied); the reason this change has occurred; if this is compliant with European Aviation Safety Agency regulations; if his attention has been drawn to the distress this matter is causing student pilots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23149/18]

Pilot Training Courses

Jack Chambers

512. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Irish Aviation Authority will continue to fully recognise all training undertaken at pilot training organisations that transfer airfield status from registered training facility to the newer EASA DTO (details supplied). [23150/18]

Telephone Support Allowance

Jack Chambers

595. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the timeframe for payment of the telephone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23184/18]

Heritage Schemes

Jack Chambers

647. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the heritage in school scheme has closed for further bookings; the steps being taken to resolve the matter; the reason an insufficient level of funding has been awarded to ensure the scheme can operate; the number of applications received, granted and refused respectively, for the scheme in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23165/18]

Disabilities Assessments

Jack Chambers

161. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed regarding a new assessment of needs process being used by the HSE by groups; the steps being taken to address the concerns; his views on whether the new process will not properly assess children for disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23025/18]

Defence Forces Reserve Strength

Jack Chambers

110. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the permitted strength by rank and unit for the Reserve Defence Forces; the effective strength of the force at the most recent date available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22593/18]

Health Services Access

Jack Chambers

337. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if adding chartered physiotherapists to the list of practitioners entitled to order X-ray examinations will be considered in regard to the transposition of an EU directive (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22050/18]

Public Sector Pay

Jack Chambers

14. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the recent report on salary scale issues in respect of post-January 2011 recruits insofar as it relates to the Defence Forces intake in that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20388/18]

Military Medals

Jack Chambers

43. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if centenary medals will be awarded to former Defence Forces members of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21815/18]

Citizenship Applications

Jack Chambers

44. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for citizenship through the foreign birth register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21733/18]

Defence Forces Strength

Jack Chambers

51. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, excluding all recruits, apprentices and cadets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21521/18]

Naval Service Data

Jack Chambers

90. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service deployments that were carried out in support of the joint task force on drug interdiction in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20863/18]

White Paper on Defence

Jack Chambers

92. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the White Paper projects that have been completed; and if project summary statements for closed projects are available. [21165/18]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Jack Chambers

96. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to examine additional recruitment measures to increase the numbers in the Defence Forces (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21320/18]

Tenant Purchase Scheme

Jack Chambers

581. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if legislative changes to a local authority housing scheme (details supplied) are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21028/18]

Defence Forces Reorganisation

Jack Chambers

1. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the 2012 restructuring of the Defence Forces will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20687/18]

Defence Forces Strength

Jack Chambers

3. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the personnel strength of the Defence Forces was lower at the end of February 2018 than at the end of February 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20688/18]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Jack Chambers

17. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to scrap or lower intelligence tests which are used to select recruits to the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20387/18]

Defence Forces Reorganisation

Jack Chambers

26. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the 2012 restructuring of the Defence Forces will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20385/18]

Defence Forces Personnel Data

Jack Chambers

27. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if an exit snapshot survey or interview has been carried out by the Defence Forces on members leaving the force; if so, the findings of the survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20386/18]

Defence Forces Strength

Jack Chambers

43. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the personnel strength of the Defence Forces was lower at the end of February 2018 than at the end of February 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20384/18]

Defence Forces Personnel Data

Jack Chambers

80. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of new recruits in the Defence Forces since 2011; and the number of those recruits who are no longer in the Defence Forces. [20390/18]

Public Sector Pensions

Jack Chambers

97. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 194 of 27 February 2018, the status of pension increases which were due to be applied shortly including arrears due to the start of the year; when this will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20257/18]

Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Administration

Jack Chambers

266. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average processing times for applications for partial capacity benefit; her views on whether the time it is taking to process such applications is discouraging persons from returning to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20301/18]

Defence Forces Personnel Data

Jack Chambers

99. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if media reports that in 2016 it cost the taxpayer €15 million to replace Defence Forces personnel that left were accurate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19817/18]

Defence Forces Personnel Data

Jack Chambers

100. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of members of the Permanent Defence Force in whole-time equivalent terms, that left the service in each of the years 2013 to 2017, for reasons other than retirement; the branch of the service of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19818/18]

Defence Forces Personnel Data

Jack Chambers

101. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the estimated savings that would be made in terms of training and recruitment if the numbers leaving the Permanent Defence Force in 2018 for reasons other than retirement were halved relative to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19819/18]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Jack Chambers

265. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if transplant patients who must take immunosuppressant medication for the rest of their lives following transplantations will be covered under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19688/18]

Hospital Charges

Jack Chambers

149. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if there is a levy (details supplied) on overnight hospital bed stays; if so, the reason the levy exists; the cost in this regard; the persons who are exempt from the levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19343/18]

Medicinal Products Supply

Jack Chambers

157. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the status of his plans to add the FreeStyle Libre blood monitoring sensor to the long-term illness or drug reimbursement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19356/18]