Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Joan Burton

19. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to Canada on 3 May 2017. [21949/17]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Joan Burton

8. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when he last spoke to Prime Minister May; the issues that were discussed; and if the Assembly formation in Northern Ireland was discussed. [23020/17]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joan Burton

17. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht last met. [20444/17]

Forensic Science Ireland Laboratory

Joan Burton

106. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of contractors that submitted tenders for the construction of the new State forensic laboratory at Backweston, Celbridge, County Kildare, by the closing date of 8 May 2017; when she expects the evaluation of the tenders to be completed; the expected date for commencement of construction and completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22796/17]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Joan Burton

367. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health if he will include phase 3C of Naas General Hospital in his priorities under the mid-term review of the capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22800/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Joan Burton

368. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health if he will prioritise funding under the waiting list action plan for outpatient gynaecological appointments in view of the fact that to date in 2017 the waiting list is a year at the Coombe hospital and in view of the fact that such appointments can detect potential cancers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22801/17]

Road Projects Contracts

Joan Burton

540. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of contractors that submitted tenders for the monitoring of the M7 bypass upgrade, Oberstown interchange and Sallins bypass construction works in County Kildare by the closing date of 8 May 2017; when he expects the evaluation of tenders to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22797/17]

Rail Services Provision

Joan Burton

541. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will include the electrification of the Maynooth and Kildare rail lines as outlined in the DART expansion programme in his priorities under the mid-term review of the capital plan currently under way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22799/17]

Manufacturing Sector

Joan Burton

585. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress she has made in securing a replacement manufacturing industry for a site (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22798/17]

Disability Allowance Applications

Joan Burton

144. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in awarding a disability allowance to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22445/17]

European Council Meetings

Joan Burton

19. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the most recent European Council meeting. [20445/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Joan Burton

126. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the new primary school for Dublin south city, in which patronage has been awarded to Educate Together, will be located at Harcourt Terrace; the status of the building plans for the school intended for Harcourt Terrace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22301/17]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joan Burton

4. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Regional and Rural Affairs last met. [20443/17]

Official Engagements

Joan Burton

7. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the President of Croatia on 4 April 2017. [18007/17]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joan Burton

9. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform last met. [18008/17]

Rural Transport Services

Joan Burton

644. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proposals his Department is working on in conjunction with the NTA and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to deliver on action points 250 to 254 of the Action Plan for Rural Development to work with rural communities to assess and implement improvements to existing rural transport routes and develop new rural transport routes as necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19860/17]

Western Development Commission

Joan Burton

155. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on whether the full potential of the Western Development Commission has been harnessed in the past and is being harnessed at present; her plans to provide supports to fully develop the commission's potential; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20345/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Joan Burton

160. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when construction will commence on a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20967/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Joan Burton

161. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress KWETB has made in securing accommodation for a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that it is due to open in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20968/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Joan Burton

162. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the design team for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare has submitted the stage 2b submission, including a review arising from changes in public work contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20969/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Joan Burton

163. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received the tender documents and stage 2b documentation for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20970/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Joan Burton

164. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when tender documents will be prepared for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in view of the fact that planning permission for the new school was granted on 21 April 2017; the timeframe for completing the project; the expected opening date for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20971/17]

Schools Building Projects

Joan Burton

165. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a design team has been appointed for the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if so, the progress to date with the project; the details of the extension involved; when construction is likely to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20973/17]

Schools Building Contractors

Joan Burton

166. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the letter of acceptance has issued to the successful contractor for the Maynooth education campus; when contracts will be signed; when construction will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20975/17]

National Monuments

Joan Burton

210. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will review the Phase 2 restoration works to Maynooth Castle, County Kildare, which included the provision of a roof on the keep of the castle and an auditorium, with a view to promoting Maynooth Castle as a tourist attraction and in view of the promotion of Ireland's Ancient East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20974/17]

Flood Relief Schemes Status

Joan Burton

213. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason for the delay in the Office of Public Works, OPW, formally approving the lower Morrell river flood relief scheme and the funding of same in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20966/17]

Hospital Services

Joan Burton

236. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the capital funding for the new endoscopy unit under the review of the capital plan following his meeting in April 2017 with management from Naas General Hospital, County Kildare and the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group in connection with funding for the new endoscopy unit at the hospital. [20976/17]

Road Projects

Joan Burton

314. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the necessity to construct a new vehicular bridge over the River Liffey in Celbridge, County Kildare; if he will provide a commitment to Kildare County Council in regard to formulating a plan to progress the bridge to construction, including route selection, environmental and archaeological impacts, public consultation and construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20972/17]

EU Meetings

Joan Burton

1. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with Chancellor Merkel on 6 April 2017. [17713/17]

Northern Ireland

Joan Burton

11. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit last met. [19865/17]

Arts Funding

Joan Burton

42. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on the role of Aosdána in recognising and supporting Irish artists; if she plans to limit and diminish the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20438/17]

Cultural Policy

Joan Burton

50. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to develop a national cultural strategy up to 2025. [19861/17]

Departmental Correspondence

Joan Burton

62. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has received correspondence from a group (details supplied) regarding the sale of Luggala Estate, County Wicklow, the adjoining lands of the estate and its future use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19858/17]

Rural Development Plan

Joan Burton

75. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way her Department proposes to oversee and monitor the implementation of actions to support the post office network arising out of the report of the post office renewal board and the post office hub working group as outlined in point 20 of the Action Plan for Rural Development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19862/17]

Educational Disadvantage

Joan Burton

389. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all DEIS band 1 primary schools are allocated one home school liaison officer, HSCL, each; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that two DEIS band 1 schools (details supplied) at present share a home school liaison officer; his plans to ensure they are allocated a HSCL each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20584/17]

Archival Material

Joan Burton

410. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if supports are in place for the development and protection of county archive services to preserve local cultural patrimony. [19732/17]

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Expenditure

Joan Burton

411. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the investment of €37.5 million, as outlined in point 50 of the Action Plan for Rural Development, to implement the social inclusion and community activation programme is in addition to the funds previously committed by the Department of Social Protection to the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19742/17]

Action Plan for Rural Development

Joan Burton

412. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline his plans to review planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial properties in cities, towns and villages, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground floor premises, into residential units without going through the planning process as outlined in point 6 of the Action Plan for Rural Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19744/17]

Flood Risk Insurance Cover Provision

Joan Burton

658. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans, in conjunction with the OPW and the Department of Finance, to strengthen the engagement with the insurance industry to improve the availability of flood insurance cover, in view of the State's ongoing investment in flood defence schemes as per point 70 in the Action Plan for Rural Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19741/17]

Departmental Funding

Joan Burton

708. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to carry over funding for the 1916 commemoration to the general arts, culture and film programme to 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19717/17]

Arts Funding

Joan Burton

709. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to commit to the long-term goal of increasing arts funding to the European average of 0.6% of GDP. [19718/17]

Arts Funding

Joan Burton

710. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to increase funding in the arts over the lifetime of the Government; and her views on whether funding for the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board should be doubled. [19719/17]

Arts Funding

Joan Burton

711. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to create an arts capital fund modelled after the sports capital fund to ensure better long-term funding for the arts. [19720/17]

Social Welfare Code

Joan Burton

712. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will liaise with the Minister for Social Protection to examine the supports for working artists in the social welfare system; and if she will relax activation rules for working artists to allow them to support themselves as they produce art and cultural pieces. [19721/17]

World Heritage Sites

Joan Burton

713. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to pursue more applications for UNESCO world heritage status for national landmarks (details supplied). [19722/17]

School Admissions

Joan Burton

714. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to co-operate with the Minister for Education and Skills to ensure that parents can access second level education through Irish, especially in areas with proven demand for Gaelscoileanna. [19723/17]

Gaeltacht Policy

Joan Burton

715. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will provide additional funding to Gaeltacht areas to encourage greater use of the Irish language and better economic prospects for those living in those areas. [19724/17]

Arts Funding

Joan Burton

716. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to ensure arts funding is used to ensure minority and new voices are heard as part of the cultural output. [19725/17]

Creative Ireland Programme

Joan Burton

717. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to support the development of the creative industries sector; if she has reviewed the report from the previous Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on the hearings in respect of examining the potential for job creation, innovation and balanced economic development in the creative economy; and if she will implement the recommendations of the report in tandem with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. [19726/17]

Arts in Education Charter

Joan Burton

718. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has liaised with the Minister for Education and Skills on the development of contemporary art education at primary and secondary level in schools. [19728/17]