Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Arts Funding

Joan Burton

719. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to develop musical education and instruments available to young persons and the general population through facilitating schools, youth groups and libraries in enhancing their music resources and the provision of access to musical training and instruments. [19729/17]

Arts Promotion

Joan Burton

720. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will examine proposals to facilitate use of vacant retail premises by exhibiting artists based on successful schemes such as one (details supplied) in County Galway. [19730/17]

Heritage Promotion

Joan Burton

721. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will examine a nationwide plan for the development of village design statements that would ensure all future planning and development takes full cognisance of historic character and protects the character and heritage of villages. [19731/17]

Arts Funding

Joan Burton

722. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to co-operate with the Minister for Health to develop an arts and health strategy across acute and children’s hospitals and across the community health sector; and the innovative approaches which are being considered to use the arts as a means to promote well-being across society. [19733/17]

Arts Funding

Joan Burton

723. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps she is taking with her Government colleagues to systematically address social, geographic and economic barriers to full participation in the artistic and cultural life of the country, particularly for children and young persons. [19734/17]

Arts in Education Charter

Joan Burton

724. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to ensure the better integration of the arts into education and broadening the focus on science, technology, engineering and maths into science, technology, engineering, arts and maths; her further plans to expand the ambition and resourcing of the arts in education charter; and her further plans to work with the Department of Education and Skills to enhance the position of arts subjects within the curriculum at primary and secondary level. [19735/17]

Cultural Policy

Joan Burton

725. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to begin preparation of a global arts forum similar to the structure of the Global Economic Forum. [19736/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

726. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the role she will have in the Government’s post-Brexit strategy in view of her responsibility for regional affairs and the potential negative impact of Brexit on the Border area; if there is a specific unit in her Department to deal with the impact of Brexit on the Border region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19737/17]

Departmental Budgets

Joan Burton

727. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to ensure that the €50 million spent in 2016 on commemoration will be retained in the arts budget for 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19738/17]

Arts Promotion

Joan Burton

728. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will appoint an expert panel of artists and cultural managers to advise her as proposed by an organisation (details supplied) in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19739/17]

Cultural Policy

Joan Burton

729. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on proposals that would mandate all local authorities to publish individual arts plans and cultural strategies and for local authority arts spending to be mandatory and ring-fenced on an annual basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19740/17]

Arts Funding

Joan Burton

748. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding given to Aosdána in the past six years and in 2017 to date; the number of members there have been over the same periods; the total amount of financial support given over the same period; the total cost in 2017 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20349/17]

Western Development Commission Membership

Joan Burton

749. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the new board of the Western Development Commission is to be appointed in view of the fact it has been vacant since 20 February 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20350/17]

Western Development Commission Remit

Joan Burton

750. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress which has been made on the commitment in the programme for Government in developing an enhanced role for the Western Development Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20351/17]

Western Development Commission Remit

Joan Burton

751. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the Atlantic economic corridor and the role the Western Development Commission will play in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20352/17]

Post Office Network

Joan Burton

754. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps she has undertaken to secure the rural post office network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20527/17]

Cultural Policy

Joan Burton

755. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has engaged with stakeholders in the music industry in terms of the establishment of a music industry task force with wide representation and which would examine a range of issues including the impact of intellectual property and copyright legislation and enforcement in both the music and technology industries, supports for the business of music education and a dedicated office similar to the Irish Film Board for the music sector. [20528/17]

Banking Sector

Joan Burton

756. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the investigation by her Department with regard to the establishment of a public banking system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20529/17]

Bus Services

Joan Burton

1302. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the public bus service is a vital piece of infrastructure in rural communities; his plans to support such services; if he will ensure there is an adequate and secure level of public transport provision in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20526/17]

Copyright Legislation Review

Joan Burton

1395. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will undertake a full review of the rights of artists here including a thorough examination of existing copyright laws and the current Competition Act. [19727/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Joan Burton

1408. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 348 of April 2017, the number of staff hired and to be hired with the additional €3 million secured for her Department in respect of pay in budget 2017, in tabular form and being targeted specifically to assist in the response to the evolving Brexit scenario; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19490/17]

Northern Ireland

Joan Burton

35. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he had with Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Mr. James Brokenshire, about the possibility of the reintroduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland. [16734/17]

Schools Building Contractors

Joan Burton

122. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received the supplementary tender report regarding a school (details supplied); if final approval has now issued to sign contracts for construction of the new school; when construction will commence; and the construction timetable. [18363/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Joan Burton

123. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the precise steps that have been taken to secure accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare, in view of the fact that it is due to open in 2019. [18364/17]

School Funding

Joan Burton

124. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in considering a request for capital funding for a school (details supplied); when the school authorities will receive a substantive response to their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18365/17]

Schools Building Projects

Joan Burton

125. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the design team for a school (details supplied) have submitted the stage 2b submission including review arising from changes in public work contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18366/17]

Schools Building Projects

Joan Burton

126. 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); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18367/17]

School Patronage

Joan Burton

172. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a new patron for the new primary school planned for Dún Laoghaire to open in September 2017 will be announced; the school planning area it is designated for; the engagement his Department has had with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on the issue; if his Department has a specific site identified for the new school; if temporary accommodation will be required in the first instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18629/17]

Flood Relief Schemes Status

Joan Burton

242. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason for the delay in the 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. [18362/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

9. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the details of his approach to negotiations to the forthcoming discussions with fellow EU heads of government in view of the fact that Article 50 has been triggered by the United Kingdom to withdraw from the EU. [16732/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

12. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the further discussion he had with the European chief negotiator for Brexit, Mr. Barnier; and if he sought specific reference for the island of Ireland in the EU 27 negotiating position. [16733/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

13. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he has had further discussions with Mr. Barnier, European chief negotiator for Brexit; and if he has sought specific reference for the island of Ireland in the EU 27 negotiating position. [17712/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

14. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the discussions he had with the British Government since its letter to EU Council President, Mr. Donald Tusk, invoking Article 50 of the European Union treaties. [16735/17]

Teachers' Professional Development

Joan Burton

38. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number and total funding of education centres in each of the past five years; the current overall budget for such centres; his plans to utilise such centres as a resource to support teacher CPD in view of the fact the policy on such CPD is developed by the Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16508/17]

School Staff

Joan Burton

53. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way his Department supports the health and well-being of school staff; the details of the entitlement of such staff in respect of counselling and similar employee supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16507/17]

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Joan Burton

68. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the discussions he has had with Ministers in respect of the redress scheme; if he has spoken to the chief executive officer of Caranua; the amount that remains in Caranua funds for distribution to persons entitled to support from funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16516/17]

Third Level Funding

Joan Burton

73. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for finalising decisions on third level funding and implications for student fees arising out of the Cassells report; his plans with regard to the third level registration fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16506/17]

Legislative Programme

Joan Burton

75. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the Technological Universities Bill 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16509/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

95. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the said Brexit unit; the cost to date; and the anticipated cost. [17009/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

96. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the number of staff deployed full time in his Department in respect of Brexit; and if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit. [17025/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

113. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in her Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the said Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17006/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

114. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff deployed full time in her Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17022/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

132. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17002/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

133. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff deployed full time in his Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17018/17]

International Summits

Joan Burton

135. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy on attendance at and participation in the OECD's annual international summit on the teaching profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16836/17]

Teacher Exchange Scheme

Joan Burton

136. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of his Department's work on setting up a relocation panel for permanent primary school teachers who need to relocate but do not wish to resign from their posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16837/17]

English Language Training Organisations

Joan Burton

137. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of each Accreditation and Co-ordination of English Language Services, ACELS, and a company's (details supplied) schools capacity that is left empty to ensure they have enough capacity to honour the ACELS and the company's learner protection scheme should the need arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16838/17]

Language Schools

Joan Burton

138. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his role in the regulation of a company (details supplied), in particular the company's leaner protection scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16839/17]

Proposed Legislation

Joan Burton

139. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the implementation of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 in particular his Department's engagement with Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, regarding the implementation schedule for the International Education Mark, IEM, and their recruitment of inspectors for the IEM; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16840/17]

Apprenticeship Data

Joan Burton

140. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the uptake in the number of apprenticeships by females; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16841/17]