Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Health Services Provision

Willie Penrose

142. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to roll out a national scheme to allow children whot do not need medical or surgical management to be examined in the community by an optometrist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22962/18]

Health Services Provision

Willie Penrose

143. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to roll out the award-winning Sligo cataract scheme across the country with optometrists and hospital eye departments working together, which would significantly reduce the waiting time of 18 months which many persons with cataracts have to endure between being referred and having the surgery to restore their sight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22963/18]

Schools Refurbishment

Willie Penrose

97. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school refurbishment (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22867/18]

Road Improvement Schemes

Willie Penrose

548. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if, in the context of the allocation of moneys by his Department for accommodation roads under the road improvement scheme, he will ring-fence additional moneys and special allocations to offshore islands, which incur additional costs to carry out such works with plant materials and so on and, further, have significantly more accommodation roads to repair due to location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22719/18]

Public Sector Pay

Willie Penrose

18. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the content of the report on pay equalisation as specified in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017; the actions he will take from the report; his plans for process to pay and equalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21712/18]

Ministerial Meetings

Willie Penrose

20. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his meeting with Mr. Klaus Regling, Managing Director of the European Stability Mechanism on 8 May 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21376/18]

Community Banking

Willie Penrose

35. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance when the public banking report compiled by his Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21377/18]

Ministerial Meetings

Willie Penrose

62. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had discussions with the Chinese ambassador to Ireland; if so, the nature of the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21696/18]

Stamp Duty

Willie Penrose

72. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if approval from the European Commission to levy a lower rate of stamp duty has been obtained (details supplied); the way in which farmers who have recently purchased lands for the purposes of the consolidation will be treated in terms of paying the lower rate of stamp duty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21646/18]

Garda Transport Data

Willie Penrose

129. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda community relations vans that came into the fleet in each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of community relations vans that were withdrawn from the fleet in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21695/18]

Enterprise Ireland Staff

Willie Penrose

132. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of the additional 18 staff to deal with Brexit that have been filled by Enterprise Ireland to date; the timeline for recruiting the full number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21697/18]

Public Transport Fares

Willie Penrose

187. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review Bus Éireann fare costs in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21698/18]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Willie Penrose

211. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a review of an application for carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21647/18]

Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Appeals

Willie Penrose

212. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a review of an application for partial capacity benefit by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21648/18]

Household Benefits Scheme

Willie Penrose

214. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of increasing the monthly electricity allowance and the natural gas allowance by €10 per month per applicant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21699/18]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Willie Penrose

238. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a new round of applications will open for positions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21380/18]

Immigrant Investor Programme Eligibility

Willie Penrose

289. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the criteria applicable for receipt of endowments under the immigrant investor programme; if there is a specific criteria which indicates that the said endowment has to be applied to a capital programme rather than to the running costs whereby a project that is already in existence for the past 15 years requires an endowment will continue to be sustainable subsequent to the said funding being invested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20823/18]

Immigrant Investor Programme Eligibility

Willie Penrose

290. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if it is possible for the beneficiaries of the endowment to meet with the evaluation committee in the context in which an application under the immigrant investment programme is refused to ascertain the criteria involved in the programme which would enable them to submit a new or fresh application under the programme. [20824/18]

CLÁR Programme

Willie Penrose

522. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding available for the CLÁR Programme in 2018; the number of CLÁR projects that have been applied for by the local authorities in counties Westmeath and Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21129/18]

Hospital Services

Willie Penrose

231. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be admitted to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20749/18]

Home Help Service Provision

Willie Penrose

234. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that a person (details supplied) receives home help hours; if funding will be provided to the HSE to ensure same is funded without future delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20789/18]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Willie Penrose

290. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) will be determined; if same can be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20747/18]

Home Loan Scheme

Willie Penrose

313. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons that have applied to Westmeath County Council for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan; the number approved; the eligibility criteria; if they are uniformly applied across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20788/18]

National Concert Hall

Willie Penrose

35. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the additional facilities that may be required at the National Concert Hall, NCH, if the recommendations of the Boaden report in respect of the future of the National Symphony Orchestra is implemented; the way in which the funding will be provided to facilitate the NCH in enabling such a transfer to take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20005/18]

Teacher Training Places

Willie Penrose

174. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if adequate plans will be provided for the forthcoming academic year for young students (details supplied) who wish to undertake courses in primary school teaching, and in particular students who had the required minimum points to pursue these courses in 2017 to 2018 but were denied the opportunity due to a lack of places being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20073/18]

Local Authority Housing Funding

Willie Penrose

491. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be made available to Westmeath County Council to purchase houses to enable persons that have lived in such houses as rented accommodation and which are now being disposed of by financial institutions and in which the purchase thereof would prevent homeless situations arising; if so, the criteria for making such funding available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20125/18]

JobPath Programme

Willie Penrose

11. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review the JobPath programme. [19220/18]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Willie Penrose

13. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the pension concerns of community employment supervisors. [19223/18]

Legislative Process

Willie Penrose

21. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding progressing amendments on Committee Stage of the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19219/18]

Labour Activation Measures

Willie Penrose

32. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the additional number of persons expected to access community employment and Tús schemes following the rule change for JobPath that comes into effect on 1 June 2018; if additional resources will be made available in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19221/18]

Paternity Leave

Willie Penrose

34. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to expand the provision of paternity leave and paid parental leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19222/18]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Willie Penrose

195. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken by his Department and/or the HSE to replace the dermatologist in the midlands area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19454/18]

Land Parcel Identification System

Willie Penrose

218. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the person or body that has the contract for carrying out the mapping for his Department by way of land parcel identification system, LPIS; when the contract was awarded; the number of persons involved in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19531/18]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie Penrose

267. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the nature and type of benefits that are available to a person who works two full-time days constituting 16 hours of employment; the length of time the person would have to work to be in a position to secure benefits if they were to fall ill or to become unemployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19530/18]

Community Banking

Willie Penrose

62. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the public banking investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18910/18]

Herd Data

Willie Penrose

144. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application for change of herd ownership by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19303/18]

Tillage Sector

Willie Penrose

26. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the ongoing reduction in land being allocated for tillage crops and especially cereals over the past five years; his plans to offer support and advice to tillage farmers who have sustained significant losses in terms of crop yield and consequently income in that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18312/18]

Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme

Willie Penrose

34. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when low interest rate credit will be available to farmers who have incurred significant additional feed costs for their animals as a result of the long winter; if he has obtained a commitment from the commercial banks that they will respond positively to the cash flow problems being experienced on farms arising from the long winter and fodder crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18311/18]

Basic Payment Scheme Administration

Willie Penrose

36. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that all farmers will be able to comply with the 100% online application for the basic payment scheme in the context of the variation of broadband coverage across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18310/18]

Food Exports to China

Willie Penrose

37. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the likely impact of the opening of the Chinese market for the beef trade, in particular from a price perspective for beef producers; the strategy of Bord Bia to ensure that Irish beef is promoted as a premium product in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18309/18]

Common Agricultural Policy Subsidies

Willie Penrose

40. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Commissioner Oettinger plans to outline a 6% cut in the CAP budget which would specifically apply to Pillar 1 payments; if so, the steps and policies he plans to implement to mitigate the extent of such a proposal in the case of the farming sectors that are highly dependent upon CAP payments as their primary source of income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18308/18]

Student Support Schemes

Willie Penrose

104. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if grant aid is available for bar and management courses which are conducted at institutes of technology leading to a diploma in same; if there is assistance or grant aid available pursuant to the tourism and recreational sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18378/18]

Post Office Network

Willie Penrose

29. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is pursuing to protect and enhance rural post offices; the responsibilities he has in this area; the action he has planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8508/18]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Willie Penrose

162. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason he has failed to meet personally with the unions representing community employment scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors; the reason the high level forum set up under the Lansdowne Road agreement has failed to meet as mandated to do so with a view to implementing the thrust of the Labour Court recommendation made in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18095/18]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Willie Penrose

163. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will publish the reports proposed and finalised by his Department in November 2017 dealing with the potential costs of implementing the claim for pension provision for community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors in line with the 2008 Labour Court recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18096/18]

State Examinations Commission

Willie Penrose

227. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the level of wages paid to cleaning personnel and others working in the State examinations centre of his Department will be expedited; if he is satisfied that each employee in the sector is paid at least the minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17743/18]

State Examinations Commission

Willie Penrose

228. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason cleaners in the State examinations centre in his Department are only paid in respect of overtime at the rate of 1.5 times the overtime rate at the first point of the scale, as opposed to double the rate of pay which is applicable to other personnel who are paid appropriately at the relevant point of the scale they are on at that stage; and if this rate can be applied to cleaners and other personnel in the State examinations centre. [17744/18]

Departmental Funding

Willie Penrose

327. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of grant aid or funding that is available for voluntary or community groups that wish to establish a community and-or sports hall in their area; the level of funding available to enable such a project to proceed to a successful conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17349/18]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Willie Penrose

335. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position on a review of an application for carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17348/18]

Financial Services Regulation

Willie Penrose

253. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he will liaise with the Central Bank to ensure that appropriate legislation is brought forward in order to compel vulture funds upon acquiring loan books from financial institutions to inform mortgage holders of the price paid for each loan and in the alternative the mortgage holder would be given a period of time to purchase or discharge the loan for the amount proposed to be paid for same by the vulture fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15892/18]