Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

VAT Exemptions

Seán Kyne

172. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the recent measure by the UK Government to provide mountain rescue teams with a rebate on VAT which is a way of alleviating the burden of VAT on the teams while still complying with the EU laws pertaining to VAT. [47471/14]

Grazing Rights

Seán Kyne

110. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 22 October 2014 if she has had or will have discussions with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding the farmers still suffering the effects of destocking with consideration to the difficulties remaining in rebuilding stocks. [46857/14]

Office of Government Procurement

Seán Kyne

200. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress of building a team of service procurement specialists and the proposed upskilling of public service managers in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47318/14]

External Service Delivery

Seán Kyne

201. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if each Department has provided Government with benefit driven external service delivery plans; if he will provide a list of the major offices other than Government Departments which have also submitted such plans; and if he would indicate the desired outcomes arising from the implementation of the plans. [47319/14]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Seán Kyne

212. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding single payment scheme and disadvantaged area scheme payments for the years 2010 and 2011 in respect of a person (details supplied); the amount due to be paid for each year; and when payment will issue. [46802/14]

Garda Recruitment

Seán Kyne

280. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on Garda recruitment; the number of recruits that have entered Templemore, County Tipperary in 2014; and the number that will commence training in 2015. [47316/14]

Garda Transport Expenditure

Seán Kyne

281. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the investment in Garda vehicles, the financial amount invested in 2013, 2014 and planned for 2015; the number of additional vehicles by Garda division; and if consideration has been given to acquiring and fitting out high specification vehicles which support policing as is the case in other jurisdictions. [47317/14]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Seán Kyne

361. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the plans for a new programme for managing hospital waiting lists to be piloted in 2015; if further consideration has been provided to piloting such a programme in the Saolta Hospital Group in the west in view of the fact that the concept of hospital groups was piloted in this region. [47343/14]

Cyber Security Policy

Seán Kyne

452. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has prepared a cyber security strategy to protect digital public services and the users of the services; and if there is an indicative timeframe for the implementation of the strategy's implementation. [47320/14]

Rail Services

Seán Kyne

487. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the definition of a "commuter route" as defined by Iarnród Éireann; if a customer who commutes to a city to work and purchases a yearly ticket should be classed as a commuter and if the route is classed as a commuter route; the reason the Athenry to Galway route is not defined as a commuter route similar to the Hazlehatch to Dublin and Cobh to Cork routes, both of which have considerably cheaper yearly rates than the route from Athenry to Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47060/14]

Community Involvement Scheme

Seán Kyne

502. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the community involvement scheme; the uptake of the scheme, on a county basis, since its introduction; and his future plans for the scheme. [47341/14]

Cycling Policy

Seán Kyne

503. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be a round of sustainable transport funding in 2015; and when projects will be considered for inclusion. [47342/14]

Road Projects Status

Seán Kyne

17. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the Galway city outer bypass and if he will reaffirm the commitment and support for this vital project. [46326/14]

Road Projects Status

Seán Kyne

21. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the status of the N59 - Galway to Clifden, N6 - Galway to M6 and M17-18 - Gort to Tuam road projects in County Galway. [46323/14]

Budget 2015

Seán Kyne

16. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if, notwithstanding the very welcome tax reductions being implemented in the Finance Bill including the reduction in the different universal social charge bands, the top rate of tax and the increase in the standard rate tax band, further tax reduction measures, with particular reference to further raising the point at which a person commences paying the top rate of tax, may be considered and implemented sooner than the next scheduled budget should the State's financial position continue to improve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45971/14]

Mortgage Lending

Seán Kyne

23. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance his views that the new regulations under consideration by the Central Bank of Ireland, such as a requirement to have 20% of a deposit of house price to secure a mortgage and other restrictions being considered by financial institutions, such as restricting mortgage lending to persons under 40 years of age only, overlook substantial causes of the housing and construction bubble, and the subsequent financial turmoil, which were the availability of 100%, 110% and higher mortgages and that these restrictions will hamper a person's ability to purchase a home with further consequences for the rental market and ultimately contribute to an increase in homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45970/14]

Offshore Islands

Seán Kyne

95. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of engagement he has had with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht relating to funding for community development workers on, non-Gaeltacht, off-shore islands; if he has identified sources of funding to ensure the continuation of the work performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40954/14]

Proposed Legislation

Seán Kyne

112. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress on the new foreshore legislation particularly in view of the impact on seaweed harvesting, with reference to the rights, often found in land register folios, of seaweed harvesters and the rights of those harvesting for domestic use, traditionally working in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45851/14]

School Accommodation Provision

Seán Kyne

30. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the progress of the prefab replacement programme; the number of schools that have had prefabs replaced by county; the number of schools still to be reached; and her plans and timeframe to replace the temporary structures with permanent classroom accommodation. [45268/14]

School Enrolments

Seán Kyne

38. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills with the increase in enrolments in 2015 and for the next number of years her plans to ensure additional capacity, with particular reference to Galway city and county. [45269/14]

Pension Levy

Seán Kyne

74. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if consideration is or will be given, as a mechanism for reducing taxation and giving back to taxpayers, to returning all or portions of the pension levy, which was introduced to fund job creation initiatives, particularly in the context of the improving financial and economic position of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45701/14]

Human Rights Issues

Seán Kyne

12. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the recent NGO forum on human rights which his Department hosted, and the way his Department will assist in implementing the UN's guiding principles on business and human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45058/14]

Climate Change Policy

Seán Kyne

24. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role he plays in ensuring that climate justice features in the upcoming legislation on climate change in view of the fact that it will take into account the disproportionate effects which some developing countries have experienced as a result of climate change and aside from the legislation; if other diplomatic efforts are being made to raise and tackle this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45059/14]

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme

Seán Kyne

162. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that volunteer centres across the country are to lose funding arising from the restructuring of the local development companies system which heretofore has allocated what has come to be known as the 1% funding for encouraging volunteering to the volunteer centres; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that such funding will be unintentionally lost in the transition to the new SICAP funding programme; and if he will provide this funding from the departmental budget to ensure that the volunteer centres are not negatively impacted. [45561/14]

IDA Portfolio

Seán Kyne

125. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the proposed science and technology park at a location (details supplied) in County Galway; the progress in developing this facility; if IDA Ireland or other relevant agencies in his Department have further plans and proposed visits to an industrial estate; and the infrastructural requirements to ensure the facilities are able to provide capacity for new businesses and business expansion in the west. [44333/14]

EU Regulations

Seán Kyne

134. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if financial supports are available to allow small steel fabrication businesses to carry out retraining to upskill staff in order to comply with the new European standard IS EN 1090-1, which came into operation on 1 July 2014 regarding structural steelwork; if the local enterprise offices are permitted to fund such training; and if similar protocols may be in place for all local employment offices. [44299/14]

National Educational Psychological Service Administration

Seán Kyne

424. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedure for a child to be assessed under the National Educational Psychological Service; the number of children on the waiting list for assessment; the number assessed per school year on average; the waiting list in Galway; her plans to improve the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44861/14]

Water Charges Exemptions

Seán Kyne

534. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if allowances will be provided for each parent in cases of separation and divorce in view of the sharing of parental responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45336/14]

Public Transport

Seán Kyne

588. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Bus Éireann and other public transport providers are required to meet obligations under the 2005 Disability Act, including providing wheelchair accessible travel; and the measures at the his disposal to direct compliance with such obligations particularly in view of the importance of ensuring public transport serves all of the public and with reference the particular route of Galway to Clifden. [45337/14]

Agriculture Scheme Penalties

Seán Kyne

59. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hectares a person (details supplied) was deemed to be over-claiming; the penalty that ensued; the deduction that was taken in 2014 for their 2013 single payment scheme and their 2013 disadvantaged areas scheme payment; the eligible area used for their 2014 SPS and DAS; and if a ground inspection has taken or will take place. [44617/14]

Inland Fisheries

Seán Kyne

156. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 559 of 11 November 2014, if Inland Fisheries Ireland has a protocol in place to get written consent from a landowner before entering lands to carry out works; if land registry maps are consulted in order to establish proof of ownership; and his views that it is acceptable that lands be entered onto without the establishment of ownership and without written consent. [44642/14]

Child Care Services Regulation

Seán Kyne

19. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if measures are being introduced to professionalise child care provision which would be of benefit to child care providers, in terms of personal development and recognition of skills acquired but also for ensuring a high standard of child care at facilities across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43965/14]

Early Childhood Care Education

Seán Kyne

23. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if progress has been made on introducing a second year of the early childhood care and education programme; if there is an indicative timeframe for its introduction in view of the success, as verified by research, of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43964/14]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Seán Kyne

74. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway in relation to disadvantaged areas scheme and single payment scheme. [44507/14]

JobsPlus Scheme

Seán Kyne

154. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of JobsPlus positions, as distinct from the companies which are participating, which have been taken up in counties Galway and Mayo; and if this scheme is kept under review to ensure that the widest possible number of organisations may avail of it. [44328/14]

Drainage Schemes Status

Seán Kyne

208. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the works at a location (details supplied) in County Galway. [44367/14]

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Seán Kyne

234. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 401 of 4 November 2014, if revised reference areas in maps sent to two separate shareholders (details supplied) are the reference areas that will be used for further applications to his Department. [44070/14]

Harbour Fees

Seán Kyne

238. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a new business (details supplied) being established in County Galway has not had its craft classed under Statutory Instrument No. 214 of 2012, which provides under charge no. 10 (c) that use of a harbour by small passenger boats licensed to carry up to 12 passengers should be €17 per entry, or €1150 per calendar year, payable in advance but is instead being charged the higher rates being laid out for a yacht; the reason consideration has not been given to the fact that the boat can carry 12 passengers; the appeals mechanism there may be; his views on whether this charge is anti-business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44164/14]

Health Services Funding

Seán Kyne

439. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the funding reduction to a health services provider (details supplied) in County Galway; the way this reduction will impact on front-line services; if certainty may be given regarding the 2015 allocation which it has been indicated will be further reduced, arising from the concern and anxiety that this is causing to families of persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44297/14]

Control of Dogs

Seán Kyne

525. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the dog breeds regulated under the Control of Dogs Act 1998 are legally exempt from the restrictions when being used in roles such as guide dogs for the blind; if the location of this stated exemption in the regulations is clearly highlighted; if he will provide in each of the following occurrences if these breeds are exempt from the regulations when used in the following internationally recognised roles: autism assistance, therapeutic assistance for psychological and emotional difficulties and assistance for the disabled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44296/14]

Climate Change Policy

Seán Kyne

526. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if the definition of low carbon in the Government's policy position on climate change will be included in the forthcoming Climate Bill; if the expert advisory group will have sufficient standing to independently assess, monitor and advise on climate change issues; if the Bill will reflect an understanding of the often disproportionate impact of climate change on countries in the developing world. [44298/14]

Irish Water Establishment

Seán Kyne

531. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a European Union condition, similar to the effects of the EU energy markets directives, that would require Ireland to liberalise or open up a water services market which would in turn entail the privatisation of Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44327/14]

Construction Sector Strategy

Seán Kyne

532. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set out the progress of the recommendations contained in the construction strategy launched earlier this year, particularly on account of the housing challenges facing some parts of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44366/14]

Tax Code

Seán Kyne

9. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the impact the recent changes in the tax regime for farmers will have on encouraging transfer of lands to the next generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42999/14]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Seán Kyne

81. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the disadvantaged areas and single payment schemes. [43460/14]

Industrial Relations

Seán Kyne

141. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if, following the recommendations of the Labour Court, talks have commenced between the Health Service Executive and the relevant trade union concerning the status and payment rates for sleepover duty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43457/14]

National Car Test

Seán Kyne

175. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to bring pre-1980 registered vehicles under a yearly NCT obligation; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many of these vehicles are not used on a regular basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43458/14]

Pharmacy Services

Seán Kyne

126. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if Government has a policy of examining the role played and services provided by chemists and pharmacies with a view to maximising the availability of services in the community setting which would draw on the skills set of pharmacies while also reducing pressure on other areas of the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42784/14]

First-Aid Training

Seán Kyne

138. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if his Department provides supports, financial or otherwise, to businesses, employers and community organisations to acquire training in first aid to equip staff or volunteers with first aid skills, particularly CPR and use of defibrillators, which are vital in saving lives in emergency situations and in particular in rural areas where ambulance waiting times are longer by reason of distance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42778/14]

National Monuments

Seán Kyne

232. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a decision has been made regarding a plan to develop a car park near a national monument (details supplied) in County Galway to facilitate the tourists visiting the site, if discussions are ongoing with a landowner pertaining to a right of way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43299/14]