Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Brian Walsh

85. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an appeal under the jobseeker's allowance scheme will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44705/15]

School Enrolments

Brian Walsh

543. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider an appeal on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Galway regarding a school placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45246/15]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Brian Walsh

531. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review a decision by Student Universal Support Ireland to refuse an application for a grant from a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44019/15]

Pension Provisions

Brian Walsh

536. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application by a teacher (details supplied) for retirement pension and lump sum can be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44068/15]

Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage

Brian Walsh

172. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will include certain medications (details supplied) in the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40953/15]

Disability Allowance Applications

Brian Walsh

154. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an application for disability allowance will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40432/15]

Direct Provision Expenditure

Brian Walsh

325. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amounts paid to companies or persons running direct provision centres in each year since the system was introduced in 1999 by recipient and by direct provision centre. [40282/15]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Brian Walsh

47. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an appeal in respect of an invalidity pension will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39799/15]

Direct Provision System

Brian Walsh

119. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for the implementation of recommendations arising from the recent working group report on the direct provision system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39800/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Brian Walsh

543. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the initiatives and funds available to local authorities in County Galway to develop social housing; if there is a budget available for these local authorities to deliver their own social housing stock, as opposed to engaging voluntary housing organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39416/15]

Medical Card Applications

Brian Walsh

654. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the specific reasons an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Galway was refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37312/15]

Road Improvement Schemes

Brian Walsh

1173. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current position regarding the R336 Bearna to Scríb road project in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37743/15]

Office of Public Works Expenditure

Brian Walsh

155. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent by the Office of Public Works on private security; pest control; and other services, relating to the maintenance of the 139 Garda Síochána stations that have closed since 2011. [37030/15]

Hospital Procedures

Brian Walsh

438. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of operations or procedures cancelled, by hospital; by speciality, during each of the past five years. [36151/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Brian Walsh

542. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on outpatient waiting lists for Mayo General Hospital, by the specialities for which they are waiting, in each case stating the number of patients who have been waiting more than one year; two years; and three years [35983/15]

Health Insurance Company Payments

Brian Walsh

543. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the amount currently owed to acute hospitals by private health insurance companies pending the submission of documentation by hospital consultants required for payment to be processed, by hospital. [35984/15]

Health Services Data

Brian Walsh

544. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have availed of addiction services in each Local Health Office area, by addiction service, in 2013; and in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35985/15]

General Medical Services Scheme Payments

Brian Walsh

545. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to medical doctors under the Medical Card and General Medical Services Schemes by the Health Service Executive in 2014; citing, in tabular form, the names of the top 100 recipients; and the amounts paid to each individual or company. [35986/15]

Basic Payment Scheme Applications

Brian Walsh

100. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application under the areas of natural constraint scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35196/15]

Medical Card Applications

Brian Walsh

248. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if an application for a medical card will be reviewed for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35349/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brian Walsh

394. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on works to be carried out at a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35581/15]

Agriculture Scheme Applications

Brian Walsh

372. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an application from a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the area of natural constraints scheme for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34267/15]

Ambulance Service Response Times

Brian Walsh

138. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with ambulance response times in the Connemara area of County Galway; his plans to provide additional resources to improve these times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33563/15]

School Completion Programme

Brian Walsh

396. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the report of a review by the Economic and Social Research Institute on the school completion programme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33195/15]

School Completion Programme

Brian Walsh

397. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will consider ring-fencing funding for use under the school completion programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33196/15]

School Completion Programme

Brian Walsh

398. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set down the number of persons employed nationally under the school completion programme, the type of contracts that they are employed under, and the length of their contracts. [33197/15]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Brian Walsh

238. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31543/15]

Pension Provisions

Brian Walsh

413. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Galway can be considered for pension entitlements based on post 1 July 2013 salary rates; his plans to extend or eliminate the retirement grace period date for pensions of 30 June 2016 in order to achieve pension parity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31055/15]

Health Services Provision

Brian Walsh

1009. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health to indicate when funding will be approved for orthotic footwear for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; his plans to introduce measures to alleviate the waiting period for funding and thus improve the availability of orthotic footwear for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31450/15]

School Transport Provision

Brian Walsh

1194. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason school transport assistance was cancelled in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Galway; the eligibility criteria associated with the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30418/15]

School Accommodation Provision

Brian Walsh

1197. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a primary school (details supplied) in County Galway will be provided with resources to construct a special-needs education room; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30451/15]

Building Regulations Application

Brian Walsh

1384. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the review of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 Statutory Instrument No. 9 of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30452/15]

Employment Investment Incentive Scheme

Brian Walsh

126. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update in relation to the provision of approval from the European Commission in relation to the extension of the employment and investment incentive to include the management and operation of nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29985/15]

National Council for Special Education

Brian Walsh

693. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the provision of special needs assistants for a school (details supplied) for the new school term commencing in September 2015, given that two new classes are starting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30337/15]

Health Services Staff

Brian Walsh

188. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health his plans to amend the Medical Practitioners Acts 2007 to 2011 to allow non-national doctors to access specialist training, as failure to do so is likely to result in an exodus of such clinicians from Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29242/15]

Medicinal Products Availability

Brian Walsh

547. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if the LINX Reflux Management System is available to patients for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, as an alternative to the Nissen fundoplication method; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28463/15]

Medicinal Products Availability

Brian Walsh

548. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if any cost-benefit analysis has been carried out regarding the LINX Reflux Management System vis-à-vis the Nissen Fundoplication Method for the treatment of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease; his Department's position in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28464/15]

Hospitals Data

Brian Walsh

553. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the amounts paid to private companies for pest control services by the Health Service Executive, by acute hospitals, in 2014. [28471/15]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Brian Walsh

838. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the regime of charges payable by haulage firms, to address competitive disadvantage vis-à-vis operators in the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28693/15]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Brian Walsh

932. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on cross-Border disparity in charges payable by haulage firms, which are placing Irish operators at a disadvantage that may result in job losses; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28692/15]

National Car Test

Brian Walsh

941. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an exemption from a commercial vehicle DOE test is applicable in a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28966/15]

Commercial Rates Calculations

Brian Walsh

90. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to recent representations from the Vintners Federation of Ireland, if he will consider the introduction of a rates system based on trading data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26729/15]

Medicinal Products Disposal

Brian Walsh

468. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce guidelines for pharmacies to accept returns of unwanted or unused medicines, in order to ensure their safe disposal and to promote this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26285/15]

EU Directives

Brian Walsh

223. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Finance his views on the European Union bank recovery and resolution directive, or bail-in directive; and the implications he foresees for Ireland, Irish banks, and bondholders after January 2016. [24484/15]

Capital Allowances

Brian Walsh

235. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Finance the range of incentives available in respect of the development and operation of nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24645/15]

School Staff

Brian Walsh

556. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to the re-instatement of a secondary school teacher at a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24947/15]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments

Brian Walsh

935. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a payment under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has not yet been made in respect of a person (details supplied) in Galway city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23715/15]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Brian Walsh

177. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an application for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21460/15]

Educational Disadvantage

Brian Walsh

962. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to lower the enrolment threshold for an administrative principal in Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools 2 in urban areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21706/15]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Brian Walsh

963. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider the allocation of an additional alleviation post in respect of a primary school (details supplied) in County Galway in view of the increase in enrolment at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21707/15]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Brian Walsh

979. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on an appeal for a student grant by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22015/15]

Taxi Regulations

Brian Walsh

1184. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to amend legislation to allow for the retrospective transfer of a taxi licence from one party to another in circumstances where the death occurred of the licence holder before special provisions were made in section 15 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, effective from 6 April 2014, and after the publication of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011, which recommended the introduction of a licence transfer scheme, in view of the fact this would apply to a very small number of cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22382/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brian Walsh

803. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the tendering process in respect of a school building project (details supplied) in County Galway will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19925/15]

Water Charges Exemptions

Brian Walsh

955. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person (details supplied) in County Galway is liable for the full amount of the water services bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20279/15]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Brian Walsh

69. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal in respect of a disability allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19441/15]

Property Tax Assessments

Brian Walsh

135. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of a lump sum payment recently made for local property tax in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the years for which this amount applied; and the amount relating to each of those years. [19593/15]

Departmental Funding

Brian Walsh

220. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding or supports will be provided by his Department in respect of a project (details supplied) that has considerable economic potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19786/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Brian Walsh

338. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason a surgical procedure is not being facilitated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19490/15]

Hospital Procedures

Brian Walsh

364. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have undergone procedures for morbid obesity, including gastric reduction, in public hospitals in each of the past ten years; and the total cost of these procedures in each year. [19640/15]

Taxi Regulations

Brian Walsh

541. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to accede to the request of the taxi industry to allow branding currently applied to taxi doors to be replaced by magnetic signage, that may be removed when taxis are not in public use. [19720/15]

Road Safety Strategy

Brian Walsh

225. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the status of the Road Safety Strategy 2013-20 and, specifically, the consultation process in relation to action 105; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18050/15]

Property Tax Exemptions

Brian Walsh

160. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Finance if an application for exemption from local property tax in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17676/15]

Private Rented Accommodation Evictions

Brian Walsh

263. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of recent accounts of an ordeal in County Kildare, if she will consider introducing a code of conduct in respect of the repossession of properties by receivers or other parties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17590/15]

Ambulance Service Provision

Brian Walsh

346. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the total amount currently owed by the Health Service Executive or National Ambulance Service to fire service authorities, in respect of ambulance assist calls, with a breakdown of this figure according to the locality of the fire service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17582/15]

Ambulance Service Provision

Brian Walsh

357. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide clarification in relation to the role of fire services in ambulance assist calls, by publishing national guidelines in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17646/15]

Pension Provisions

Brian Walsh

64. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Finance if provision will be made to allow a person (details supplied) in County Galway to draw down that person's pension in a defined benefit fund as an approved retirement fund; if legislation will be introduced to afford this flexibility in similar cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17029/15]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme

Brian Walsh

175. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application under the disadvantaged areas scheme will be reviewed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16424/15]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Brian Walsh

245. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a final decision on an application for a domiciliary care allowance will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15317/15]

Disability Allowance Applications

Brian Walsh

246. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for a disability allowance will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15318/15]

Medical Card Eligibility

Brian Walsh

469. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason a full medical card was replaced by a general practitioner visit card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15416/15]

Medical Card Eligibility

Brian Walsh

506. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason a full medical card was replaced with a general practitioner visit card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if the person is entitled to a long-term illness card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15580/15]

Television Licence Fee Payments

Brian Walsh

677. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a waiver of the television licence fee and deferral of legal proceedings will be considered in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if payment plans will be arranged in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15415/15]

Driver Licences

Brian Walsh

696. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an Australian driving licence can be exchanged under a mutual exchange agreement, notwithstanding the fact that it was obtained on the merits of the holder having a United States of America licence in Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15639/15]

Driver Licences

Brian Walsh

697. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason that no mutual recognition agreement in relation to driving licences is in place with the United States of America; his plans to pursue such an agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15640/15]

Tax Exemptions

Brian Walsh

180. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 70 of 26 March 2015 regarding the single person child carer tax credit, his plans to address the difficulties that arise for the secondary claimant when the primary claimant gets married, in order to substitute the income lost for the secondary claimant, who loses the tax credit although the circumstances remain the same for the secondary claimant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14808/15]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Brian Walsh

455. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason an employee of an organisation (details supplied) in County Galway has not received twilight premium-time payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13905/15]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Brian Walsh

456. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason an employee of an organisation (details supplied) in County Galway has not received twilight premium-time payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13906/15]

Hospital Appointments Administration

Brian Walsh

483. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will make the necessary appointment at Galway University Hospital to carry out a procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14087/15]

Departmental Funding

Brian Walsh

592. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the level of funding from his Department that has been provided to the Irish Guide Dog Association in each of the past four years in respect of the assistance dogs scheme for children with autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14582/15]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals

Brian Walsh

93. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an application under the disadvantaged areas scheme and the single farm payment scheme 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13609/15]

Hospital Appointments Administration

Brian Walsh

199. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if a medical appointment will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13853/15]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Brian Walsh

252. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to improve the broadband service, as per the national broadband plan, in an area (details supplied) in County Galway; if he will ensure businesses have access to high speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13627/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Brian Walsh

71. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments due to a person (details supplied) in County Galway in respect of 2014 will issue from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13471/15]

School Transport Eligibility

Brian Walsh

144. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if discretion will be applied in the case of a child (details supplied) in County Galway in respect of the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13476/15]

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Brian Walsh

222. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for jobseeker's allowance respect of a person (details supplied) in county Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13032/15]

JobsPlus Scheme

Brian Walsh

247. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be provided to the extension of the JobsPlus scheme to incorporate apprenticeships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13338/15]

Public Procurement Contracts

Brian Walsh

297. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the implementation of recommendations arising from the recent report on the performance review of the public works contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13337/15]

Health Services

Brian Walsh

440. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if a medical appointment will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12694/15]

Hospital Appointments Status

Brian Walsh

477. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if a medical appointment will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13030/15]

Schools Building Contractors

Brian Walsh

600. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update in relation to the public procurement process in respect of works to be carried out at a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13336/15]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Brian Walsh

722. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider centralising the issuance of abnormal load permits or standardising the issuance of such permits as variance in criteria employed by individual local authorities for this purpose is causing confusion for haulage operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13339/15]

Tax Exemptions

Brian Walsh

70. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Finance if there have been any provisions made for a parent (details supplied) who was in receipt of the single person child carer tax credit as the secondary claimant, under the new legislation to replace the one-parent family credit in 2014, now that the single person child care tax credit has been withdrawn in 2015, due to the fact that the ex-partner married in 2014; his plans to address this difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12392/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Brian Walsh

844. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the basis on which the income threshold for social housing is decided; his views that a person with net earnings in excess of €35,000 should require State assistance for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11080/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Brian Walsh

845. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that it is realistic to set a target of constructing 18,000 new social housing units before 2017, in view of planning and procurement requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11081/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Brian Walsh

846. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the types of housing developments that are likely to be developed under the Government’s social housing initiative; if he will ensure that quality is not sacrificed due to demand for quantity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11082/15]

Planning Issues

Brian Walsh

847. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the removal of the buy-out clause from Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, in areas with a high demand for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11083/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure

Brian Walsh

848. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that the €3.8 billion earmarked for the development of 35,000 social housing units is adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11084/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Brian Walsh

849. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of units being made available by the National Asset Management Agency for use in social housing; if there is a reason more units are not being made available by the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11085/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Applications

Brian Walsh

850. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that applicants for social housing should be entitled to choose whether they are accommodated in a city or country area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11086/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Brian Walsh

851. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that the construction of a large number of bedsits, as part of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, would be a feasible policy objective towards relieving the current crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11087/15]