Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Revenue Commissioners Reports

Robert Dowds

178. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the next steps he will be taking to fill the data gaps identified in the recent spillover analysis of Irish tax policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4268/16]

Road Traffic Offences

Robert Dowds

112. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality since 1 August 2015, the number of cyclists on a pedal cycle convicted of cycling without reasonable consideration, having no front lamp or rear lamp lit during lighting-up hours, and failing to stop for a school warden sign, proceeding into a pedestrianised street or area, past traffic lights when the red lamp is illuminated, past cycle traffic lights when the red lamp is lit, and beyond a stop line, barrier or half barrier at a railway level crossing, swing bridge or lifting bridge, when the red lamps are flashing. [3418/16]

Employment Rights

Robert Dowds

303. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the mandatory three hours of continuous work for employees. [1282/16]

Legal Costs

Robert Dowds

811. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason University College Dublin did not submit for taxation the costs it was awarded by the Circuit Court and High Court (details supplied) between 12 March 2007 and 29 January 2013; and the magnitude of these costs. [1254/16]

Aviation Museum

Robert Dowds

310. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Defence to outline the possibility of developing an aviation museum at Baldonnel Aerodrome in County Dublin, given its long association with the Irish Air Corps and given that the first east-west flight across the Atlantic left from there. [46344/15]

Civil Aviation Regulation

Robert Dowds

621. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the law on the use of drones by private citizens. [44085/15]

Disability Allowance Data

Robert Dowds

59. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who are receiving a disability allowance, the number in Clondalkin, and the number in Lucan, County Dublin. [41964/15]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Robert Dowds

79. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if there are any tax arrangements in place to assist the Gaelic Players Association through the elite athletics sports scheme; if there is a record of the numbers of beneficiaries, and of the cost to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42040/15]

Prescriptions Charges

Robert Dowds

180. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the €2.50 charge for the acquisition of medicine for those with a medical card. [41963/15]

Rail Services

Robert Dowds

220. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of annual subvention to Iarnród Éireann for each of the past five years. [41962/15]

Departmental Funding

Robert Dowds

221. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding allocated to the Gaelic Players Association in the years from 1999 to 2015 in tabular form; if he is satisfied with the operation of the scheme, or if he has any plans to recast it; if he is satisfied that the scheme provides value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42039/15]

Bank IT Systems

Robert Dowds

207. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he has instructed the Irish banks to upgrade their out-of-date information and technology infrastructure and systems since Bank of Ireland recently experienced difficulties in this regard. [40362/15]

Rainwater Harvesting Systems Provision

Robert Dowds

513. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide grants to schools for facilities for water harvesting. [40187/15]

State Claims Agency

Robert Dowds

58. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the names of the barristers who were appointed to each of the State Claims Agency panels; and the fees each of these barristers received in 2014 and in 2015 to date in State Claims Agency claims. [39713/15]

State Claims Agency

Robert Dowds

59. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the names of the barristers who are not on the State Claims Agency panels and who have been instructed in State Claims Agency claims since the panels were established; and the fees received by each of these barristers in 2014 and in 2015 to date in State Claims Agency claims. [39714/15]

Departmental Staff

Robert Dowds

104. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when she will appoint a new Secretary General to her Department; and the reason for the delay. [39679/15]

Voluntary Housing Sector

Robert Dowds

155. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the housing agencies operating and receiving Government funding; and the amount they received in the past three years. [39678/15]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Robert Dowds

184. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 286 of 3 November 2015, the reason a deceased foreign person who never held Irish citizenship and left a legacy to a resident here must be given a personal public service number; and if he will ensure it is made easier for such an Irish relative to declare the gift for tax purposes. [39372/15]

Departmental Programmes

Robert Dowds

556. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason it took until June 2015 for his Department to publish the low carbon energy roadmap produced for it in December 2013. [39428/15]

Departmental Programmes

Robert Dowds

557. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has received an update to the low carbon roadmap produced in December 2013 and published in June 2015, which does not assume that there will be an unlimited quantity of bioenergy available for import to Ireland, and which does not assume that carbon capture and storage technology will be available; and, if so, if he will supply a copy to this Deputy. [39429/15]

Renewable Energy Generation

Robert Dowds

558. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources how he is ensuring, in accordance with the policy set out in One World, One Future, that the development of low carbon energy policies by his Department takes account of the actual and potential negative impacts of developed countries sourcing large quantities of bioenergy in developing countries; and if his Department has consulted with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding this issue. [39430/15]

Aviation Issues

Robert Dowds

581. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when each of the runways at Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Ireland West-Knock, Kerry, Shannon, Sligo and Waterford airports last had their numbers redesignated because of the movement of the magnetic North Pole; and if it is currently known when each will next need to be re-designated. [39007/15]

Personal Public Service Numbers Data

Robert Dowds

87. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Revenue Commissioners insist on receiving a personal public service number for a deceased foreigner who is leaving a legacy to an Irish resident; and if he will ensure that the process for paying tax on such a legacy is simplified. [38716/15]

Personal Public Service Numbers Data

Robert Dowds

167. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will clearly outline the process for getting a personal public service number on her Department's website. [37330/15]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Robert Dowds

268. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why the system of acquiring personal public service numbers for non-Irish citizens was changed recently, whereby such persons now have to pre-arrange an interview online; and the reason this change was not indicated beforehand on her Department's website. [38300/15]

Personal Public Service Numbers Data

Robert Dowds

286. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the reason it is necessary to get a personal public service number for a deceased foreigner who is leaving a legacy to an Irish relative; and if he will ensure that the process for getting such a legacy is simplified. [37331/15]

Employment Rights

Robert Dowds

371. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action he will take to tackle the problem of zero hour contracts. [38302/15]

Immigration Policy

Robert Dowds

528. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that persons visiting the Garda Síochána National Immigration Bureau offices receive information in the location of the processes involved, in terms of both getting work and getting a personal public service number. [37332/15]

Visa Applications

Robert Dowds

599. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the conditions under which a Kosovan national living in Germany may come to live here to become a carer for a disabled Irish person. [38303/15]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Robert Dowds

628. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on a submission (details supplied) regarding the mother and baby homes commission of investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37790/15]

Bioenergy Strategy

Robert Dowds

1133. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources given that the quantity of bioenergy on the planet is inherently limited, the steps he has taken to ensure that energy planning for transition to a low-carbon society does not assume the unlimited availability of bioenergy. [37707/15]

Bioenergy Strategy

Robert Dowds

1134. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the policies he has in place, or is considering putting in place, to ensure bioenergy use is sustainable, both qualitatively and quantitatively. [37708/15]

Health Services Provision

Robert Dowds

451. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health for an update on the delivery of primary health care centres on the Convent Road in Clondalkin; on the Rowlagh in North Clondalkin; at Ballyowen; and at Lucan, in County Dublin. [36188/15]

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Robert Dowds

181. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out her views on a television report (details supplied) which outlined shortcomings in the behaviour of An Garda Síochána and of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in respect of some citizens. [35648/15]

Tax Code

Robert Dowds

263. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the income tax obligation of those who provide Airbnb in their homes. [34409/15]

Tax Code

Robert Dowds

264. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if those who provide Airbnb and who earn less than €12,000 per year in so doing, are exempt from income tax up to that amount. [34410/15]

Tax Code

Robert Dowds

265. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if persons providing Airbnb may be subject to retrospective tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34411/15]

Immigration Controls

Robert Dowds

432. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to address the high level of queries in the Garda Síochána National Immigration Bureau; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34415/15]

Immigration Controls

Robert Dowds

433. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to ensure that persons who attend the Garda Síochána National Immigration Bureau office are fully informed of the next steps they need to undertake if they are looking for employment, for example, that a job offer is required before they can apply for a personal public service number. [34416/15]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Robert Dowds

487. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the reason Crohn's disease is not on the long-term illness scheme; the estimated number of persons who suffer from this condition; the projected change in this figure in the next ten years; his plans to add this disease to the list of conditions covered by the long-term illness scheme. [34046/15]

Dietary Allowance Administration

Robert Dowds

32. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the funding for persons in receipt of a diet allowance because of specific medical conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33693/15]

Climate Change Policy

Robert Dowds

56. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if Ireland will make a contribution to the Green Climate Fund and, if so, the extent of the contribution, and when it will be paid. [33692/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Robert Dowds

560. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update and timescale for the extension works for Lucan Community College, Lucan, County Dublin. [33437/15]

Overseas Missions

Robert Dowds

571. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the work being done by the Irish Naval Service saving refugees in the Mediterranean Sea. [32329/15]

University Legal Fees

Robert Dowds

1204. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the legal costs to date of University College Dublin in Record No. 2006/07275 (Circuit Court) and Record No. 2007 52 CA (High Court). [30576/15]

School Curriculum

Robert Dowds

1358. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours per week that are spent teaching Irish in primary schools. [32323/15]

School Curriculum

Robert Dowds

1359. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours per week that are spent teaching Irish in secondary schools. [32324/15]

School Curriculum

Robert Dowds

1360. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number taking Irish at junior certificate level; and the number receiving each, A,B,C and so on, grade for the past three years. [32325/15]

School Curriculum

Robert Dowds

1361. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number taking Irish as a subject at leaving certificate level; the number receiving each grade for the past three years. [32326/15]

School Curriculum

Robert Dowds

1362. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students at junior certificate level who have received exemptions from Irish; and the reason they received exemptions. [32327/15]