Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Dental Services Provision

Shane Ross

67. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health if the Dublin Dental University Hospital has changed its policy on accepting patients without a referral letter; if the hospital now conducts its assessments with a view to determining the suitability of patients for teaching needs as opposed to the patient's needs; if so, the reason for this change in policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9250/16]

Child Benefit Eligibility

Shane Ross

5. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the payment of the children's allowance beyond a child's 18th birthday in circumstances where they are still in full-time second level education; if not, the alternative sources of financial support for such families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7361/16]

Health Services

Shane Ross

278. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health if efforts have been made to move a person (details supplied) in County Dublin or alter the continued residential treatment for the person as per the person's and family's request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7348/16]

Schools Building Projects Administration

Shane Ross

75. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria she has used to decide on the location of the proposed new secondary school in Firhouse Old Bawn in Dublin 24; the proposed catchment area for this new school; if it will be an Educate Together secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4494/16]

School Accommodation Provision

Shane Ross

164. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 147 of 20 January 2016 in respect of a date for sanctioning an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Dublin, if the project will be given the go-ahead by next month or as soon as possible for the completion of the expenditure profiling exercise and if the subsequent final permission will be given as soon as possible for the project to advance to site and commence construction works; if she will fund the school for any loss of income caused by the ongoing delay, given that the school has acted in good faith and is already paying moneys to a neighbouring school for the temporary transfer of pupils during construction, as was deemed necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3323/16]

Garda Deployment

Shane Ross

111. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí operating from Ronanstown, Clondalkin, Lucan, Ballyfermot and Tallaght Garda stations in County Dublin in each year since 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2403/16]

Home Care Packages Provision

Shane Ross

117. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health if the Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown area has the highest elderly population in the country; if this is reflected in the availability of eligible home care providers under the home care package scheme for the area; if he is aware of home care providers being unable to provide carers with the requisite skill to elderly persons in this area due to lack of availability; if the Dublin south-east Health Service Executive will add additional companies to the approved home care providers list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2375/16]

Medical Consent

Shane Ross

122. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health the legal situation regarding disputes over next of kin rights in public and private hospitals; the rights of siblings in terms of consultation regarding care of an incapacitated parent; if medical staff always have a final say as to whether an ill person who is not of sound mind is better cared for within a hospital setting or in a family home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2396/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Shane Ross

146. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the nature and conclusion of discussions with the developer of the strategic development zone lands at Adamstown in Lucan in County Dublin regarding the provision of the sports hall requirement in the current phase; the discussions to date with South Dublin County Council regarding the joining of the sports hall element with the equally required community hall element to create a larger, more cohesive joint sports and community hall, which is the desired outcome of the council, councillors and residents of Adamstown, while also not being objected to by the board or parents association of Adamstown Community College; if she will engage in a process to facilitate the timely completion of such a shared facility; the timeframe for likely design and construction in that eventuality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2397/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Shane Ross

147. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the long-standing delay in giving the go-ahead for the much needed extension at a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; if she will give a commitment to include it in the final list of school building programmes to be announced during the lifetime of this Government, expected in the coming days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2398/16]

School Transport Administration

Shane Ross

148. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the channels available to enable drivers who were working prior to the introduction of the new certificate of professional competence regulations, but who subsequently lost their jobs, to upskill at a nearby training centre, without incurring a cost while on social protection, given that there are certified courses nationwide which cost money for training and which might not be affordable for this group; if a one-off free course will be provided to help such drivers get back into the jobs market, or a subsidy provided for doing the paid courses; if such a proposal will be forwarded to SOLAS, the Road Safety Authority and any other relevant agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2399/16]

Planning Issues

Shane Ross

162. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will make a formal announcement regarding South Dublin County Council's request to add local area plan lands at Clonburris into the existing Clonburris strategic development zone to create a larger strategic development zone which can be planned better in terms of phasing community need and infrastructure alongside housing provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2401/16]

Building Regulations

Shane Ross

163. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has carried out studies or followed international best practice regarding how the increased cost of construction of a three bed or four bed semi-detached or detached home to passive house standards, including the option of solar arrays and water collection systems, would be offset by savings to a householder over a number of years in reduced heating costs, other energy savings and reductions in charges at 2016 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2402/16]

Swimming Pool Projects

Shane Ross

170. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he or the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Michael Ring, held with the chief executive officer of South Dublin County Council or other officials, following meetings with the local Minister, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, in order to facilitate the provision of much needed funds for a swimming pool in Lucan, in County Dublin, irrespective of whether the swimming pool programme is reopened or not; if he has provided or will provide a commitment to funding before the end of January 2016, given that south Dublin has already funded the design phase and entered its own funding commitment into the rolling three-year capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2400/16]

Insurance Compensation Fund

Shane Ross

211. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance the amount taxpayers have paid into the Insurance Fund since the liquidation of Insurance Corporation of Ireland. [46811/15]

Human Rights Issues

Shane Ross

714. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the medical condition of a person (details supplied); if he has received information from the Egyptian authorities on whether this person's trial will go ahead in the near future, the supports being provided to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46481/15]

Higher Education Institutions Staff

Shane Ross

771. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the employment control framework for higher education for the period 2010 to 2014 remains in force; the conditions governing it and how these were agreed; when it will lapse; if higher education institutions are required to continue to adhere to the senior-junior staff ratios as per the framework; the procedures available to deviate from these; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46836/15]

Higher Education Institutions Staff

Shane Ross

772. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she or other bodies have the power to impose sanctions on higher education institutions that breach the agreement for the period 2010 to 2014; what those sanctions are; if they have been levied, on whom, and in what amount and nature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46837/15]

Higher Education Institutions Staff

Shane Ross

773. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the employment control framework for higher education for the period 2010 to 2014 required only maintenance of ratios between lecturer and professorial staff for academic staff and those below that level, and for those above €70,000 salary for others, or if it also mandated, as some higher education institutions have interpreted, that the framework also required maintenance of ratios within these broad categories; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46838/15]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Shane Ross

188. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for a student grant by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will be expedited; the reason for the delay; if Student Universal Support Ireland is aware that this student will be in danger of being forced to drop out of college if the grant is not urgently approved and paid out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44492/15]

White Paper on Energy

Shane Ross

224. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will publish the energy policy White Paper; if it deals with micro-generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44487/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Shane Ross

164. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new post-primary schools proposed for the Stepaside and Kilternan areas in Dublin 18, including their locations; if they will both be open from their scheduled date in September 2016 at these locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44289/15]

Value for Money Reviews

Shane Ross

210. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if any of the recommendations outlined in the 2015 value for money and policy review of the Arts Council have been implemented to date; if not, the timeline for such implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44364/15]

Autism Support Services

Shane Ross

476. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Nos. 229 of 4 November 2015 and 162 of 18 November 2015, if she will acknowledge a chronic lack of special classes for students with autism in mainstream secondary schools, and the reason for her policy of allowing schools to undertake such classes subject to their own willingness. [43558/15]

Health and Social Care Professionals Regulation

Shane Ross

208. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce regulations for the counselling and psychotherapy sector, as supported by the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, given that this was promised by the middle of 2015; the reason for the delay; if the absence of clear regulations has resulted in confusion for the general public; if regulations are required to safeguard the most vulnerable in society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43376/15]

Garda Operations

Shane Ross

337. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of arrests made by An Garda Síochána in each Dublin station under Operation Thor since its start date, in tabular form, and the number of arrests nationally under this operation. [42825/15]

Defence Forces Properties

Shane Ross

288. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 356 of 20 October 2015 and 135 of 5 November 2015 and given his statement that St. Bricin's military hospital will continue to offer medical services to members of the Defence Forces for the foreseeable future, if he will encourage the military authorities to investigate and identify medical services in the hospital which could be integrated or shared with local hospitals and hospital groups; if he is prepared to operate St. Bricin's as a joint Department of Defence, Department of Health and Health Service Executive facility, now or in the future, if funding became available to assist with infrastructure works, similar to the United Kingdom armed forces, who operate military wards integrated into National Health Service trusts; his plans to allow the Health Service Executive to invest in and utilise the defunct wards in St. Bricin's to assist in alleviating the national accident and emergency crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41259/15]

Health Care Professionals

Shane Ross

175. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce regulations to protect the professional names of physical therapy and physiotherapy for medically qualified physiotherapists, thus bringing Ireland into line with the international professional body for physiotherapists and the world confederation for physical therapy; why this has not been done to date; his views that the failure to clearly regulate the use of such terms confuses the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40974/15]

Corporation Tax Regime

Shane Ross

3. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the spike in corporation tax receipts and the over-performance of €800 million from this source of revenue; if the increase comes from the multinational sector; if he will provide a breakdown of the increase into one-off factors, early payments and delayed rebates and repayments; the timing factors that were involved; the proportion of the increase that was due to improved trading factors; if a single multinational re-booking profits to its Irish division was a significant factor in the unexpected rise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40399/15]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Shane Ross

5. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance to set out the progress he has made in his efforts to force Bank of Ireland to reduce its variable rate mortgages; to state the banks that have reduced variable rates; if Bank of Ireland, in particular, has refused to reduce its variable rates; if, as a shareholder in the Bank of Ireland, he will be able to persuade it to bring back its variable rates to competitive levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40400/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Shane Ross

162. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Question No. 229 of 4 November 2015, her views that, 194 post primary level autistic spectrum disorder-specific special classes in total for the entire country indicates a chronic lack of places for autism students in mainstream secondary schools; her further views that her Department's policy allowing schools to undertake such classes subject to their own willingness is failing; if she will consider directing schools to set up autistic spectrum disorder specific special classes within all secondary schools, as required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40862/15]

VAT Rate Reductions

Shane Ross

219. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the current rate of 13.5% value added tax charged on the carbon tax, which is effectively tantamount to a tax on a tax: his views that this is fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40705/15]

Nursing Staff Remuneration

Shane Ross

405. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health his plans to reverse the cuts to the hourly rate of pay for nursing and midwife interns, and to implement a minimum wage hourly rate; his views that further steps need to be made to encourage and support nursing and midwifery graduates to stay here upon completion of their training; that treatment as interns is linked to the current shortage of nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40337/15]

Disability Support Services Provision

Shane Ross

131. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the process undertaken by the National Disability Authority for the provision of the employer helpline service, as recommended by the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities; when this helpline service will be operational; the organisation that will be responsible for its provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39901/15]

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Shane Ross

120. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs that have been created to date as a result of the Irish Design 2015 campaign; the costs associated with the campaign to date; if he will outline what, if any, tendering process was in place for contracts granted for Irish Design 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38843/15]

Hospital Services

Shane Ross

135. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 356 of 20 October 2015, when exactly, and by whom, the decision was made to downgrade St. Bricin's Military Hospital to a military medical facility; if this decision was communicated to the Defence Forces representative associations and to the Houses of the Oireachtas; the reason St. Bricin's is listed as the Defence Forces logistics base hospital in all relevant Defence Forces regulations, administrative instructions and orders, if that is no longer the case; given that St. Bricin's continues to offer a number of services comparable to those offered in the Health Service Executive's county and regional hospitals, including radiology, day surgery, lying-in nursing services, consultant clinics and a laboratory service, none of which are offered in the other military medical facilities, the reason for the decision to downgrade the hospital; the Defence Forces' current infrastructure priorities; his views on whether the Defence Forces medical facilities have been given adequate priority in this Government's term of office; if he will commit to advancing the project to replace St. Bricin's immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38847/15]

Aftercare Services Provision

Shane Ross

166. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will explain the recent decision by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to impose effective cuts of €50 per week to the fostering aftercare allowance, with an apparent lack of regard for the impact this cut will have on those in aftercare, and on the families trying to support them; if viability studies were undertaken to determine the impact this cut will have on those in continued education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38848/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Shane Ross

229. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the the chronic lack of places for students within the autistic spectrum disorder in special classes attached to mainstream secondary schools contrary to section 2 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; if she will consider directing schools to set up autism spectrum disorder-specific special classes within all secondary schools, as required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38656/15]

Water Fluoridation

Shane Ross

760. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health if he has concerns regarding the methodology undertaken by the Health Research Board earlier in 2015, when reviewing the effects of the fluoridation of water, particularly the board's failure to assess the cumulative exposure for the population to fluoride consumption from not only water fluoridation, but also from the consumption of food, beverage, and medicines, or from occupational exposure to fluoride; his plans to review this policy again, given our unique position in Europe as the only State with nationwide mandatory water fluoridation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37889/15]

Defence Forces Properties

Shane Ross

356. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Defence his plans to close Saint Bricin's Military Hospital in Dublin 7; if so, the timeframe for the closure; in the event of closure, if the Government is committed to building a purpose-built military hospital in another location; if it is not to close, if the Government will ensure that it is included in the upcoming legislation from the Department of Health covering local hospital groups, thus ensuring that the clinical governance and services available there meet agreed national best practice; if he will commit to ensuring that adequate investment in the hospital is made to bring it up to acceptable national standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35954/15]

Employment Rights

Shane Ross

90. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the recently completed study by the University of Limerick on the subject of zero-hour contracts will be published; if he will provide a comprehensive list of the stakeholders to be consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35536/15]

Child Care Costs

Shane Ross

226. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to increase funding or provide subsidies for child care to support families where both parents are working, in the upcoming budget; if he considers that such support is necessary, given the extremely high cost of child care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35277/15]

Disability Services Funding

Shane Ross

288. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase funding in the upcoming budget for independent living facilities for adults with learning disabilities; if he will consider the need for greater services and facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35492/15]

Irish Water Remit

Shane Ross

197. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will amend the Irish Water Act 2013 to allow Irish Water or the local authority to accept responsibility for all sewage mains and infrastructure, that is manholes and interchanges, including those running through non-public property, where these networks were historically maintained by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34938/15]

National Car Test

Shane Ross

202. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to deal with the current backlog in available appointments for the national car test; the current average waiting time for an appointment; his plans to increase the number of test centres, or to follow the United Kingdom model and authorise local garages to undertake the testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34773/15]

Garda Deployment

Shane Ross

376. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to provide a community garda in Sandyford village, County Dublin. [33120/15]

Tax Code

Shane Ross

318. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance his plans to provide relief in the next budget to current homeowners in negative equity who are in receipt of rental income for their sole property, but also pay rental income themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31010/15]

Tax Reliefs Application

Shane Ross

325. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 106 of 9 July 2015, if the Revenue Commissioners have the legal remit to interpret the rent-a-room relief, governed by section 216A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, to exclude those whose rental income is derived through the use of Airbnb; if he considers this is sufficiently important for the many Airbnb hosts to require specific legislation clarifying the position; his views that it is fair to have income tax charges now retrospectively imposed when it was understood that the income would fall under the rent-a-room relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31130/15]

Passport Applications Fees

Shane Ross

1169. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to amend the existing available passport options for persons over 75 years of age in order to allow them purchase and pay for three or five year passports, rather than ten year passports only; his views that it is fair to require those in receipt of a pension to purchase the ten year passport when they only wish to purchase it for a shorter period of time. [31042/15]

School Costs

Shane Ross

1234. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce legislation governing service charges imposed by secondary schools on students and their families at the commencement of the school year; if she is aware of the massive divergence of service charges amongst non-fee paying schools within the same area; the efforts that are being made to unify them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31011/15]