Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Men's Sheds

Declan Breathnach

574. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will consider providing funding of €1,000,000 over a three year period to an association (details supplied); if he will consider a multi-departmental approach to the awarding of such funding; if his attention has been drawn to the benefits that would accrue from this small investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39663/19]

Forestry Grants

Declan Breathnach

169. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the length of time to process forestry applications within the Forest Service; the longest, shortest and average processing times for the past five years in tabular form; his plans to speed up the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37814/19]

Public Procurement Regulations

Declan Breathnach

179. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to amend the public sector procurement system in order that organisations can procure supplies locally; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that while in theory local suppliers can tender for procurement business, in practice the system favours larger companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36553/19]

Energy Conservation

Declan Breathnach

1503. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of applications received by the SEAI for the full deep retrofit grant not proceeding due to lack of funding; if additional funding will be provided to the scheme for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35531/19]

Building Energy Rating Compliance

Declan Breathnach

1504. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which he plans to achieve the goals as set out in the Climate Action Plan 2019 particularly in relation to the stated aim of upgrading half a million homes to B2 BER in view of the lack of funding of the SEAI for the full deep retrofit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35532/19]

State Pension (Contributory)

Declan Breathnach

1827. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons born before 1 September 1946 will be considered in the review of contributory pensions under the new aggregated contributions method of pension calculation; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are persons born before that date who took time out of the workplace to care for family and view it as unfair not to be included in the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35537/19]

School Uniforms

Declan Breathnach

471. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a report has been carried out on the impact that the introduction of generic school uniforms would have on stockists, wholesalers and manufacturers and embroiders of school uniforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32360/19]

Victims Commission

Declan Breathnach

320. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to reappointing a victims commissioner (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31178/19]

Crime Investigation

Declan Breathnach

323. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a historical investigations unit, similar to such a unit in Northern Ireland, will be created; if not, if a committee, body or independent person will be put in place to monitor the progress of State institutions here in investigating legacy issues as recommended in a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31350/19]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

758. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if self-employed persons such as farmers will be entitled to the maximum pension rate under the changes in the new total contributions approach, TCS, planned for post-2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29261/19]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

844. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason maintenance payments in divorce settlements are classed as disposable income (details supplied). [29418/19]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

845. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason social housing assessment regulations place County Louth in band 2 of the maximum net income threshold at €30,000 (details supplied); the reason counties Meath, Kildare and Wicklow are placed with the Dublin local authorities in band 1 while County Louth is in band 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29420/19]

Bituminous Fuel Ban

Declan Breathnach

555. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he will take post the nationwide ban on smoky coal to ensure smoky coal from Northern Ireland, which has a lower VAT rate and no carbon tax, is not sold here; when the ban will be coming into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27713/19]

Bituminous Fuel Ban

Declan Breathnach

556. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if concerns have been raised regarding smoky coal bought in Northern Ireland, which has a lower VAT rate, no carbon tax and a higher percentage content of sulphur following the introduction of the smoky coal ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27714/19]

Free Travel Scheme Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

672. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason not all persons who have sight loss are eligible for the free travel scheme; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that 700 persons who use a service (details supplied) do not have sufficient vision to drive a car but are also not entitled to the free travel scheme; if the scheme can be extended to this cohort of persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28101/19]

School Staff

Declan Breathnach

200. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to allow for equal and fair rights for school secretaries; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that school secretaries work long hours without holiday pay, sick pay, pensions or access to public service salary scales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26480/19]

Home Loan Scheme

Declan Breathnach

209. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loans drawn down in County Louth; if funding for Rebuilding Ireland home loans has been exhausted in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25897/19]

Personal Injury Claims

Declan Breathnach

264. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the committee he requested be established with representatives of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and his officials to review guidelines for minor personal injury claims including whiplash and soft tissue injuries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25328/19]

Proposed Legislation

Declan Breathnach

265. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to setting up a judicial council to review levels of awards for personal injuries; if his attention has been drawn to the urgency of bringing down the level of awards for soft tissue injuries in line with international norms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25359/19]

Insurance Fraud

Declan Breathnach

269. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he will take to tackle insurance fraud; if he will consider setting up a dedicated central Garda resource tasked with investigating fraudulent cases for potential prosecution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25429/19]

Disabilities Assessments

Declan Breathnach

468. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health when an assessment of need will be carried out on a child (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that ongoing delays in the case are causing distress to the family involved; his views on the delays in assessment of need applications in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25459/19]

Social Welfare Offices

Declan Breathnach

911. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is considering amalgamating her Department’s services in Dundalk, County Louth, which would involve the closure of one or possibly two local welfare offices; if her attention has been drawn to the hardship that such a decision would cause to service users who are elderly or that have mobility issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23827/19]

National Broadband Plan

Declan Breathnach

172. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the equity being invested in the national broadband plan; the way in which the plan is being financed; the way in which the consortium awarded preferred bidder status is being financed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22220/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

173. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an agreement has been reached in relation to the provision of broadband to rural areas that are awaiting the service; the average cost per linear metre to each household in which the high-speed fibre is on a public road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22221/19]

National Broadband Plan

Declan Breathnach

174. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider the use of ESB poles in relation to the national broadband plan for those properties not within reach of a telecom pole; if he will consider involving the ESB in allowing its infrastructure to be used in connecting hard to reach households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22222/19]

Health and Social Care Professionals Regulation

Declan Breathnach

453. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to a mechanism to force a doctor already struck off the register for offences and misconduct to present themselves to answer new charges of misconduct leading to the death of a patient; his views on whether it is unfair that such charges be brought merely on the grounds that the doctor is already struck off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22021/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

150. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of houses and properties that do not have poles or infrastructure nearby to provide broadband connections to such properties from the roadway without major investment. [21255/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

151. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to take a company (details supplied) back into State control; if such an offer would be cost effective in the long run in view of the fact that it would then be a State-owned company with the task of the broadband roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21269/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

152. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to use the ESB in the roll-out of broadband to properties that are waiting for connection under the State intervention scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the ESB already has direct access to all properties and its infrastructure could be used in the provision of broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21273/19]

Universal Social Charge Application

Declan Breathnach

90. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to an anomaly causing discrimination to public service pensioners by which public service pensioners pay USC on their pension payments whereas social protection pension payments are not subject to USC; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that those in receipt of social protection pensions are able to earn an additional €13,000 in occupational pension payments, bringing their total above many public service pensions and still not be liable to USC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20996/19]

Health and Social Care Professionals Regulation

Declan Breathnach

149. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the obligations on the Medical Council of Ireland to report to An Garda Síochána a medical professional who has been struck off the register for offences that are deemed illegal; if there is no obligation on the Medical Council to report such incidents further, his plans to introduce measures to remedy this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20957/19]

General Practitioner Services

Declan Breathnach

151. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health his views on the process that is followed or guidelines that are given by the Medical Council of Ireland to general practices when vetting or hiring general practitioners who may have been struck off in another jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20962/19]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Funding

Declan Breathnach

168. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if he will make additional funding available to child mental health services in County Louth; if his attention has been drawn to the long waiting lists for child mental health services causing severe distress to families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20993/19]

Addiction Treatment Services

Declan Breathnach

170. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by a private health provider (details supplied) for addiction services in receiving recognition for the services it provides and in receiving fair and reasonable payment for the services it provides; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these problems were highlighted by the Health Insurance Authority in a 2007 report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21000/19]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

1543. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the 2018 review of income eligibility levels for social housing will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18913/19]

Road Network

Declan Breathnach

531. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made with Transport Infrastructure Ireland in respect of timescales for the delivery of the bypass at Ardee, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16290/19]

Road Network

Declan Breathnach

532. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made to alleviate the concerns expressed by residents of the negative impact of creating a cul-de-sac at Mulleston and Townpark road once the N52 realignment is constructed in 2019, further to his meetings with local resident groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16291/19]

Road Network

Declan Breathnach

533. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if priority will be given to the necessary retrofit upon the completion of the realignment of the N52 in order to remedy the negative impact of creating a cul-de-sac at Mulleston and Town Park road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16292/19]

Energy Schemes

Declan Breathnach

408. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are long delays in applications for the SEAI home energy grants; his plans to make additional funding available to the scheme in order to increase the number of contractors involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14977/19]

Commemorative Events

Declan Breathnach

124. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to mark the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Volunteer Reserve Force the precursor to the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12936/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Declan Breathnach

125. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the use of competitions will be broadened for direct entry officers to include those with specialist dental, legal and other professional qualifications in order to fill such specialist vacancies within the Defence Forces as they arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12938/19]

Respite Care Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

86. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if there will be an improvement in the provision of respite facilities in County Louth during 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12409/19]

Departmental Consultations

Declan Breathnach

211. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the result of the public consultation carried out by his Department on the impending decision regarding daylight saving time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12038/19]

Disability Support Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

353. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a new respite service recently opened in Dundalk, County Louth, is not fully wheelchair-accessible; if funding will be made available to make this facility fully wheelchair-accessible and suitably staffed to deal with the needs of those who seek the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11784/19]

Residential Tenancies Board

Declan Breathnach

702. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government where a complaint can be directed regarding poor customer service by a client that had a very negative experience in dealing with them in view of the fact that the Office of the Ombudsman will not hear complaints regarding the Residential Tenancies Board other than in connection with Part 7 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11763/19]

Property Registration

Declan Breathnach

713. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a backlog in registrations in the Land Registry; if such a delay is holding up the sale of a property; if there is a system of expediting a particular case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12072/19]

Coast Guard Services

Declan Breathnach

472. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are grave concerns among the 950 Irish Coast Guard volunteers resulting from a decision of management of the Irish Coast Guard to stop volunteers using blue lights and sirens while responding to rescue calls; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that such a measure could result in delays in responding to life and death situations; if he will intervene to examine if this decision can be reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10523/19]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Declan Breathnach

578. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to problems being experienced with the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme in which, due to a lack of a national database of applicants, multiple applications have been made to different councils by the same persons; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this practice is delaying other applications by up to six months due to the fact those multiple applications stay on the system until they expire after six months, thus causing others to lose out; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that up to 50% of the loan offers are duplicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10397/19]

Departmental Funding

Declan Breathnach

309. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 282 of 29 January 2019, the funding for e-hubs provided for entrepreneurship and start-ups in each local authority and local enterprise office by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8360/19]

Departmental Staff Retirements

Declan Breathnach

630. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) based in her Department in County Louth will be replaced after the official retires in two weeks' time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8227/19]