Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Departmental Staff Recruitment

James Browne

324. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is aware of a requirement for temporary staff recruited for Census 2016 to be under 70 years of age; if he will ensure that this age discrimination is not a factor in any recruitment of temporary staff for Census 2021 or any other State data gathering exercises requiring temporary staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16658/16]

Mental Health Services

James Browne

366. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if a nurse is permitted to discharge a person from psychiatric care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16779/16]

Air Pollution

James Browne

401. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a recent report in a publication (details supplied) that has linked air pollution to increased mental illness in children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16995/16]

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

James Browne

490. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the land designation assigned to agricultural lands that have a commissioned solar farm installation under the land parcel identification system, and the pro rata availability of land, with a commissioned solar farm, under the basic payment system-greening payment and other area aid schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17072/16]

Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme

James Browne

507. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the total, per month and per county, in megawatt and connection values, of solar farm developments looking for grid connection since 1 January 2015; the notional recommended maximum of solar capacity on the Irish grid; the timescales for the introduction of a solar renewable energy feed in tariff, REFIT, and if a future solar REFIT will be open to participation by all households with solar panels on their rooftops, as there is currently no solar REFIT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17071/16]

Child Care Services Provision

James Browne

567. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the schemes she provides for subsidised child care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17074/16]

Gas Networks Ireland

James Browne

20. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to request the Commission for Energy Regulation if it has approved or if and when it will approve the extension of the natural gas pipeline to New Ross, County Wexford and to request Gas Networks Ireland to state if and when it will extend the pipeline to New Ross, given that it has already extended it to Wexford town, and narrowly bypassed New Ross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16170/16]

Broadband Service Provision

James Browne

22. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will roll out rural broadband in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16169/16]

Film Industry Development

James Browne

194. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding available for independent film-makers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16560/16]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

James Browne

253. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the roll-out of broadband in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16559/16]

Zero-hour Contracts

James Browne

46. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans and timeframe for bringing forward legislation to address the issue of zero-hour contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15869/16]

Regional Development Initiatives

James Browne

53. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures she plans to take to provide and support sustainable jobs in the south east given the high rate of unemployment there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15868/16]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

James Browne

184. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue payment to a person (details supplied) under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16088/16]

Child Care Services

James Browne

15. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she agrees that grandparents offer a valuable and often overlooked role in raising their grandchildren; the supports are available to grandparents who act in loco parentis to their grandchildren; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14852/16]

Workplace Relations Commission

James Browne

25. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she proposes putting in place supports for parents who may no longer be able to avail of the traditional au pair role given the recent clarification by the Workplace Relations Commission that au pairs are not exempted or treated as separate categories of workers under Irish employment law and that Ireland’s body of employment rights legislation protects all employees who are legally employed on an employer-employee basis, regardless of what title is given to them and additional supports.. [14853/16]

Grocery Industry

James Browne

201. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to meet supermarket owners to discuss and ensure proper payments are made to farmers for their produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15089/16]

Trade Agreements

James Browne

60. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contingency plans he has in place for future agrifood trade should the UK vote to leave the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14481/16]

Dairy Sector

James Browne

586. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to ease the financial burden dairy farmers are currently experiencing due to the low price of milk, given the European Commission's refusal to facilitate a further deferral of superlevy payments. [15071/16]

Credit Availability

James Browne

587. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to address the current access to credit crisis that some farmers are experiencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15072/16]

Local Improvement Scheme Funding

James Browne

605. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will provide funding for the local improvement schemes; the amount he intends to provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14588/16]

Road Projects Status

James Browne

628. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Oylegate-Enniscorthy bypass; the stage it is at and the projected timeline for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14589/16]

Mental Health Services Funding

James Browne

3. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his priorities for mental health services under the new programme for Government; why there is no funding commitment on mental health services as there was in the programme for Government for the period 2011 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14119/16]

School Transport

James Browne

177. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 102 of 26 May 2016, if he monitors payments to Bus Éireann under State aid rules; if Bus Éireann is market-orientated; the meaning of the phrase market-oriented; if Bus Éireann competes with private bus operators; the specific monitoring precautions in place since 2004 to make sure there is no cross-subsidisation from payments to Bus Éireann for school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14167/16]

Medicinal Products Supply

James Browne

163. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive clinically evaluated the impact of discontinuing access to Camcolit for medical card holders or through community drug schemes and, if so, whether he will publish the evaluation. [13844/16]

International Time Zones

James Browne

212. Deputy James Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the European Union issues that arise with regard to the duration of summer time from March to October; if it is possible to extend summer time to run from February to November; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13154/16]

Medicinal Products Availability

James Browne

694. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health why the HSE has stopped access to Camcolit for medical card holders, or through community drug schemes; his views on whether it is too expensive; the number of persons in 2015, who received the drug through the medical card or community drug scheme and the overall cost of this provision; the extent of the proposed price increase sought by the manufacturer; the impact of this on overall expenditure on the drug in 2016; and his views regarding claims that this could put patients at risk and that the HSE’s recommended alternative is not interchangeable. [13149/16]

Garda Resources

James Browne

41. Deputy James Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to provide support services such as mental health supports for members of An Garda Síochána to ensure their well-being; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12312/16]

Tax Reliefs Eligibility

James Browne

58. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend stamp duty consanguinity relief to farmers of over 67 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12334/16]

School Transport

James Browne

102. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills given the assurance from Bus Éireann that any surplus received for the operation of school transport services is ring-fenced and exclusively used on school transport such as information technology and new school buses, the amount spent, including expenditure from this surplus, with a value of over €25,000 for each item, and if the expenditure went out to public tender under law or Government guidelines, in each of the years 2005 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12493/16]

HSE Expenditure

James Browne

184. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the amount the Health Service Executive expended on legal fees in 2015; the barristers and solicitors who received these fees; the amount paid to each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12297/16]

HSE Expenditure

James Browne

187. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the amount the Health Service Executive expended on legal fees in each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12306/16]

Mental Health Tribunals

James Browne

188. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health when he will put positions on the Mental Health Tribunal up for renewal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12307/16]

Mental Health Services Staff

James Browne

199. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health as per Annex 17.2 of A Vision for Change, the original requirement set out for each position (details supplied), the number of these positions filled and the number yet to be filled, in tabular form, taking account of demographic change. [12388/16]

Counselling Services Provision

James Browne

206. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the status of the counselling service in the primary care service, including the numbers referred to, seen by and on waiting lists for community health care organisations in 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12427/16]

Mental Health Services Staff

James Browne

207. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of posts targeted, filled and still in the recruitment process by year using the extra funding of €35 million originally committed to in the 2011 to 2016 programme for Government for the enhancement of community-based mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12428/16]

Psychological Assessments Waiting Times

James Browne

208. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for a first appointment with a psychologist, following referral, for one month or two, three, three plus to six, six plus to nine, nine plus to 12 and 12 plus months, by Health Service Executive area in tabular form. [12429/16]

Mental Health Services Data

James Browne

209. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for a first appointment with a psychiatrist, following referral, for one month or two, three, three plus to six, six plus to nine, nine plus to 12 and 12 plus months, by Health Service Executive administrative area in tabular form. [12430/16]

Mental Health Services Expenditure

James Browne

210. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the budgeted and actual spending, by mental health administrative area from 2012 to 2015, inclusive, and 2016 to date in tabular form. [12431/16]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

James Browne

219. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 19 May 2016, to provide grants to community groups for the provision of defibrillators and automated external defibrillators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12494/16]

Superlevy Fine

James Browne

237. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to establish a scheme allowing dairy farmers with an outstanding superlevy bill to access Exchequer-supported, net-rest-free short-term loans of one and two years which may be used in the immediate term to facilitate a one to two year repayment holiday from the super levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12488/16]

Ports Development

James Browne

248. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he will take to secure the viability of Rosslare Europort in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12333/16]

Medical Card Drugs Availability

James Browne

254. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card holders who were prescribed anti-depressant medication by local health area in each of the years 2011 to 2015 in tabular form. [11984/16]

VAT Exemptions

James Browne

52. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Finance if value-added tax should be removed from automated external defibrillator machines; how he intends to remove it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10981/16]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

James Browne

158. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will compile and make public a list of locations for automated external defibrillators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10982/16]

Garda Data

James Browne

6. Deputy James Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí in each station in County Wexford on 31 March 2011 and 31 March 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9978/16]

Garda Station Closures

James Browne

59. Deputy James Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to request the Policing Authority to review the dispersement of Garda stations and to assess the impact of station closures in County Wexford since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9979/16]

Garda Station Closures

James Browne

143. Deputy James Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the downgrading of Gorey Garda station will be the subject of the proposed review of the closure of Garda stations under the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10578/16]

Tax Rebates

James Browne

203. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Finance when he will issue a refund of value added tax, further to an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10042/16]

Electromagnetic Fields Studies

James Browne

357. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that electric and magnetic fields can adversely impact physical health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10666/16]

Electromagnetic Fields Studies

James Browne

358. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the statement of a person (details supplied) that it was simply not possible, at the power levels concerned, for transmission lines to cause cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10668/16]

Electromagnetic Fields Studies

James Browne

422. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that electric and magnetic fields can adversely impact physical health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10657/16]

Foreign Policy

James Browne

592. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government will recognise Palestine as a free, independent and sovereign state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10572/16]

Israeli Settlements

James Browne

593. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government will comply fully with the compilation of the United Nations database of all business enterprises that have enabled or profited from the creation and growth of Israeli settlements; the steps the Government intends to take in advance of the finalisation of the list to comply with the resolution to blacklist such business enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10573/16]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

James Browne

608. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to make provision for a pension scheme for community employment scheme supervisors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10574/16]

Medical Card Data

James Browne

684. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards issued in County Wexford for each of the years 2012 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9692/16]

Departmental Properties

James Browne

929. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the details of all property and land owned, leased or otherwise under the control of his Department, and-or its agents or bodies under its control in County Wexford; if each of the properties or land is currently vacant or occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10575/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

James Browne

930. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive medical treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10579/16]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

James Browne

1019. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue a payment to a person (details supplied) under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9920/16]

Dairy Sector

James Browne

1074. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to address the ongoing challenges by farmers in the dairy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10577/16]

Employment Rights

James Browne

1189. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to recognise the au pair programme; if so, the manner in which; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10576/16]

Basic Payment Scheme Payments

James Browne

148. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the difference in payments to a person (details supplied) between 2014 and 2015 under the basic payment scheme. [8070/16]

School Transport Data

James Browne

370. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the years for which calculations with regard to the school transport value for money review in 2011 were made (details supplied); the exact data or statistics that resulted in this comparative calculation to enable verification; if she will provide the source of the data and provide the same statistics in tabular form for the intervening financial years to include the percentage differences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7995/16]

Ambulance Service Staff

James Browne

73. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of officer positions in the national ambulance service filled for each of the years 2012 to 2015 and to date in 2016; the locations of these positions; the number of these currently filled on a temporary or acting basis; when each of the positions were filled, including permanent, temporary and acting positions; if any of the permanent, temporary or acting positions were filled by staff otherwise than from the panels for officer grades applicable to those positions; the number of positions currently unfilled; the locations of same; the number of staff currently on the panels and the positions for which; the panels which were disbanded within the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7921/16]

Ambulance Service Accommodation

James Browne

74. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the status of the building of new ambulance Stations in Enniscorthy and Gorey, County Wexford; when they will proceed to the next stage; when the tendering process will commence and be completed; when construction will commence; the funding he will allocate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7922/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

James Browne

102. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a proposed building project to increase capacity at a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; when it will proceed to the next stage; when the tendering process will commence and be completed; when construction will commence; the funding she will allocate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7925/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

James Browne

103. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a proposed building project for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; when it will proceed to the next stage; when the tendering process will commence and be completed; when construction will commence; the funding she will allocate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7926/16]

School Accommodation

James Browne

104. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for additional classrooms for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; when it will proceed to the next stage; when the tendering process will commence and be completed; when construction will commence; the funding she will allocate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7927/16]

School Enrolments Data

James Browne

105. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an analysis of the demand for secondary school places in Wexford town and the capacity to provide same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7928/16]

School Enrolments Data

James Browne

106. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an analysis of the demand for secondary school places in Gorey, County Wexford, and the capacity to provide same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7929/16]

School Enrolments Data

James Browne

107. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an analysis of the demand for secondary school places in County Wexford and the capacity to provide same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7930/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

James Browne

108. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a proposed building project for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; when it will proceed to the next stage; when the tendering process will commence and be completed; when construction will commence; the funding she will allocate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7931/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

James Browne

109. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a proposed building project for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; when it will proceed to the next stage; when the tendering process will commence and be completed; when construction will commence; the funding she will allocate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7932/16]

Broadband Service Provision

James Browne

145. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware that there is no fibre broadband available to the Kilcannon Business Park, Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, where a number of local high tech companies are located and which is threatening the viability of these businesses; the provisions he is making to provide fibre broadband to this specific area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7923/16]

Broadband Service Provision

James Browne

146. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the provisions he is making to provide fibre broadband to the Ballymurn area of Enniscorthy, County Wexford, an area which is growing rapidly in population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7924/16]

School Transport Administration

James Browne

403. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 441 of 22 March 2016, if she will confirm that Bus Éireann inspectors charging criteria for school transport is not in accordance with the agreed 1975 summary of accounting arrangements; and if she will further confirm that her Department does not directly audit the Bus Éireann inspectors charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7286/16]

Medicinal Products Regulation

James Browne

468. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the procedures he has in place to prevent persons who are under age or minors from purchasing paracetemol-type medicines at self-service points in supermarkets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6715/16]

Broadband Service Provision

James Browne

818. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will roll out broadband in the Kiltrea and Enniscorthy areas of County Wexford (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6572/16]

Middle East Peace Process

James Browne

616. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on and the steps he has taken to address the rapidly deteriorating political situation in Israel and Palestine and the continuing human rights violations imposed on the Palestinian people. [6022/16]

Middle East Peace Process

James Browne

621. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on and the steps he has taken to address the rapidly deteriorating political situation in Israel and Palestine and the continuing human rights violations imposed on the Palestinian people. [6102/16]

School Transport Data

James Browne

498. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide the data reports available that are generated by computer software by her Department and by Bus Éireann in relation to school transport, in list format, further to the recent replies and in particular on 2 February 2016 in relation to the number of applications and approvals for school transport when she stated that the information was not readily available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5189/16]