Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Public Transport Fares

Declan Breathnach

642. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider allowing the use of Leap cards on rail and bus services to areas outside of the short hop zone in north County Dublin and County Louth in view of the fact that the short hop fare zone does not extend beyond Balbriggan going north from Dublin city; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Leap cards are accepted on private coach services to these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6974/19]

Northern Ireland

Declan Breathnach

57. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has held with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the activation of the legacy issues aspects of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6190/19]

Brexit Preparations

Declan Breathnach

63. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance the contingency plans in place to deal with possible customs checks at the Border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6086/19]

Proposed Legislation

Declan Breathnach

139. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the progress on the independent commission on information retrieval Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6191/19]

Brexit Preparations

Declan Breathnach

203. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if action plans dealing with mitigating measures and contingency planning for a no-deal Brexit scenario have reached implementation stage; his plans to deal with problems faced by hauliers of agrifoods and fish products in the event of customs checks causing delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6074/19]

Brexit Issues

Declan Breathnach

217. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if assurances will be provided to representatives from the haulage industry that measures for hauliers would largely remain the same for a period of nine months after a no-deal Brexit includes trips across the Border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6086/19]

Hospital Services

Declan Breathnach

167. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the status of the all-island children’s cardiac surgery centre in Dublin; the funding arrangements of the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4792/19]

Driver Licences

Declan Breathnach

225. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to open a national driver licence centre in Dundalk, County Louth, to service those living in the northern half of County Louth who may have difficulty getting to the office in Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4852/19]

VAT Rebates

Declan Breathnach

155. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the new online procedure for dealing with farmers who are not registered for VAT to reclaim VAT paid by them under the VAT58 system is putting undue stress on them; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that many farmers do not have access to computer systems and-or do not have broadband to conduct their business online; if he will consider continuing to accept VAT58 claims by post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3709/19]

EU Funding

Declan Breathnach

183. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of PEACE and INTERREG funding since inception by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4264/19]

Project Ireland 2040

Declan Breathnach

282. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if e-hubs will be provided for entrepreneurship and start-ups in each county in view of her goal under Project Ireland 2040; the funding allocated to each local authority and local enterprise office, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4064/19]

Assisted Human Reproduction Services Expenditure

Declan Breathnach

332. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health when funding which was set aside for IVF will be available; the timeframe for enacting legislation necessary to bring the funding on stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3864/19]

Park and Ride Facilities

Declan Breathnach

503. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the need for a park and ride facility on the M1 at two interchanges (details supplied) at which cars park dangerously near these junctions daily; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4118/19]

Housing Estates

Declan Breathnach

587. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no staff member in Louth County Council assigned to deal with taking in charge of estates in County Louth; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that as a consequence there are a number of estates whose applications to be taken in charge are not being dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3730/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Declan Breathnach

68. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the dangers posed to mechanics in the servicing and repairing of electric cars; his plans to draft new regulations to ensure that all mechanics required to work on electric cars are properly trained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2538/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Declan Breathnach

73. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to launch a public awareness campaign in respect of the specialist training needed by mechanics that are required to work on electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2539/19]

School Enrolments

Declan Breathnach

124. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a shortage of places at second level in a school (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that many children are on a waiting list for this school who meet the criteria for admission under category 2, that is, living and attending primary school in catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1918/19]

Rural Social Scheme Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

247. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the rural social scheme is not available to those in receipt of a blind pension in view of the fact that it is available to those in receipt of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1917/19]

Health Services Data

Declan Breathnach

760. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the way in which the ophthalmology waiting list data is compiled; the components considered when producing the waiting list numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1442/19]

Health Services Data

Declan Breathnach

765. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if the ophthalmology waiting list information which is publicly released takes into consideration the wait time for persons to receive and access treatment for eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, AMD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1462/19]

Health Services Access

Declan Breathnach

766. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the measures in place within the ophthalmology healthcare system to avoid lengthy delays in persons accessing treatment for conditions such as AMD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1463/19]

School Enrolments Data

Declan Breathnach

205. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of secondary school places available in 2019 by school in County Louth and east County Meath in tabular form; the level of demand for these places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52030/18]

Schools Data

Declan Breathnach

206. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated number of children who will be in sixth class over the next number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52031/18]

School Enrolments Data

Declan Breathnach

207. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of male and female students in secondary school classes in County Louth and east County Meath by school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52032/18]

Hospitals Discharges

Declan Breathnach

80. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be taken to reduce the number of bed days lost owing to delayed discharges in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50733/18]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

204. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the income levels for eligibility for the SUSI grant in line with tax band and tax credit increases announced in budget 2019; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the increase in tax bands and credits now puts many persons outside the bracket of eligibility for a SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50374/18]

Medical Card Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

361. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the income levels for eligibility for medical cards in line with tax band and tax credit increases announced in budget 2019; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the increases in tax bands and credits now put many people outside the bracket of eligibility for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50378/18]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

554. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high speed broadband will be rolled out to homes and businesses in remote parts of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50380/18]

Brexit Documents

Declan Breathnach

114. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will request a copy of the EU report or confidential document dealing with the mapping exercise carried out by the EU and the British Government in the summer and autumn of 2017 which was key to the Government's strategy to highlight the risks to the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48889/18]

Bail Law

Declan Breathnach

302. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there are changes to bail laws being considered by his Department in view of the Garda Commissioner’s recent public statements on changes needed to bail laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49057/18]

Home Loan Scheme

Declan Breathnach

247. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the large number of applicants being refused the Rebuilding Ireland home loan even in cases in which they have shown an ability to repay; his plans to revise the lending criteria pertaining to the scheme in order that more persons will be successful in obtaining a loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48448/18]

Home Loan Scheme

Declan Breathnach

248. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of successful Rebuilding Ireland home loans in County Louth since the scheme commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48449/18]

Citizenship Applications

Declan Breathnach

141. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of persons who applied for Irish citizenship in each the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the locations from which the applicants are from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44678/18]

Services for People with Disabilities

Declan Breathnach

86. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be put in place to boost respite facilities for persons with disabilities and their families in County Louth. [43607/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Declan Breathnach

276. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the timeframe involved to date in the stage 2(b) process for a school (details supplied); when the process commenced; when it will cease; the reason for the delays that have occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43469/18]

Passport Data

Declan Breathnach

100. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of holders of Irish passports that are residing in the United States of America and are citizens by descent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42833/18]

Passport Data

Declan Breathnach

101. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of holders of Irish passports residing overseas that are under 18 years of age and citizens by descent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42834/18]

Passport Data

Declan Breathnach

102. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of holders of Irish passports that reside in Northern Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that demand for Irish passports in Northern Ireland has seen a sharp increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42835/18]

Passport Data

Declan Breathnach

103. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport holders residing overseas that are over 18 years of age and could vote; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42836/18]

Garda Deployment

Declan Breathnach

42. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí and reservists in each Garda station in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42424/18]

Fuel Laundering

Declan Breathnach

59. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 83 of 3 July 2018, if his attention has been drawn to new techniques being employed by fuel smugglers utilising a form of distillation of diesel fuel that successfully removes the marker; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that a large tanker of diesel sludge was illegally dumped in Dundalk in recent weeks; if he will provide an increase in resources to capture those involved in fuel laundering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40929/18]

Carbon Tax Implementation

Declan Breathnach

60. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an increase in carbon tax on solid fuel in the forthcoming budget will lead to an increase in illicit trade in solid fuels to the detriment of legal business owners south of the Border; if his attention has been drawn further to the fact that such an increase would also lead to increased use of illegal polluting solid fuels purchased on the black market; if he will keep prices in line with pricing north of the Border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40940/18]

Garda Transport Provision

Declan Breathnach

169. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the vehicles in the Garda fleet in County Louth; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that gardaí cannot carry out their duties properly due to the unavailability of vehicles for use in community policing; the way in which investment from the €6 million announced in 2017 to enhance the Garda fleet has been invested in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40837/18]

Garda Transport Data

Declan Breathnach

173. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of the capital funding of €6 million which was allocated in 2017 to enhance the Garda fleet of vehicles by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40891/18]

School Textbooks

Declan Breathnach

246. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the process for verification of school textbook content prior to being certified as suitable or accurate in detail by his Department or the National Competitiveness Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39934/18]

Disabilities Assessments

Declan Breathnach

350. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for an initial disability assessment in County Louth in the age brackets 18 to 65 years of age and over 65 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39488/18]

Disabilities Assessments

Declan Breathnach

355. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Louth waiting on an initial assessment of needs; the number of children in County Louth waiting longer than three, six and 12 months, respectively for an assessment of needs; if the HSE in County Louth is in compliance with the regulations governing assessments of needs by which assessments must be completed within three months from commencement unless there are exceptional circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39509/18]

Weather Events

Declan Breathnach

210. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a programme of assistance will be introduced to help farmers who have lost up to 70% of their maize crop due to the conditions during Storm Ali; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that harvesting machinery is incapable of lifting a maize crop once it has fallen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38997/18]

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Declan Breathnach

165. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to ensure that redress that is owed is paid by the church (details supplied). [36587/18]

VAT Rate Application

Declan Breathnach

153. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if the 9% VAT rate for the hotel sector will be maintained in budget 2019, which would bring Ireland in line with tourism VAT rates in other competing European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36492/18]