Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Fuel Laundering

Seamus Kirk

125. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce a new dye for agricultural diesel, in the effort to combat diesel laundering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17189/15]

Further Education and Training Programmes Provision

Seamus Kirk

445. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills her Department's policy on second-chance education; the budget allocated for same; her plans to develop this policy in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17210/15]

Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas

Seamus Kirk

518. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set out the current status of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas report; the amount of funding that will be put aside for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17208/15]

National Spatial Strategy

Seamus Kirk

522. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set out his plans to re-introduce the national spatial strategy, focusing on gateways and hubs in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17206/15]

Regional Development Funding

Seamus Kirk

523. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set out his plans to develop economic regions within the island of Ireland; the amount of money put aside for this and the direct economic benefit to the State for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17207/15]

Rural Transport Programme

Seamus Kirk

587. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reopen the rural transport programme; if he will discuss the direct benefit to the rural economy for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17209/15]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Seamus Kirk

47. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending the carer's allowance scheme to community houses which provide social support programmes for the elderly through the community or community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17061/15]

Social Enterprise Sector

Seamus Kirk

67. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his Department's strategy in relation to social enterprise; if he has a strategic plan for this sector; the number of jobs created by social enterprises over the past five years; the net impact of these jobs on the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16909/15]

Dormant Accounts Fund

Seamus Kirk

128. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money which is in dormant accounts from the years 2011 to 2015; if he will provide a breakdown on the expenditure of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16907/15]

Dormant Accounts Fund

Seamus Kirk

129. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an estimate on the amount held in dormant accounts at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16908/15]

Proposed Legislation

Seamus Kirk

155. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the Construction Contracts Act 2013; when this will come into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16382/15]

Tuberculosis Incidence

Seamus Kirk

189. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the concern of farmers regarding the prevalence of tuberculosis in livestock in the mid-Louth area; if his attention has been further drawn to the significant population of wild deer in the general area that are suspected of being carriers of the disease; if a deer cull is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16771/15]

Public Sector Staff Data

Seamus Kirk

88. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of the number of State and Government employees, by Department and by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16124/15]

Local Authority Rates

Seamus Kirk

322. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will clarify his position regarding sports clubs which have an occasional licence for bar facilities; the way the rates liability is calculated in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15729/15]

Departmental Funding

Seamus Kirk

184. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of a grant of €3.5 million to Alverno Heights and Alverno Court in Laytown in County Meath, which was set aside under his Department's 2014 social housing investment programme, to carry out a range of measures to improve the standard and quality of the housing stock in both estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14990/15]

Driver Licence Data

Seamus Kirk

199. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of Irish drivers who have received an international driving permit in each of the past four years; the costs associated in awarding these permits; the most popular countries for which Irish drivers have obtained an international driving permit; his views on the security features in the international driving permit; if he is satisfied with the corresponding use of international driving permits here by non-European Union drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15004/15]

Garda Deployment

Seamus Kirk

407. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí per Garda district; the number and location of each Garda station in each district and their opening hours, including the number of gardaí stationed at each station; if she will provide a breakdown for the years 2011 to 2014 of gardaí stationed in each station; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14893/15]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Seamus Kirk

162. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine an anomaly in the higher education grants scheme whereby an applicant who is fostered will be assessed on that person's own income position, while an applicant who is in guardianship will be assessed on that person's guardian's income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13545/15]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Seamus Kirk

190. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Taoiseach his plans to develop a strategic position for Ireland in the event of the United Kingdom withdrawing from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13083/15]

Tax Exemptions

Seamus Kirk

74. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance his plans to re-activate the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12461/15]

Legislative Measures

Seamus Kirk

289. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review the legislation on tree-felling, in view of recent court decisions on personal injury awards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7847/15]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Seamus Kirk

561. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has finalised the respective roles for SOLAS and institutes of technology for the apprenticeship implementation plan; if she will examine this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8298/15]

Public Service Obligation Levy Application

Seamus Kirk

607. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to reduce the public service obligation levy on charities and sporting organisations due to the increased costs in the public service obligation levy, which directly impact sporting bodies and charities nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7848/15]

Autism Support Services

Seamus Kirk

184. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for an assessment of a child with autism; the number of persons who are currently waiting for an assessment; and his plans to increase funding for same [7356/15]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Seamus Kirk

202. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to cut special needs assistants in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7354/15]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Seamus Kirk

203. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a breakdown of the number of special needs assistants employed from 2011 to 2014, on a county basis. [7355/15]

Food Harvest 2020 Strategy

Seamus Kirk

287. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position at the end of 2014 regarding the targets for growth set for each sector in Food Harvest 2020, published in July 2010; the estimated number of jobs created in each sector following expansion; the increase in production and export growth for each sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7154/15]

Fishing Industry Development

Seamus Kirk

288. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in implementing the Bord Iascaigh Mhara strategy 2010 to 2012, Delivering on the Potential of Irish Seafood, and the Irish seafood national programme 2007 to 2013; the level of investment in the sector under these programmes; the number of jobs created; the growth in exports of seafood products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7155/15]

Asylum Support Services

Seamus Kirk

468. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to develop third level education and training for asylum seekers in various direct provision centres around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7083/15]

Tax Reliefs Eligibility

Seamus Kirk

112. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance his views on raising the age limit of 35 years to 40 years for stamp duty relief for young farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5219/15]

Data Protection

Seamus Kirk

255. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the exchange of information between the Revenue Commissioners and Irish Water regarding the registration for property tax and registration for water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5182/15]

Employment Data

Seamus Kirk

159. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Taoiseach the number of persons employed in County Louth from 2007 to 2014, in the manufacturing industry, including agribusiness, multinationals and small and medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3751/15]

Teachers' Remuneration

Seamus Kirk

428. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the anomaly which has arisen regarding allowances paid to primary teachers who achieved degree qualifications during the 2011-12 academic year, with apparently a condition that a teacher would have to have been teaching on 5 December 2011 to qualify for the increased allowance (details supplied); if the rule will be re-examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3326/15]

Illegal Dumping

Seamus Kirk

507. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the toxic dumping into the Dundalk, County Louth, water supply; if there will be immediate intervention from the Environmental Protection Agency; if he has figures in relation to the amount of toxic dumping which is being dumped into the Fane river; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3549/15]

Energy Prices

Seamus Kirk

126. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has endeavoured to quantify the benefit to the economy of the reduction in cost of Brent crude oil; and if he will provide figures for same. [49434/14]

Deposit Interest Rates

Seamus Kirk

170. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the announcement of a DIRT refund for first-time buyers, announced in budget 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1709/15]

TAMS Payments

Seamus Kirk

314. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if in view of the dire predictions for cashflow for dairy farm incomes for 2015, he will consider extending the completion dates for projects approved under the TAMS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1189/15]

Fuel Prices

Seamus Kirk

964. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources due to the decrease in the value of natural resources, including oil and gas, if this reduction will be passed on to domestic customers of fuel, including for home heating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1710/15]

Economic Data

Seamus Kirk

197. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance the GNP value of the current total workforce here on an hourly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47702/14]

Installation Aid Scheme Eligibility

Seamus Kirk

100. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will introduce an installation aid scheme for young farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47586/14]

Direct Payment Scheme Eligibility

Seamus Kirk

101. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements for young farmers to access entitlements; if the arrangements are finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47587/14]

Fuel Prices

Seamus Kirk

582. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if petrol and diesel prices are being monitored having regard to the significant decrease in crude oil prices; if retail prices are reflecting this trend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46184/14]

Animal Diseases

Seamus Kirk

229. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the recent Supreme Court decision on the appeal by a number of farmers in the Cooley Peninsula, County Louth, regarding the level of compensation paid for de-stocking during the foot and mouth outbreak, if compensation paid to other farmers will now be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44936/14]

Children in Care

Seamus Kirk

297. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps regarding special care units for children; if an application is refused if there is a right to appeal; the criteria for this right to appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45251/14]

Children in Care

Seamus Kirk

298. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children who are in special care units here; the cost per annum for these children; if he will provide a breakdown by county on the number of children in care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45252/14]

Tobacco Control Measures

Seamus Kirk

348. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if the proposal on cigarette packaging has been assessed to determine its impact on black market sales; if he will make the conclusions of the assessment available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45066/14]

Renewable Energy Generation

Seamus Kirk

552. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Electric Ireland has announced that it will no longer buy electricity from residential properties generating electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind, which will impact residential customers who will lose 9 cent/kWh export tariff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43047/14]

Garda Station Refurbishment

Seamus Kirk

128. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the proposed upgrade of Dromad Garda station, County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42586/14]

Health Services Provision

Seamus Kirk

756. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to a discovery of a vaccine against Ebola; if the EU is contributing to the research project; if so the amount Ireland is contributing to this research fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41870/14]

Third Level Facilities

Seamus Kirk

858. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41156/14]