Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Maternity Protection Entitlements

Declan Breathnach

336. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the delay in implementing breastfeeding breaks for teachers as agreed upon by the teachers conciliation council at its meeting of 8 May 2018; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that it was agreed that breastfeeding breaks would be extended until 104 weeks after the birth of the child and that such breaks would be covered under the supervision and substitution scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that under Circular 31/06 employees of the Civil Service have been entitled to breastfeeding breaks since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36561/18]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Declan Breathnach

826. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the reason no statistics on non-Irish duty-paid and illicit tobacco products were included in the Tobacco Free Ireland report released in July 2018; if his attention has been drawn to the reason this information was omitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36250/18]

Development Contributions

Declan Breathnach

1338. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if new guidelines regarding development contributions will be issued to all local authorities outlining that purpose-built housing or alterations to housing to cater for persons with disabilities should be exempt from development contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35560/18]

Irish Water

Declan Breathnach

1390. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the average connection fee charged by Irish Water for mains and sewerage for each local authority area in 2016, 2017 and 2018 in tabular form. [36493/18]

Irish Water

Declan Breathnach

1391. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason for the large discrepancies in the cost of new water and sewerage connections from one local authority area to another; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 57 different connection charging regimes exist with over 900 different connection charges due to the fact that each local authority area has its own method for calculating connection charges with different cost structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36499/18]

Irish Water

Declan Breathnach

1392. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the Commission for Regulation of Utilities plans to publish recommendations regarding Irish Water's plan to charge a flat fee of €5,636 for connection to both water mains and sewerage; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that publication of this report has been delayed twice; if his attention has been further drawn to the discrepancies in charges for connections that exist from one area to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36500/18]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Declan Breathnach

1398. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he is taking to increase the stock of social housing by 50,000 by 2021; the immediate measures he is taking to alleviate the plight of the increasing number of families presenting as homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36584/18]

Student Accommodation

Declan Breathnach

1399. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he is taking to alleviate the crisis in student accommodation; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the severe shortage in rental accommodation is continuing to push rents upwards and out of the reach of most students that are then left with no choice but to defer their college place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36585/18]

Television Licence Fee Collection

Declan Breathnach

2049. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to remove the contract from An Post for collecting the annual television licence fee and assign it instead to either the Revenue Commissioners or a private contractor; the arrangements he will make for the persons that purchase weekly licence stamps at their local post office as a convenient way to pay for their television licence when due for renewal in the event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33307/18]

Parking Provision

Declan Breathnach

2183. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to create a park and ride and share facility at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33248/18]

Mortgage Book Sales

Declan Breathnach

88. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if he will liaise with the Central Bank to ensure that appropriate legislation is brought forward in order to compel banks and mortgage providers to offer distressed mortgages to local authorities at the same floor values at which they are being purchased by vulture funds; if the legislation will include a clause to require that local authorities would then enter into a Rebuilding Ireland home loan proposal or a mortgage to rent scheme proposal with the mortgage holder to allow them remain in their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30684/18]

Road Projects

Declan Breathnach

320. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the proposed northern cross route (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this route is vital in order to redirect heavy goods vehicles out of Drogheda town centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29798/18]

School Patronage

Declan Breathnach

60. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of communication with a person (details supplied) regarding the reopening of a school under a new patronage; if he has been in communication with Louth and Meath Education and Training Board, LMETB, which is willing to reopen the school by September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29234/18]

Invasive Plant Species

Declan Breathnach

355. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures being taken to manage and resolve the issue of Japanese knotweed in County Louth; her plans to introduce measures or grant schemes to assist landowners that have an infestation of Japanese knotweed to eradicate it in view of the fact that it is costly and onerous on landowners without such a scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29622/18]

Fuel Laundering

Declan Breathnach

83. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if additional measures will be introduced to deal with the problem of fuel smuggling and trading in illicit diesel products; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this illegal activity is responsible for an increase in the number of intermediate bulk containers of sludge being dumped in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29029/18]

Fuel Laundering

Declan Breathnach

434. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the annual cost related to the clean-up and restoration process due to fuel laundering by local authority in 2016, 2017 and 2018, in tabular form; if his attention has been drawn to an increase in this illegal activity in 2018 in County Louth; the measures which will be taken to assist in the clean-up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29028/18]

Home Help Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

38. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the reason CHO 8 was 51,000 home support hours behind target in the first quarter of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28226/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Declan Breathnach

100. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school building project (details supplied); when the building works are likely to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27334/18]

Public Sector Pensions

Declan Breathnach

165. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the single public service pension scheme and proposed regulations to provide for a facility for the purchase and transfer of additional pension benefits by single scheme members; the timeframe for the changes to come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26285/18]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations

Declan Breathnach

543. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to improve the sharing of information between court districts and the PSNI and An Garda Síochána in order that it would be clear that a defendant has revoked the provisions of bail of a previous court hearing and therefore should not be allowed further leniency as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25593/18]

Passport Applications Administration

Declan Breathnach

85. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing delays in the issuing of passports in both the passport express system and the online application system; the measures is he taking to deal with the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23889/18]

Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists

Declan Breathnach

70. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the reason some 468 children and teenagers in County Louth had been waiting over a year for a first assessment for occupational therapy in March 2018. [23570/18]

Peace Commissioners Data

Declan Breathnach

286. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the names and districts of peace commissioners in County Louth in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23495/18]

Rail Network Expansion

Declan Breathnach

509. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the DART and rail short hop zone to Laytown, County Meath; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Laytown is closer to Dublin city centre than Kilcoole, County Wicklow which is already included in the rail short hop fare zone (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23102/18]

Capitation Grants

Declan Breathnach

184. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the capitation grant from €170 a year for each primary pupil to the previous level of €200 in line with commitments made in the programme for a partnership Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21993/18]

Northern Ireland

Declan Breathnach

49. 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. [21902/18]

Legislative Programme

Declan Breathnach

117. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the independent commission on information retrieval Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21903/18]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

218. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the commitment to provide high speed broadband to each house and business in County Louth; the deadline for same; the number of homes and businesses which have access to high speed broadband; the number of additional homes and businesses which received access to high speed broadband in 2017; the number which will receive access in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21760/18]

Housing Data

Declan Breathnach

262. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Rebuilding Ireland loans that have been approved and drawn down nationally; the number of such loans that have been applied for in County Louth; the number of such loans that have been approved and or drawn down in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21759/18]

Medicinal Products

Declan Breathnach

387. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of prescriptions written over the past five years for opiate painkillers (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20983/18]

Drug Treatment Programmes

Declan Breathnach

388. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health to outline the detoxification treatment provision for those who have become dependent on opiate painkillers (details supplied); the detail of the inpatient detoxification treatment for complex cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20984/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Declan Breathnach

119. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the opening date of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20711/18]

Hospital Charges

Declan Breathnach

292. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if a meeting about patients with haemochromatosis having to pay €80 per venesection or phlebotomy therapy has taken place (details supplied); if a decision has been made on waiving charges for persons with haemochromatosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19777/18]

Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme

Declan Breathnach

438. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be provided to Louth County Council and ring-fenced to further develop the Great Eastern Greenway to extend it south of Carlingford and to Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19971/18]

GLAS Administration

Declan Breathnach

212. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a further extension of the grazing period on traditional hay meadows in GLAS until 14 May 2018 will be considered due to the hardship caused by the fodder crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19328/18]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Declan Breathnach

76. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a date has been set for a meeting of the high level forum on community employment supervisor pensions; if his attention has been drawn to the anger and frustration of community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors; his views on the fact that their contribution to improving the life chances of scheme participants and to their overall local communities is not being properly recognised at the end of their careers in spite of a Labour Court ruling in their favour; his further views on whether the Government may be undermining the Labour Court by ignoring its recommendation; and the steps he will take to resolve the matter. [18401/18]

Garda Retirements

Declan Breathnach

310. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda retirements from each Garda station in County Louth in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18087/18]

Hospital Services

Declan Breathnach

6. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health his plans to reconfigure cardiovascular services in County Louth and the north-east region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17085/18]

Civil Registration Service

Declan Breathnach

164. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if arrangements will be made to reopen the Civil Registration Office in Dundalk, County Louth; his views on whether it is unacceptable for persons in the north of the county to have to travel over 60 km to access this service now located in Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16936/18]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Declan Breathnach

169. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if the FreeStyle Libre reimbursement scheme will be extended to all persons with type 1 diabetes; if not, the reason for excluding older persons from the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16958/18]

Social Welfare Offices

Declan Breathnach

233. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if arrangements have been made to find alternative accommodation in Dunleer, County Louth for the community welfare clinic in view of the recent closure of the social welfare office in Dunleer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16929/18]

Garda Data

Declan Breathnach

51. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda recruits assigned to each Garda station in County Louth in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16571/18]

Teacher Training Provision

Declan Breathnach

470. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce a training scheme for teachers at both primary and secondary levels in the use of emergency medicines such as EpiPens and salbutamol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16647/18]

Passport Applications Data

Declan Breathnach

48. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passports awaiting processing through the An Post Passport Express system; the reason for the delays in the processing of passports; his plans to hire new staff to deal with the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12698/18]

Passport Applications Administration

Declan Breathnach

49. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the turnaround time for the An Post Passport Express applications is approximately two weeks longer than the turnaround time stated on his Department's website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12699/18]

Medicinal Products Supply

Declan Breathnach

538. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if a HSE tender for the supply of medicine for a specific therapy area will preclude the HSE from reimbursing newly launched medicines for that therapy throughout that tender period regardless of whether the new medicine is more cost effective and clinically effective than the existing treatment option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12345/18]

Medicinal Products Supply

Declan Breathnach

539. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if a HSE tender for the supply of a medicine for a specific therapy area will deny clinicians' autonomy of choice for their determination of the most appropriate licensed and reimbursed therapy option for their patient should that medicine not be the designated tender winner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12346/18]

Medicinal Products Supply

Declan Breathnach

540. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to issue tenders to pharmaceutical manufacturers for the supply of medicine for specific therapy areas in the coming months; if so, the therapy areas that will be tendered for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12347/18]

National Driver Licensing Service

Declan Breathnach

832. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the requirement for a person to produce a public services card to access services offered by the National Driver Licensing Service; the specific legal basis that the NDLS is using to make the card compulsory to access services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12004/18]

EU Regulations

Declan Breathnach

222. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the EU's Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, ESTA, proposal; if he has discussed it with his UK counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11633/18]