Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Éamon Ó Cuív

244. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an appeal lodged with the agriculture appeals office by a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the reason for the delay in the consideration of this appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36660/14]

National Milk Agency Membership

Éamon Ó Cuív

107. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will be nominating a person representing the large multiple supermarkets to the board of the National Milk Agency, at the inception of the new term for members of this board, which is due for renewal in December 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36287/14]

Land Parcel Identification System

Éamon Ó Cuív

83. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total financial penalty imposed from 2009 to 2013, inclusive, on a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if the penalties in question have been recouped from any other payments due; if so, the details of this recoupment; the amount of penalties still owed by the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36044/14]

Beef Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

2. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to deal with the present crisis in the beef trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35430/14]

Rural Development Plan

Éamon Ó Cuív

5. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the proposed rural development plan submitted to Brussels; if the plan may be amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35431/14]

Commonage Framework Plans

Éamon Ó Cuív

8. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to resolve the difficulties faced by farmers with commonage land due to his proposals in relation to eligibility for the basic payment, the payment for areas of natural constraint and the GLAS scheme for farmers with commonage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35172/14]

Harbours and Piers Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

11. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total funding approved by his Department this year for the repair of storm damage to piers and so on; the money expended to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35171/14]

Food Exports

Éamon Ó Cuív

14. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he has taken to ensure that Irish agriculture is not at a loss because of recent sanctions imposed by Russia on certain goods from the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35169/14]

Milk Quota

Éamon Ó Cuív

16. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to seek an easing of the quota restrictions on Irish dairying or to get a reduction in the super levy that could be imposed on the industry between now and the ending of quotas next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35170/14]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Éamon Ó Cuív

22. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the delegated sanction he has given to the Minister of State with responsibility for rural economic development; her areas of responsibility in the Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35168/14]

CSO Quarterly Accounts

Éamon Ó Cuív

66. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Taoiseach to set out the increase in the number of persons aged 15 and over here from outside the EU, based on the national quarterly household survey between quarter 2 of 2013 and quarter 2 of 2014; the reason for this increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35812/14]

Leader Programmes Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

4. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made to date in selecting entities to deliver the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and Leader programmes 2014-20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34560/14]

Community Development Projects

Éamon Ó Cuív

22. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will cease funding the special Traveller projects and the Women’s Network as stand-alone projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34308/14]

Leader Programmes Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

28. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total project funding provided under the Leader programme 2007-2014; the amount spent to date; the amount spent to date in 2014; if he is satisfied that all of this funding will be drawn down by the end of the programme; the latest date for the completion of projects under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34307/14]

Community Employment Drug Rehabilitation Projects

Éamon Ó Cuív

52. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to restore the funding for the community employment drug rehabilitation programme in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34516/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

149. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if it is intended to revise the rent caps for the receipt of rent supplement in view of the increase in rents, particularly in urban areas, since the last review and the difficulty that many persons, in need of accommodation, are having renting properties below the current thresholds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34506/14]

Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

150. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total expenditure by her Department on rent supplement and mortgage supplement, respectively, in each year since 2010, including 2014 to the end of August; the reasons for the change in the amounts paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34507/14]

Exceptional Needs Payments

Éamon Ó Cuív

151. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on exceptional needs payments in each year since 2010, including 2014 to the end of August; the reasons for the changes in the amount paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34508/14]

Rural Social Scheme Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

152. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to cap the period a participant can remain on the rural social scheme to three years; if this is under consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34537/14]

Tax Code

Éamon Ó Cuív

309. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the details of all farmer specific tax breaks available in 2013; the number of farmers who availed of each tax scheme in 2013; the estimated cost of each scheme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34475/14]

Home Renovation Incentive Scheme Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

310. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons to date who have availed of the special new tax relief introduced this year for the upgrading of residential properties; the estimated tax foregone by this tax relief to date in 2015 and 2016; the estimated number of extra jobs created by this tax relief to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34524/14]

Export Controls

Éamon Ó Cuív

426. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total amount of export licences that were issued in the past three years for the export of military goods; the countries of export to which these licences related and the amount involved in each case; if there is any policy to refuse such licences to export to countries involved in current conflicts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34512/14]

Arms Trade

Éamon Ó Cuív

427. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his role in the development of policy for the armaments industry in the EU; if he has supported the development of such a policy or opposed it; if he voted against any proposals at the EU ministers' Council he attends to strengthen this industry; if he has proposed an EU ban on armaments sales to countries that do not adhere to the highest EU standards on human rights or are subject to sanctions from the UN; the work he has done to encourage his EU colleagues to develop alternative industries that would be of more benefit to people throughout the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34513/14]

Arms Trade

Éamon Ó Cuív

428. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the current EU policy in relation to the armaments industry; if he supports this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34514/14]

Employment Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

470. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the increase that has taken place in employment in agriculture, forestry and marine in the two years to the second quarter of 2014 broken down by NUTS 2 and NUTS 3 regions; the sectors in which this increase has occurred; the causes of this increase; the steps taken to sustain this increase in employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34473/14]

Rural Development Programme Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

471. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total profiled expenditure for 2014 for the REPS and AEOS schemes broken down by scheme; the expected expenditure under these schemes and the GLAS scheme next year broken down by scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34474/14]

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

472. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers with commonage that is classified as marginal land will be required to prove that they keep stock on this commonage in order to receive payment under the areas of natural constraint, ANC, scheme in 2015 and subsequent years; the nature of the proof of stocking commonages that will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34476/14]

Rural Development Programme Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

473. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the concerns raised in the draft Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 regarding the relative position of farmers and the major multiples, the measures proposed in the programme to address this imbalance; the other steps that he is proposing in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34477/14]

Rural Development Programme Projects

Éamon Ó Cuív

474. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if participants in the GLAS scheme will be required to take part in the knowledge transfer programme; if they do participate in the two schemes, if they will be entitled to the full payment under both schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34478/14]

Rural Development Programme Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

475. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the schemes that could have had an advance payment to beneficiaries of up to 50% of funding as part of their provisions if assistance as provided for in Article 45(4) had been included in the RDP; the reason this was not provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34479/14]

Natura 2000

Éamon Ó Cuív

476. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that there is a minimum stocking level of 0.5 LU per hectare laid down in the organic farming scheme; his plans to give a derogation from this requirement to farmers farming mountain type land as defined for the purposes of the disadvantaged areas scheme and proposed ANC scheme or where stocking prescriptions of less than 0.5 LU are laid down by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Natura 2000 sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34480/14]

Agriculture Scheme Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

477. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any examination was carried out using standard output data from the Central Statistics Office Census of agriculture and data from Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine databases to determine relative disadvantage on a district electoral division, DED, basis; whether this information could be used to calibrate the payment rates for areas of natural constraint, ANC, and the disadvantaged areas scheme between more severely handicapped, lowland, less severely handicapped, lowland, and mountain type land in a similar way to the method used in relation to this data to determine payment rates for the overall ANC scheme by comparing the same data between DEDs containing designated land with DEDs containing no designated lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34481/14]

Agriculture Scheme Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

478. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the relative rates of areas of natural constraint, ANC, payment in the three types of designation for the ANC scheme, namely, more severely handicapped, less severely handicapped and mountain type grazing; if the payments in each designated area were paid out on the same basis as is used to calculate the overall level of disadvantage in these areas allowing that the overall allocation for the ANC scheme would remain as provided for in the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34482/14]

Agriculture Scheme Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

479. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the objective criteria based on natural constraint used to determine the proposed rates of areas of natural constraint, ANC, and the disadvantaged areas scheme payments in 2014; if he is satisfied that the rate of payment reflects the relative natural constraint in each type of designated area, namely, severely, less severely and mountain type; if the methodology outlined in the rural development plan was used for the purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34483/14]

Rural Development Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

480. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is permissible for farmers at present to be receiving payments under both the REP scheme or the AEOS scheme and the Burren farming for conservation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34484/14]

Rural Development Plan

Éamon Ó Cuív

481. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there is no attributed cost to the cost for farmers in completing the carbon navigator with an approved adviser as this is an obligatory requirement of the RDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34485/14]

Trade Relations

Éamon Ó Cuív

482. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the effect that the prohibition on the export of certain agricultural products to Russia will have on farmers and processors here; the discussions he has had with the Russian ambassador on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34500/14]

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

483. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated number of farmers who have commonage land at present, which had commonage framework plans prepared on them, and are in receipt of the single farm payment and the disadvantaged payment and do not put stock on the commonage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34509/14]

Agriculture Scheme Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

484. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that there are sufficient planners in place to prepare GLAS plans for commonage areas; the method by which the shareholders will be expected to agree and select a planner for the development of a GLAS plan for farmers with commonage holdings; if public procurement rules will apply as these contracts could involve the preparation of over 100 individual GLAS plans for the individual shareholders in the same commonage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34510/14]

Rural Development Programme Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

485. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if payments under the new GLAS scheme are based totally on standard costings or if receipts will be required to receive any payments by farmers under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34511/14]

Trade Relations

Éamon Ó Cuív

486. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if compensation will be payable to farmers and processors by his Department or the EU for losses incurred due to the ban imposed by Russia on certain agricultural products as a retaliation against sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34521/14]

Aquaculture Licence Applications

Éamon Ó Cuív

487. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be taken on the application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara for a fish farming licence in Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34526/14]

Direct Payment Scheme Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

488. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of reviews of the land parcel identification system alleged over claims that were sought by farmers; the numbers decided; the number subsequently appealed to the special appeals committee and the number decided to date by this committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34527/14]

Direct Payment Scheme Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

489. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who had over claims confirmed of over 20%, over claims of between 3% and 20% and over claims of less than 3% arising out of the land parcel identification system review in the last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34528/14]

Land Parcel Identification System

Éamon Ó Cuív

490. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have had retrospective penalties imposed on them to date arising out of the land parcel identification system review; the number for whom these penalties were imposed retrospectively for two years, three years, four years, five years and more than five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34529/14]

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

491. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the upgrading of cattle and sheep housing will be included under the TAMS schemes 2014-2020; if these upgrades will include upgrades to ensure better animal welfare and effluent control and safety issues; if, in relation to animal welfare, it will include the provision of cow mats and slat mats, which significantly improve animal health, productivity and performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34530/14]

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

492. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers with commonage and marginal land will have to carry stock on this land; the period of the year that will be required to entitle them to the single farm payment and the disadvantaged area payment or areas of natural constraint, ANC, from next year on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34531/14]

EU Regulations

Éamon Ó Cuív

493. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the threat of a fine being imposed on his Department by the EU in relation to the single farm payment still exists and the progress with the discussion to date to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34532/14]

Agriculture Scheme Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

494. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposed locations, dates and times of the regional meetings being organised by him in relation to commonages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34533/14]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Éamon Ó Cuív

496. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of funding provided this year for the following payments, including EU and Exchequer funding; single farm payment, disadvantaged area payment, REPs, AEOS, genomics scheme, beef technology, dairy discussion groups and any other scheme of current payment to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34535/14]

Land Parcel Identification System

Éamon Ó Cuív

516. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a land parcel identification system review has been carried out on a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if so, the over-claim that has been applied in the case and the scheme years this over-claim applies to; if a penalty has been applied; if so, the scheme years the penalties apply to; the percentage penalty involved; if any payment under the 2013 single payment scheme has issued to the person in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34714/14]

Defence Forces Ceremonies

Éamon Ó Cuív

540. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence the number of occasions that Óglaigh na hÉireann took part in commemoration ceremonies and other ceremonial events with other armies in the last year; the occasions and armies involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34504/14]

Defence Forces Ceremonies

Éamon Ó Cuív

541. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence the criteria used for the participation of Oglaigh na hÉireann in commemoration ceremonies here and abroad; the details of the decision making process in relation to these matters; if he was consulted on such participation; the occasions that Oglaigh na hÉireann participated in such ceremonies in the last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34505/14]

Prison Accommodation Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

668. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her policy in relation to more than one prisoner being held in any one cell at any time; the number of prisoners being held in cells with more than one prisoner in them during the past two months; her plans to eliminate this practice; the timescale to achieve this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34501/14]

Éamon Ó Cuív

669. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in direct provision at present for more than two years, three years, four years, five years, six years, seven years, eight years, nine years and ten years or more; the steps she is taking to ensure that no person is in direct provision for more than two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34502/14]

Departmental Correspondence

Éamon Ó Cuív

670. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a substantive answer will be given to a letter written to her some time ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34538/14]

Residency Permits

Éamon Ó Cuív

691. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was refused a stamp 4 visa on the grounds that he failed to submit the requested documentation in respect of private medical insurance; the reason proof of cover of private medical insurance was required as the person has a medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34713/14]

Youth Services Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

712. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the services for young people through the young people's facilities and young people’s facilities and services fund to 2011 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34516/14]

Youth Cafés Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

738. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if details have been made available in respect of 2014 capital funding for small capital projects in the youth services such as youth cafes; if so, the source of the funding available; the application process involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34071/14]

Drug Treatment Programmes Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

1101. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided for the drugs initiative under the national drugs strategy each year for the past four years; the reason for the decline in funding; the trends in the use of illegal substances in that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34515/14]

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Éamon Ó Cuív

1102. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if the drug task forces will be asked to draw up new action plans in consultation with their local communities in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34517/14]

National Drugs Strategy Implementation

Éamon Ó Cuív

1103. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his views on the connection between social disadvantage and drug abuse and, in particular, between social disadvantage and heroin abuse; his plans for a comprehensive, across government, approach to this issue led by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34518/14]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Éamon Ó Cuív

1121. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when assistance under the nursing home support scheme will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34712/14]

Foreign Conflicts

Éamon Ó Cuív

1210. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied that the current Government in the Ukraine was duly elected by the people; if it is intended to press that international observers monitor the forthcoming elections in the Ukraine to ensure that they are open, fair and transparent and all citizens get their full rights to vote right across the whole country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34503/14]

Cóiríocht Scoile

Éamon Ó Cuív

1422. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil sé i gceist aici airgead a dheonú do scoil (sonraí tugtha), de réir an iarratais a rinne siad, chun cuidiú leo seomraí buana a chur in áit seomraí réamhdhéanta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34499/14]

Leader Programmes Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

1581. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the population of each of the proposed new local action groups areas for the administration of the new Leader programme net of all towns with a population of 15,000 inhabitants or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34486/14]

Leader Programmes Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

1582. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the population of County Galway, excluding the population of all towns with a population of 15,000 inhabitants or more; the names of these towns; the reason that County Galway is not being allocated more than one local action group in view of the size of the county; in view of the fact that the Connemara region is physically cut off from the rest of the county, has a very different topography, settlement pattern and agricultural industry and in view of the fact that the largest Gaeltacht in the country is situated in Connemara along with over half of the island population in the country and in view of the fact that County Cork which has only 2.2 times the population is being given three LAGs; if this decision can be appealed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34487/14]

Leader Programmes Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

1583. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements being put in place to ensure that services under the new Leader programme will be provided fully through the Irish language to Gaeltacht communities where they require such a service; if this will be part of the tender process for assessing applications that include Gaeltacht areas in their area of application; the discussions he has had with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34488/14]

Leader Programmes Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

1584. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason it was decided not to designate the offshore islands as an area for a local area group under the RDP 2014-2020 in view of the fact that a LAG operated successfully for the islands during the last two Leader programmes; the independent external assessment carried out as to the effect this decision could have on the islands including the loss of island based employment in administering the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34489/14]

Leader Programmes Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

1585. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it will be a condition of the new Leader programme that the head office of each LAG will be in a rural area as defined in the RDP 2014-2020 for the Leader programme, that is outside all towns with a population of 15,000 or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34490/14]

Leader Programmes Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

1586. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the requirements that will be involved and the assessment methodologies that will be employed to assess whether a partnership or a legal entity have the financial capacity, either through their own resources or with third party assistance, to finance programme commitments under the new Leader programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34496/14]

Leader Programmes Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

1587. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to provide, under the new Leader programme, that projects not undertaking to carry out an economic activity, can receive up to €500,000 assistance for any one project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34497/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

1588. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total funding provided by his Department for new local authority housing for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; the plans to increase the allocation for new local authority housing in 2015 in view of the critical shortage of such accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34519/14]

Deposit Protection Scheme Establishment

Éamon Ó Cuív

1589. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a deposit protection scheme as committed to in the programme for Government to help address the issue of tenants' deposits being unfairly retained by landlords and so provide additional protection to tenants. [34520/14]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

1590. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding provided by his Department each year in the past four years for the scheme of housing aid for older people; his plans to increase the funding for this scheme next year in view of the demand for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34522/14]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Éamon Ó Cuív

1591. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding provided this year for the insulation of local authority houses; his plans to increase this funding in view of the challenges faced by people on low incomes due to fuel poverty and the cuts imposed by the Minister for Social Protection to the free fuel allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34523/14]

Homelessness Strategy

Éamon Ó Cuív

1592. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to deal with the challenge of homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34525/14]

Transport Infrastructure Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

1727. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in light of the strategic framework for investment in land transport published recently, if it is intended to base investment decisions in the future on usage of transport corridors irrespective of how defective the existing corridors are at present for the traffic using them; his plans to lay down minimum standards for the various types of roads such as national primary, national secondary, regional county roads as well as for rail lines; if there will be a national policy to bring all the road and rail infrastructure up to these minimum standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34536/14]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Éamon Ó Cuív

1734. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport with regard to super-cube trucks, if he will confirm if they have been banned from roads here; if he will provide details of the exact date from when they were banned; if he will further confirm the ban is nationwide and applies within the Dublin permit system as well as nationally; the way the ban is operating with imported trucks and if carriers are banned from loading them and so on at foreign ports; if he will provide the number or percentage of overall truck movements covered by super-cube trucks and also actual numbers as per any recent survey; the evidence there is of super-cube trucks driving on Irish roads, and specifically in the capital city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34657/14]

Clár Forbartha Tuaithe

Éamon Ó Cuív

1769. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén plé a bhí aici leis an Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil, i rith an dá mhí seo caite, maidir le seachadadh chlár LEADER sa Ghaeltacht agus ar na hoileáin; ar thóg sí an cheist leis an Aire maidir le clár LEADER a sheachadadh trí Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, agus maidir lena thábhachtaí atá sé LAG dá gcuid féin a bheith ag na hoileáin; cén freagra a fuair sí ón Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34491/14]

Clár Forbartha Tuaithe

Éamon Ó Cuív

1770. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ar mhol sí don Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil go bhféadfadh Údarás na Gaeltachta, go díreach nó trí fhochomhlacht a bhunú, cláir SICAP agus LEADER a chur ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht; más rud é gur mhol, cén freagra a fuair sí ón Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtas Áitiúil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34492/14]

Cumarsáid Aireachta

Éamon Ó Cuív

1771. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén líon agallamh i nGaeilge atá déanta aici agus ag a hAirí Stáit, ó ceapadh iad i mí Iúil, leis na meáin seo a leanas: TG4, Raidió na Gaeltachta, Raidió na Life, Raidió Fáilte (Béal Feirste), RTÉ Raidió 1, agus bealaí teilifíse RTÉ 1 agus 2; cé na dátaí ar a craoladh na hagallaimh; cén fad a lean gach agallamh agus cén t-ábhar a bhí ann; agus, i ngach cás, arbh agallamh beo nó agallamh réamhthaifeadta a bhí i gceist; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34493/14]

Íocaíochtaí Deontas

Éamon Ó Cuív

1772. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén líon scoláirí ar íocadh deontas ina leith faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge gach bliain ó 1997 go 2014 (go dáta) arna bhriseadh síos de réir contae; cén méid iomlán bliantúil a íocadh, gach bliain acu sin, faoin scéim; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34494/14]

Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

1773. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aici cúiteamh a thabhairt faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge do na mná tí i leith na gcostas breise a bheidh orthu ó 2015 ar aghaidh mar gheall ar na táillí uisce nua atá á dtabhairt isteach ag an Rialtas; ar phléigh sí an cheist seo leis an Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil. [34495/14]

Foras na Gaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

1774. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén cistiú a cuireadh ar fáil d’Fhoras na Gaeilge gach bliain ó 2011 i leith; an bhfuil sé i gceist aici an cistiú seo a mhéadú an bhliain seo chugainn. [34498/14]

Post Office Network

Éamon Ó Cuív

11. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the policy focus and the discussions he has had in relation to the provision of enhanced services from the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31296/14]

Rural Broadband Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

14. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the roll out of rural broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31295/14]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Éamon Ó Cuív

237. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason apprentices are to be charged the students services charge of up to €1,433 per annum despite the fact that student services are not available to or availed of by apprentices, and despite the fact that apprentices are not full time students but rather are employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32507/14]

Éamon Ó Cuív

238. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure the continued viability of small rural primary schools belonging to minority Christian faiths; if she will reverse the decision in relation to pupil-teacher ratios in these schools, many of which are one or two teacher schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32508/14]

Éamon Ó Cuív

239. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of minority Christian faith primary schools located in rural Ireland with four or fewer than four mainstream class teachers broken down by county and by the number of mainstream class teachers in each school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32509/14]

Éamon Ó Cuív

240. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the names, addresses and roll numbers of the 27 schools that will lose a classroom teacher in September 2014 as a result of the budget 2012 measure, broken down by county; the number of teachers in each of these schools at present; the number in each school next September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32521/14]

Éamon Ó Cuív

241. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of one teacher schools in the State in each of the school years commencing in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 respectively broken down by county giving the ethos of each school and their name, address and roll number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32522/14]

Éamon Ó Cuív

242. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in total, giving their names, addresses and roll numbers that have lost a teacher due to the budget changes announced in budget 2012 in relation to small schools, broken down by county, and giving the number of teachers in each school prior to these budget changes and next September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32523/14]

Departmental Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

362. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the changes that have taken place in the spend of her Department in each year since 2004, broken down by programme (details supplied); the percentage of the total expenditure spent on each programme each year; the projected trends of expenditure in the next two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32513/14]

Unemployment Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

363. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the increase or reduction that took place in the number of persons in receipt of unemployment payments or on activation schemes between March 2011 and June 2012, broken down between those above and below 25 years of age; the reason for these trends; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32514/14]

Seirbhísí Farantóireachta

Éamon Ó Cuív

414. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta céard iad na bearta a dhéanfaidh sí chun a chinntiú go mbeidh seirbhís laethúil farantóireachta ar fáil do phaisinéirí chuig Árainn, Contae na Gaillimhe, ón gcéad lá de mhí na Samhna seo chugainn, ag cur i gcuntas an fógra a thug an comhlacht príobháideach a chuireann seirbhís ar fáil don oileán seo faoi láthair á rá nach mbeidh seirbhís laethúil ann ón gcéad lá de mhí na Samhna seo chugainn ar aghaidh agus ag cur i gcuntas gurb é seo an t-oileán is mó daonra ar an gcósta agus go bhfuil na táillí do phaisinéirí chuig an oileán seo níos airde ná na táillí chuig aon oileán eile; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [32515/14]

Tourism Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

415. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will convene a group of interested parties including the local authority, Fáilte Éireann, Forum Connemara and Inishbofin Community Council, to examine how the airstrips near Cleggan and in Inishbofin could be used to promote aviation tourism by private plane owners and thus help the tourism industry in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32516/14]

Departmental Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

475. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the lowest score that was needed to be awarded a grant under the scheme to support national organisations, SSNO, scheme of grants announced recently that is administered by Pobal for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32221/14]

Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla

Éamon Ó Cuív

537. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara an bhfuil cinneadh déanta maidir le hachomharc a cuireadh chuig an Oifig Achomharc Talmhaíochta ag feirmeoir i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí leis seo); má tá cinneadh déanta, cén toradh a bhí air; mura bhfuil cinneadh déanta, cén uair a dhéanfar é; cén fáth a raibh moill leis an gcinneadh a dhéanamh; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [32021/14]

Commonage Framework Plans

Éamon Ó Cuív

553. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the commonage reviews promised will be completed; the compensation that will be paid to farmers in the meantime for compulsory destocking of livestock from commonages; the reason that arbitrary destocking limits are being imposed on commonages without any up to date evidence of their need; the reason for the delay in publishing up to date commonage framework plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32517/14]