Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for Dáil or Seanad term
Page 41 of 44
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Psychological Assessments
Thomas Byrne
159. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average waiting time for students to be publicly assessed for special needs by the National Educational Psychological Service; the number of students with special needs who have received a private assessment of special needs; and if he will provide a breakdown by electoral division or local authority area. [23196/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Thomas Byrne
160. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the performance of the pilot allocation system for resource teaching and learning supports; his views on whether the pilot is a success and, if so, on what indicators; his plans to extend the new allocation scheme in 2017-18 or at a later date; and the cost of the pilot scheme. [23197/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Psychological Services
Thomas Byrne
161. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all DEIS schools are prioritised in their preferential access to NEPS psychologists; and if there is scope to provide priority to non-DEIS schools with a high percentage of students from lower-income backgrounds. [23198/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
School Curriculum
Thomas Byrne
162. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a list of major curriculum changes at post-primary level that are to be introduced in the 2017-18 or 2018-19 school years. [23202/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Educational Disadvantage
Thomas Byrne
163. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering funding and supports for urban (band 1) DEIS schools as suggested in the ESRI review of the programme; and if his Department is also giving consideration to the ESRI suggestion in the same report to encourage schools to move away from rigid forms of ability grouping. [23203/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Educational Disadvantage
Thomas Byrne
164. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department's review of the DEIS programme is considering the suggestion in the ESRI review of the programme that there is case for a degree of tapering of funding for schools rather than a sharp withdrawal below the specified cut-off, as currently occurs under the DEIS programme. [23204/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Traveller Education
Thomas Byrne
165. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on restoring the visiting teacher service for Travellers; and the cost of restoring this programme to primary and post-primary schools. [23205/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Languages Programme
Thomas Byrne
166. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has undertaken any review of the effectiveness of the simplified allocation process for both learning and language support introduced by his predecessor in 2012-2013; and the cost of restoring temporary English as an additional language posts to pre-2012 levels. [23206/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
School Funding
Thomas Byrne
167. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that voluntary secondary schools receive less funding per student per annum than the amount allocated to community schools and that allocated to Education and Training Board schools; if he can provide estimates for the difference in funding; and his views on whether there is a case for reintroducing the equalisation fund for voluntary secondary schools that ceased in 2009. [23207/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
School Guidelines on Obesity
Thomas Byrne
168. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied with the guidelines on healthy, tasty and nutritious foods in primary schools; and if he will consider issuing a circular banning vending machines stocking sugary drinks, crisps and chocolate in schools. [23208/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Third Level Funding
Thomas Byrne
169. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the policy of providing universities a top-up payment per student enrolled in a course teaching computer science has been successful; the estimated cost of the programme; and the estimated increase in computer science graduates to which this has led. [23209/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Irish Language
Thomas Byrne
170. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of non-Gaelscoileanna schools that offer access to Irish language partial immersion programmes, where 50% of subjects are taught through the Irish language; and if his Department offers any support or funding to schools to increase access to such programmes. [23210/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
School Guidance Counsellors
Thomas Byrne
171. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide estimates of the cost of restoring ex-quota guidance counsellors to all schools. [23211/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Capitation Grants
Thomas Byrne
172. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide estimates of the cost of a 20% increase per annum in the per capita capitation to voluntary secondary schools; and the estimated cost of a 10% increase in the capitation to community and comprehensive schools. [23212/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Schools Establishment
Thomas Byrne
175. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, in view of the preliminary census results for County Meath, showing above trend population growth, he has cause to review current and future educational provision in County Meath. [23231/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Residential Institutions Redress Scheme
Thomas Byrne
176. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when Caranua's accounts for 2014 and 2015 will be published. [23234/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund
Thomas Byrne
177. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will meet the Right to Peace group. [23235/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Departmental Correspondence
Thomas Byrne
178. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he had an opportunity to review a file (details supplied). [23236/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Data
Thomas Byrne
179. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of survivors of institutional abuse who have received assistance from Caranua. [23237/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Residential Institutions Redress Scheme
Thomas Byrne
180. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when it is envisaged that Caranua will complete its work. [23238/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund
Thomas Byrne
181. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funds that are still awaited from religious orders in respect of Caranua. [23239/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Hospital Appointments Status
Thomas Byrne
332. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical appointment for a person (details supplied). [23167/16]
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
written
Health Services Provision
Thomas Byrne
333. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the preliminary census results for County Meath showing above-trend population growth, he has cause to review the current and future health care provision in County Meath and in particular of Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County Meath. [23233/16]
Tue, 19 Jul 2016
written
Third Level Funding
Thomas Byrne
250. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the European Investment Bank has offered the Government funds to start a student loans scheme; if the Government has accepted, rejected or done nothing in response to such an offer; if the offer is still open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22202/16]
Tue, 19 Jul 2016
written
Student Support Schemes
Thomas Byrne
255. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to extend the eligibility criteria of the HEA student hardship fund to private fee paying colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22280/16]
Tue, 19 Jul 2016
written
Student Support Schemes
Thomas Byrne
258. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the HEA student hardship fund can be extended to students in private colleges. [22325/16]
Tue, 19 Jul 2016
written
Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
Thomas Byrne
259. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to extend student grants to students who attend private higher education colleges with suitably accredited and recognised programmes. [22327/16]
Tue, 19 Jul 2016
written
Data Protection
Thomas Byrne
314. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills whether or not his Department has yet issued instructions to schools informing them of the arrangements for dealing with the data protection issues that may arise if FEMPI is applied to ASTI members in second level schools but not to TUI members; to describe what these arrangements will be. [22798/16]
Tue, 19 Jul 2016
written
School Costs
Thomas Byrne
315. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills whether or not his Department has undertaken any surveys asking parents and-or schools regarding the amount asked for annually in voluntary parental contributions; if his Department has any statistics on how reliant schools' budgets are, on parental contributions. [22799/16]
Tue, 19 Jul 2016
written
State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility
Thomas Byrne
401. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address inequalities in the pension system for women, particularly those who left the workforce to rear children before 1994; if he will address the glaring impact the increase in the required number of paid contributions made in recent years has had on women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21992/16]
Tue, 19 Jul 2016
written
Road Network
Thomas Byrne
819. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allow holders of limousine licences to use bus lanes when carrying paying passengers in view of the significant role such services play to those considering foreign direct investment here and in light of the fact that taxis can under certain circumstances use bus lanes. [22056/16]
Thu, 14 Jul 2016
written
Wind Energy Guidelines
Thomas Byrne
21. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will promulgate Government policy, including planning and all other considerations, with regard to the development of wind turbines. [21515/16]
Thu, 14 Jul 2016
written
UK Referendum on EU Membership
Thomas Byrne
34. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the implications of a British exit from the European Union on the electricity connection between the North and South. [21516/16]
Thu, 14 Jul 2016
written
Schools Establishment
Thomas Byrne
80. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he agrees with the South Kildare Educate Together campaign in south County Kildare that a new secondary school is needed in that district; and if he will meet the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21782/16]
Thu, 14 Jul 2016
written
Basic Payment Scheme Applications
Thomas Byrne
232. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the Scottish derogation scheme. [21783/16]
Wed, 13 Jul 2016
written
Home Care Packages Provision
Thomas Byrne
198. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the home care package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21549/16]
Tue, 12 Jul 2016
written
Charities Regulation
Thomas Byrne
176. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of current delays in the Charities Regulatory Authority in providing applicant groups with a draft or model constitution which is in turn delaying their applications for charitable recognition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21250/16]
Tue, 12 Jul 2016
written
Tax Clearance Certificates
Thomas Byrne
207. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Finance why a person (details supplied) has not been granted a tax clearance certificate. [21115/16]
Tue, 12 Jul 2016
written
Teachers' Remuneration
Thomas Byrne
220. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount it would cost to reinstate all allowances to new entry teachers which were abolished in 2012-2013. [21148/16]
Tue, 12 Jul 2016
written
Social Welfare Benefits
Thomas Byrne
411. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) has not been registered for credited contributions over the past number of years despite requesting to be so and what is required to have these recorded. [21373/16]
Tue, 12 Jul 2016
written
Home Help Service
Thomas Byrne
611. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the reason a person's (details supplied) home support hours have been cut. [21251/16]
Tue, 12 Jul 2016
written
Air Safety
Thomas Byrne
768. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the Castletownmoor wind farm in County Meath that is in the pre-planning stage; if flight paths for training purposes or otherwise will be affected by the project, which contains 25 turbines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21116/16]
Thu, 7 Jul 2016
written
Údarás na Gaeltachta Expenditure
Thomas Byrne
29. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the oversight she has of State assistance in respect of a factory (details supplied); and to inform Dáil Éireann of any concerns of the State agencies under her aegis relating to the operation of this business. [19888/16]
Thu, 7 Jul 2016
written
Údarás na Gaeltachta Expenditure
Thomas Byrne
51. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the support which was made available to a factory (details supplied); if she reviewed State funding under the aegis of her Department in recent times; and if she is aware of difficulties in the operation of this business. [19887/16]
Thu, 7 Jul 2016
written
School Accommodation
Thomas Byrne
103. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of the over-crowded classroom situation at a school (details supplied); if he will provide funding to enhance the school environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20424/16]
Thu, 7 Jul 2016
written
Health Services Provision
Thomas Byrne
214. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of the appointment of a person (details supplied) in Louth and Meath disability services; and if he will renew the contract. [20413/16]
Thu, 7 Jul 2016
written
Hospital Appointments Status
Thomas Byrne
215. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment. [20414/16]
Thu, 7 Jul 2016
written
Health Services Staff
Thomas Byrne
221. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of proposals by the Health Service Executive to relocate administrative positions based in Kells, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20425/16]
Thu, 7 Jul 2016
written
Health Services
Thomas Byrne
265. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the long-term plan for the regional administrative centre and current positions which are held in Kells, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20310/16]
Tue, 5 Jul 2016
written
Garda Training
Thomas Byrne
81. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has reviewed proposals in conjunction with An Garda Síochána to reform the training of new entrants to the Garda, including proposals for recruits to undertake training courses in other higher education institutions, such as universities or institutes of technology, and to share some courses, such as courses in forensics, with undergraduates from the general student population, rather than undertaking the full extent of their training in Templemore; and her views on such proposals. [19072/16]