Parliamentary questions

Overseas Development Aid

Bernard Durkan

40. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which overseas development aid continues to target those for whom it was intended; the degree to which bilateral or multilateral aid can compare favourably in terms of positive impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18535/20]

Brexit Negotiations

Bernard Durkan

51. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the outcome of the Brexit negotiations continue to fall within the expectations of Ireland in terms of being able to manage the aftermath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18534/20]

Greenways Provision

Bernard Durkan

142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress to date in respect of the allocation of funding for the completion of the Grand Canal greenway with particular reference to the section of greenway between Dublin and County Kildare near Celbridge which remains outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18135/20]

Road Projects

Bernard Durkan

146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the need for outer and inner relief roads at Naas, County Kildare; if such provision will take account of the concerns expressed by local residents who feel that the outer relief road to the south and east of the town should be the priority; if his further attention has been drawn to the urgent necessity for the provision of the road in view of the extent of development and proposed development in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18177/20]

Road Projects

Bernard Durkan

319. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which he expects to progress the provision of a new bridge to cross the River Liffey in Celbridge, County Kildare (details supplied); if new and up to date plans can be formulated as a matter of urgency to provide the facilities in early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18178/20]

Road Projects

Bernard Durkan

320. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which relief road proposals scheduled for Maynooth, County Kildare continue to remain on target in order to facilitate the growing population and traffic flows which continues to be affected by population overspill from Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18643/20]

Housing Assistance Payment

Bernard Durkan

328. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for HAP in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18137/20]

Brexit Negotiations

Bernard Durkan

387. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent of ongoing talks with the EU and the UK authorities in the context of Brexit with reference to the need for alternative trading and transit locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19086/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bernard Durkan

388. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community is prepared to combine its scientific expertise and resources to combat Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19087/20]

Overseas Development Aid

Bernard Durkan

389. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which the overseas aid programme continues to target those for whom it is specifically intended; the locations most often covered by bilateral aid or multilateral aid programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19088/20]

Foreign Conflicts

Bernard Durkan

390. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which the international community continues to monitor the activities of Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab with reference to the areas they continue to be most active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19089/20]

Human Rights

Bernard Durkan

391. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which through the aegis of the EU and UN the international community remains alert to the use of child soldiers at various trouble spots worldwide; the actions in hand or likely to be taken to combat the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19090/20]

Human Rights

Bernard Durkan

392. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the initiatives contemplated at EU and UN level to combat violence against women and girls at known trouble spots globally; the degree of success in dealing with the issue; the extent of new proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19091/20]

Human Rights

Bernard Durkan

393. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the locations worldwide most commonly associated with human rights abuses and violence against women and children; the actions proposed or in hand to deal with the issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19092/20]

Middle East Peace Process

Bernard Durkan

394. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which efforts continue to be made to bring about peaceful settlement in the Middle East with particular reference to the need for ongoing peace talks as a platform to deal with ongoing grievances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19093/20]

Foreign Policy

Bernard Durkan

395. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which efforts continue to be made to ensure the continued stability in the western Balkans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19094/20]

Middle East Peace Process

Bernard Durkan

396. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which efforts continue to be made to bring about peaceful and equitable resolution in Gaza at EU and UN level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19095/20]

Diplomatic Representation

Bernard Durkan

397. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which staffing levels at each embassy throughout the EU and the rest of the world have been or will increase due to the potential demand and extra responsibilities arising in the aftermath of Brexit and to ensure that the diplomatic footprint of Ireland is maximised in order to compete at all levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19096/20]

EU Issues

Bernard Durkan

398. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which positive steps continue to be taken to influence the future of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19097/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Bernard Durkan

431. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if special consideration will be given to allocating one additional special needs teacher to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18112/20]

Exceptional Needs Payment

Bernard Durkan

576. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the entitlement of an exceptional needs payment in the case of a person (details supplied). [18099/20]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Bernard Durkan

595. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to reintroduce weekly payments for schemes that introduced fortnightly payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18322/20]

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

Bernard Durkan

623. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a supplementary welfare payment can be made while awaiting the result of an appeal for an invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18894/20]

Social Welfare Overpayments

Bernard Durkan

624. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 741 of 14 July 2020, if a person (details supplied) actually received funds incorrectly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18913/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bernard Durkan

741. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applications received to date in respect of the announcement of €75 million in supports to childcare providers for reopening; the value of the applications; the value of awards made and the number of same by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19121/20]

Childcare Services

Bernard Durkan

742. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childcare facilities which indicated their closure in 2020; the comparison with 2018 and 2019; a breakdown of counties in which closures are taking place; the number of places lost; the counties in which new facilities are opening; the number of planned places in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19122/20]

Childcare Services

Bernard Durkan

743. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the level of demand for crèche places in September 2020; the estimated number of children not returning to crèches in September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19123/20]

After-School Support Services

Bernard Durkan

744. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of after-school places that will be provided in September 2020; if there is engagement with the Department of Education and Skills on the provision of additional after-school places on a full-time basis in the event primary schools do not reopen in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19124/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bernard Durkan

745. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated fall in the number of ECCE places for September 2020; the indicative number of children who will commence and continue in ECCE in September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19125/20]

Immigration Status

Bernard Durkan

799. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an application in the case of a person (details supplied). [18648/20]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Bernard Durkan

1079. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if access to assessment in Linn Dara CAMHS inpatient unit will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); if same will be addressed at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19068/20]

Hospital Facilities

Bernard Durkan

1081. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the status of the development phase of Naas General Hospital, including the endoscopy unit, the new national children's hospital and other similar capital projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19098/20]

Local Authority Housing

Bernard Durkan

21. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which he plans to assess the housing need by way of reference to the number of applicants for local authority housing on the various housing lists nationally; if he is satisfied that the programme for Government adequately addresses the full extent of the need over a four to five year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17647/20]

Local Authority Housing

Bernard Durkan

23. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which he plans to embark on a direct build local authority housing programme of sufficient scale to make serious inroads on local authority housing waiting lists; if he will extend the housing programme to encompass affordable housing, private sites and improved to access to local authority loans with the objective of meeting the ever growing needs in respect of housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17648/20]

Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which he can foresee the provision of adequate private sites, affordable housing and Rebuilding Ireland loans in each local authority area nationwide commensurate with their requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17913/20]

Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the degree to which he expects to be in a position to liaise with each local authority in the greater Dublin area with particular reference to the immediately adjoining counties such as County Kildare with a view to the launching of a programme of local authority house building, the development of privately serviced sites and sufficient local authority loan approvals under the Rebuilding Ireland loan scheme with the objective of making available accessible and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17914/20]

Home Loan Scheme

Bernard Durkan

125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of local authority Rebuilding Ireland loans approved in each of the past three years; the extent to which he expects such approvals to increase over the course of the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17915/20]

Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of direct build local authority houses started or completed in each of the past three years to date; the extent to which he expects to increase this number in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17916/20]

Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of private serviced sites on public land provided in each of the past three years to date; the number he expects to progress annually in the future with a view to addressing the severe affordable housing shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17917/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Bernard Durkan

128. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of houses made available directly to each local authority through Part 8 or similar schemes in each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17918/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Bernard Durkan

129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of houses made available to tenants through each approved housing body in each of the past four years to date; the extent to which he expects an increase in this activity annually in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17919/20]

Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which he has engaged with major house building firms with a view to the provision of the maximum number of local authority or affordable houses by county annually in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17920/20]

Local Authority Housing

Bernard Durkan

131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the degree to which he has examined the prospect of engaging major building firms to build on contracts for local authority houses on public lands at a specified price per unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17921/20]

Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated time by which he expects a sufficient decrease in the number of applicants on local authority waiting lists to be made based on the number of applicants on local authority housing lists in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17922/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Bernard Durkan

133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of local authority housing applicants whose needs were met by Kildare County Council in each of the past four years to date through direct build or Part 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17923/20]

Local Authority Housing

Bernard Durkan

134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if income qualification thresholds for local authority houses are likely to be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17924/20]

Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of families likely to qualify for and obtain local authority houses for the remainder of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17925/20]

Rental Sector

Bernard Durkan

136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the action he will take in terms of reform to address the issue of families having to spend more than half the family income to meet rent payments; if provision will be made by which families can compete with investors in the marketplace to provide themselves with a home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17926/20]

Homeless Persons Data

Bernard Durkan

137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons registered as homeless by local authorities throughout the greater Dublin area; the number who have been successfully housed in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17928/20]

Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of local authority houses under construction; when they are likely to be ready for occupation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17929/20]