Parliamentary questions

Trading Online Voucher Scheme

Billy Kelleher

776. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated full-year cost if the budget for the trading online voucher scheme increased by 50%. [24123/19]

Census of Population Data

Billy Kelleher

99. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Taoiseach the number of persons that co-work or work from home weekly that have broadband access and are employed in companies based in the local authorities of each city (details supplied) in tabular form. [21327/19]

Respite Care Services

Billy Kelleher

447. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the in loco parentis rule being applied by the HSE in respite care has been revised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21980/19]

Economic Competitiveness

Billy Kelleher

41. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the actions being taken to reduce the cost of doing business in Ireland and to reverse competitiveness deficiencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20851/19]

Personal Injury Claims

Billy Kelleher

43. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the timeline for the implementation of each of the 14 recommendations made by the Personal Injuries Commission regarding personal injury awards. [20852/19]

Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Legal Cases

Billy Kelleher

54. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on whether the full report of the trial of a person (details supplied) should be made available to Members of Dáil Éireann in order to identify potential legal lacunas and weaknesses in existing company law that emerged in the case with a view to strengthening the Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill 2018. [20589/19]

Trade Agreements

Billy Kelleher

70. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the process for ratifying CETA here and the recent European Court of Justice ruling on the compatibility of the investment court system. [20591/19]

State Aid

Billy Kelleher

75. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she has formally submitted a request or is preparing to submit a request at EU level to revise state aid rules as set out in Regulation (EU) No. 1407/2013 to protect exposed Irish enterprises and exporters from Brexit. [20592/19]

IDA Ireland Site Visits

Billy Kelleher

80. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of regional IDA site visits by county; the number and status of vacant IDA properties nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20588/19]

School Transport

Billy Kelleher

261. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the decision to have an age limit of 70 years of age for taxi drivers transporting special needs children to school under the school transport scheme was arrived at; and the Department responsible for the decision (details supplied). [18477/19]

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Staff

Billy Kelleher

576. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of full and part-time staff, respectively, employed in the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission by grade, legal personnel and other staff in tabular form; and the funding allocated to the Commission in 2019. [19277/19]

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Billy Kelleher

577. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of investigative cases commenced for suspected anti-competitive conduct that does not fall within the definition of a cartel; the number of inspections carried out; the number of prosecutions made; the number of fines issued, the value of fines issued; the number of collected and uncollected fines; the average fine per case in which fines were issued; and the average length of anti-competitive investigations to date in each year since the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was established in tabular form. [19278/19]

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Billy Kelleher

578. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of investigative cases commenced for suspected anti-competitive conduct which falls within the definition of a cartel; the number of inspections carried out; the number of prosecutions and cartel decisions made; the number of cases which concluded with fines issued; the value of fines issued; the number of collected and uncollected fines; the average fine per cartel; and the average length of cartel investigations to date in each year since the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was established in tabular form. [19279/19]

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Staff

Billy Kelleher

579. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff allocated to work on competition enforcement in absolute terms and as a percentage of total staff since the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was established. [19280/19]

Fallen Animal Collection Scheme

Billy Kelleher

1127. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the 125 km rule and the restriction on the removal of category 1 offal originated; the way in which the 125 km rule came through EU regulation; the way in which the distance of 125 km was chosen; the regulatory references to the implementation of the rule; and his plans to have the 125 km rule reviewed. [18389/19]

Project Ireland 2040 Funding

Billy Kelleher

151. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applications made under the disruptive technologies innovation fund to date; the number of successful and unsuccessful project applications, respectively, that applied for funding; the details of each project approved for funding; the value of funding approved for each such project; when successful applicants will receive funding in 2019; the amount allocated to the fund in 2019; the number of payments that have issued to date by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18298/19]

Regional Enterprise Development Fund Data

Billy Kelleher

152. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the 2017, 2018 and 2019 budget allocations to the regional enterprise development fund; the amount of the 2017 and 2018 budget allocations, respectively, expended in each such year; the number of applications for the fund by each stream in each year to date; the number of successful and unsuccessful applications, respectively, in each such year; the amount of approved funding to successful applications in each year; and the number of payments that have issued to date by county. [18299/19]

EU Agreements

Billy Kelleher

153. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the most recent developments following the agreement by EU ambassadors to launch trade talks with the United States of America and on negotiating directives that authorise the European Commission to commence talks (details supplied); if such talks will cover industrial tariffs in the main; and if agriculture will not form part of planned talks. [18300/19]

Departmental Websites

Billy Kelleher

105. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual cost in 2017 and 2018 of hosting a website (details supplied); and the breakdown of all associated information and communications technology and staff costs in tabular form. [17972/19]

Examinership Arrangements

Billy Kelleher

135. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the actions she has taken to protect jobs at a company (details supplied); if she has spoken with the management of the company regarding safeguarding jobs in Irish stores after the UK parent entity was placed into administration; if gift vouchers in Irish stores will be fully redeemable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17967/19]

Work Permits Applications Data

Billy Kelleher

136. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps being taken to increase the speed at which work permits are being issued; the number of outstanding work permits at the end of each of the past four calendar months, that is, 31 December 2018 to 31 March 2019, that remain to be processed by sector in tabular form. [17968/19]

Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports

Billy Kelleher

137. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she and her officials explored all possible mechanisms to date in the Houses of the Oireachtas, and-or legal options, to facilitate the publication of the ODCE report into the collapse of a trial of a person (details supplied); and if this cannot be done through the parliamentary or committee system, the other options that can be considered in the Houses of the Oireachtas to achieve this objective in view of the outstanding public interest and transparency for this action. [17969/19]

Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports

Billy Kelleher

138. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views of whether the full report of the trial of a person (details supplied) should be made available to the Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas in order to identify potential legal lacunae and weaknesses that emerged in this case in existing company law and to ensure that Members can input this information into the scrutiny of the draft companies (corporate enforcement authority) Bill which will ultimately produce more robust legislation in the area. [17970/19]

Skills Development

Billy Kelleher

139. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the funding allocated to the expert group on future skills needs in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the 2019 funding allocation between current and capital funding; the annual costs incurred and allocations made in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the number of part and full-time civil servants attached to the expert group; and the associated annual staff costs in tabular form. [17973/19]

Company Law

Billy Kelleher

140. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on requiring large accountancy firms to separate audit functions from non-audit business; and if an impact analysis has been carried out by her Department in this regard. [18005/19]

Company Law

Billy Kelleher

141. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on proposals (details supplied); and if an impact analysis has been carried out by her Department in this regard. [18006/19]

Trading Online Voucher Scheme

Billy Kelleher

212. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount allocated to the digital trading voucher scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the amount expended in each year; and the number of digital vouchers provided under the scheme in each year. [17966/19]

Flexible Work Practices

Billy Kelleher

232. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the legislative Acts and provisions in operation for consideration to be given to requests from employees for flexible working arrangements in the workplace. [17971/19]

EU Investigations

Billy Kelleher

138. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance the number of Irish cases investigated by the anti-fraud office of the European Commission in each of the years 2010 to 2018; the number of fines that subsequently issued; the number of prosecutions for each such case investigated; the type of fraud identified in Irish cases investigated; the amount recovered to the Exchequer or the EU budget from Irish cases investigated; and the number of recommendations for judicial, financial, disciplinary and administrative action taken by the competent authority here and in the EU in each of the years 2010 to 2018. [17313/19]

Tax Reliefs Abolition

Billy Kelleher

142. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance the estimated amount of revenue that would be generated if the abolition of tax relief for private health insurance premiums and the capping of such relief at 12% were introduced. [17414/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Billy Kelleher

165. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will be supplied with a new ASD unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17235/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Billy Kelleher

172. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the apprentice population forecasted in each employment sector and subsector in each of the years 2016 to 2020 by craft based and new consortia led apprenticeships; and the apprentice population in each employment sector and subsector at 31 March 2019. [17306/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Billy Kelleher

173. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new consortia led apprenticeship programmes forecast under the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020 in each of the years 2016 to 2018; and the number realised, that is, new programmes operationalised for these targets in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and at 31 March 2019 for these new consortia led apprenticeship programmes in tabular form. [17307/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Billy Kelleher

174. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of male and female apprentices in training by each employment sector and subsector for craft based and consortia led apprenticeships at 31 March 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17308/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Billy Kelleher

175. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new apprenticeship registrations in each employment sector and subsector for all craft based and consortia led apprenticeships at 31 March 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17309/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Billy Kelleher

176. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the previous occasion a forecast was conducted by the skills labour market and research unit of SOLAS and its apprenticeship services unit for annual registration targets for both craft and consortia-led apprenticeships, respectively, in each of the years to 2020 and over the next five years. [17310/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Billy Kelleher

177. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 11 October 2018, the latest estimated first and full-year cost of the proposal in question. [17311/19]

Firearms Licences

Billy Kelleher

223. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to update the Firearms Acts 1925 to 2009. [17415/19]

Garda Transport Expenditure

Billy Kelleher

225. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if funding will be provided for the update of the helicopters and aircraft available in the Garda air support unit. [17429/19]

Work Permits Eligibility

Billy Kelleher

252. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the recent changes to the employment permits system for workers from outside the European Economic Area. [17312/19]

Innovation Vouchers Initiative

Billy Kelleher

253. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 133 of 3 April 2019, the reason the value of innovation vouchers redeemed is considerably below the amount issued for each year in question; and if a review has been commissioned of the scheme. [17314/19]

Food Safety Authority of Ireland Meetings

Billy Kelleher

327. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when he last met formally with the CEO of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; the issues discussed; and when he will next meet the CEO. [17434/19]

Tourism Ireland Funding

Billy Kelleher

483. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated full year cost if the budget for the regional co-operative market access scheme of Tourism Ireland increased by 33%. [17430/19]

Social Insurance Yield

Billy Kelleher

538. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost if the 8.6% PRSI rate for persons earning less then €386 weekly was reduced to 8.2%. [17451/19]

Business Regulation

Billy Kelleher

103. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on requiring large accountancy firms to separate audit functions from non-audit business further to a parliamentary report in the UK. [17145/19]

Business Regulation

Billy Kelleher

104. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on audit proposals (details supplied) as proposed in the UK. [17146/19]

Competition Law

Billy Kelleher

105. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the EU and domestic regime pertaining to competition policy; and the sanctions available to the national regulator for breaches of competition law. [17147/19]

Youth Unemployment

Billy Kelleher

204. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost in the first year and the full-year cost of a proposal (details supplied). [17144/19]

Skills Shortages

Billy Kelleher

183. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocation to the regional skills fora in 2019. [16037/19]

Brexit Supports

Billy Kelleher

288. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applicants and participants in Brexit schemes and supports provided by her Department or agencies under her remit in tabular form; and the amount allocated and expended to each such scheme in each year since being established. [16036/19]