Parliamentary questions

IDA Site Visits

Jan O'Sullivan

794. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA Ireland sponsored visits by potential foreign direct investment clients to County Louth in each of the years 2014 to 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9842/17]

Company Law

Jan O'Sullivan

795. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has received a copy of the company law review group's report commissioned to examine ways in which company law could be changed to better protect employees and creditors in liquidations; when the report and its recommendations will be published; her plans to take legislation to the Government informed by the CLRG report combined with the recommendations of the 2016 Duffy-Cahill report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9845/17]

Zero-hour Contracts

Jan O'Sullivan

796. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to introduce legislation to address the issue of low hours and zero-hour contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9846/17]

Legislative Measures

Jan O'Sullivan

806. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that the national adoption contact preference register is put on a statutory footing in the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9657/17]

Adoption Records Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

807. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that information sources holding records pertaining to illegal adoptions, particularly instances in which no adoption order exists, will be compelled under the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 to transfer their records to the Adoption Authority of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9658/17]

Adoption Legislation

Jan O'Sullivan

808. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to address the issue of the more than 2,000 persons that were exported from Ireland to America for adoption from the 1940s to the 1970s; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9659/17]

Adoption Authority of Ireland

Jan O'Sullivan

809. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will reinstate the stakeholder adoption advisory groups established by her predecessor (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9662/17]

Homeless Persons Supports

Jan O'Sullivan

15. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the issues that delayed the roll out of free transport to and from school for children living in emergency accommodation, including hotels, have been addressed; if free travel is now available as committed to in Rebuilding Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7136/17]

Homelessness Strategy

Jan O'Sullivan

43. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of tenancies provided under the housing first model; his plans to expand the use of this model here in view of its success internationally in addressing long-term homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8997/17]

Housing Data

Jan O'Sullivan

54. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has received returns from all local authorities regarding the audit of empty houses in their administrative areas; the substantive information that has been returned, if there are some that have supplied no information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8825/17]

Private Rented Accommodation Price Controls

Jan O'Sullivan

56. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if, in view of recent data from a company (details supplied) that rents have risen by 12.5% nationwide in 2016, he will consider amending the criteria for qualification for rent pressure zones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8994/17]

Local Government Reform

Jan O'Sullivan

115. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the local government forum is still in operation; when it last met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8903/17]

Social and Affordable Housing

Jan O'Sullivan

125. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to an organisation (details supplied) which facilitates persons on housing waiting lists to be involved in the construction of their future home through a project being planned in conjunction with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; if consideration will be given to offering this option in other local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9091/17]

Public Service Vehicles

Jan O'Sullivan

230. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to any legislative or administrative change that would oblige taxi drivers to produce a copy of the first PSV licence they held in order to renew their insurance as a PSV driver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8888/17]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Jan O'Sullivan

266. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of local authority loans, on a national basis, that are in arrears; if there is a policy to deal with arrears, particularly when large amounts are involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8492/17]

Arts Centres

Jan O'Sullivan

371. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the names of the organisations from County Louth which have applied for capital funding from her Department under the arts and culture capital scheme 2016-2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8190/17]

Child Abuse Reports

Jan O'Sullivan

497. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if a meeting took place, as requested by a HSE counsellor dealing with an alleged child abuse case in 2013 (details supplied); if the HSE has a record of the outcome of that meeting if it took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8721/17]

Greenways Development

Jan O'Sullivan

594. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of greenways that are completed and under construction on a national level; if there is a national policy to expand on the number of greenways and to maintain them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8494/17]

Child and Family Agency Services

Jan O'Sullivan

651. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied that the current out-of-hours social work system meets the needs of children and families nationwide that are in need of support and protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8718/17]

Child Abuse

Jan O'Sullivan

652. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a meeting took place as requested by a counsellor dealing with an alleged child abuse case in 2013 (details supplied); if Tusla has a record of the outcome of that meeting, if it took place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8722/17]

Direct Provision System

Jan O'Sullivan

11. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the changes which have been made or are planned to address the rights and needs of children who live in direct provision centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7018/17]

Child and Family Agency Data

Jan O'Sullivan

43. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children that have been brought to the attention of the child welfare and protection services and have not yet been allocated a social worker; if targets for reduction in these cases in 2016 have been reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7016/17]

Family Support Services

Jan O'Sullivan

68. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for the evaluation of outcomes from the ABC programme; the arrangements being made for the future funding of the work being done with vulnerable children and their families through the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7017/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Jan O'Sullivan

76. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress which has been made in the commencement of the outstanding sections of the Children First Act 2015, particularly in relation to mandatory reporting of child abuse and child safeguarding statements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7015/17]

Asylum Applications

Jan O'Sullivan

100. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the audit undertaken to assess the skill or educational levels obtained by asylum seekers and refugees in their home country prior to registering for asylum and residency status; if she will provide such skills data if available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6869/17]

Insurance Costs

Jan O'Sullivan

144. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the steps he has taken to regulate the providers of car insurance here to combat the excessive premium increases being quoted over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6810/17]

Child Care Services Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

271. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provision which will be made for child care services not currently under the registration remit of Tusla to access the new single affordable child care scheme, for example standalone afterschool services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6455/17]

Student Visas Applications

Jan O'Sullivan

103. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a student applying for a study visa for Ireland must prove that they have €7,000 in their own bank account or simply access to €7,000 through a sponsor's bank account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6376/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

222. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements being made for children with special needs, including children on the autistic spectrum, in new schools (details supplied) due to open in 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5596/17]

Private Rented Accommodation Evictions

Jan O'Sullivan

144. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the most recent figures for cases of evictions in County Waterford; the action he is taking to prevent families from losing their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4956/17]

Departmental Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

150. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department spent its full capital allocation of €505 million for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5091/17]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Jan O'Sullivan

363. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the current exemption from commercial rates, which a child care service that offers only the early childhood care and education scheme can apply for on the basis of the Valuation Office's interpretation of paragraph 10 of schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001, will be nullified where the child care service provides wraparound care as proposed under the single affordable childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4957/17]

Education and Training Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

239. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of tourism and hospitality skills training positions which were available in the Limerick City constituency in 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4436/17]

Education and Training Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

240. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding allocated to the Limerick City constituency for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4438/17]

Education and Training Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

241. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the agency or Government body which has oversight and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4440/17]

Housing Estates

Jan O'Sullivan

283. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number and names of estates taken in charge by a local authority (details supplied) in 2016; the number and names of estates awaiting the taking in charge process in the same local authority currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3747/17]

Homeless Persons Supports

Jan O'Sullivan

316. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the action in pillar one of Rebuilding Ireland to provide access to free public transport for family travel and for school journeys for families that are living in homeless accommodation, including hotels, has been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4519/17]

Hospitals Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

597. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the amount of extra funding that will be required to open the new emergency department in University Hospital Limerick in May 2017 as intended and to fund the running of the unit up to the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4518/17]

Fishing Vessel Licences

Jan O'Sullivan

203. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of fishing vessel owners who failed to return logbooks to the Marine Survey Office or forwarded them without crew agreements in each of the years 2014 to 2016; the action that was taken on those that were non-compliant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3535/17]

Fishing Vessel Licences

Jan O'Sullivan

204. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of log books that were returned by fishing vessel owners to the Marine Survey Office in each of the years 2014 to 2016; the number of these that had crew agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3536/17]

Departmental Schemes

Jan O'Sullivan

290. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of plans for the single affordable child care scheme announced in budget 2017; the way in which it is intended to allocate the funding provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3310/17]

Water Services Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

238. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has received a request from Clare County Council's rural water monitoring committee to clarify the definition of multi-annual programming in the rural water sector and to ensure that the full RWP allocations for 2017 and subsequent years are made as early as possible in the year and preferably in the first quarter in order that moneys can be fully drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2556/17]

Social Welfare Benefits

Jan O'Sullivan

288. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims made for health and safety benefit in 2014, 2015 and 2016; the sectors of employment involved and the number of applicants from each employment sector, in tabular form; if he will increase the weekly payment involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2631/17]

EU Directives

Jan O'Sullivan

612. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to amend the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 to give effect to the Court of Justice of the European Union decision (details supplied) in order to give clarity on the issue of payment for travelling time for employers and employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2630/17]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Jan O'Sullivan

623. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the delay in the processing of Garda vetting for early childhood professionals, which can take in excess of ten weeks; if she has raised this with the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality; if priority will be given in view of the importance of vetting in this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2555/17]

Child Care Services Data

Jan O'Sullivan

628. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childminders in the home that are registered with Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3197/17]

Housing Regeneration

Jan O'Sullivan

140. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the audit of vacant houses and apartments that was committed to in Rebuilding Ireland has been completed by his Department; the actions being considered in order to ensure that as many as possible can be occupied in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2527/17]

Local Authority Housing Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

141. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of approvals that have been given to local authorities under the streamlining process for funding whereby developments of social housing with 15 units or fewer or of under €2 million in cost require only a single funding submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2528/17]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

142. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to set out the number of rapid build houses completed by the end of 2016; the number in construction and the number planned to be completed during 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2529/17]

Housing Issues

Jan O'Sullivan

143. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the assurances he can provide to tenants in a property (details supplied) in County Limerick that their termination notices have been withdrawn; the security this gives them for the immediate and medium term future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2530/17]