Parliamentary questions

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Jan O'Sullivan

154. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is specific legislation defining the term "reasonable" with regard to reasonable expenses taken into account when assessing the means of a person for jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2291/17]

Private Rented Accommodation Evictions

Jan O'Sullivan

125. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when Part 3 of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 will be commenced; the protection it will provide for tenants in a development (details supplied); if the protection from termination of tenancies in which ten, or more, dwellings are being sold will apply and to which this section of the Act applies, is afforded to tenants who are given notice of termination of tenancies on different dates but where the total is over ten; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2064/17]

Proposed Legislation

Jan O'Sullivan

434. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will invite the Irish Second-Level Students Union to participate in the working group on the parent and student charter in view of the fact that it is the representative body of second-level school students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1636/17]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Jan O'Sullivan

667. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons participating in the community employment schemes, Tús and the rural social scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1824/17]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Jan O'Sullivan

668. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons participating in the community employment schemes, Tús and rural social scheme, in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1825/17]

Mental Health Services Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

958. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when construction on the new national forensic mental health facility at Portrane, County Dublin, will commence; the timeline for completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41381/16]

Insurance Costs

Jan O'Sullivan

1673. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will intervene with insurance companies that are raising premiums for providers of child care services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41076/16]

Legislative Measures

Jan O'Sullivan

70. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to growing concerns in relation to cyber safety for children and young persons including apps which purport to be regarding friendship but are open to predatory behaviour and inappropriate posting; when she expects the sections of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015that deal with exploitation of children to be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40298/16]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Jan O'Sullivan

29. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress that has been made on implementing the cross-party motion introduced in Dáil Eireann on 10 November 2016 including the intention to work with French authorities to identify up to 200 unaccompanied minors that had been in the camp at Calais and would be willing to come here; if work is ongoing to expand Tusla's capacity for this purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39976/16]

School Transport Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

32. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress that has been made on the actions in pillar 1 of Rebuilding Ireland in which her Department has a role, particularly actions 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7; if free public transport has been provided for children to go to school, after school and community activities; if the safety guidance and voluntary code for child safety in emergency accommodation is in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39942/16]

Child Detention Centres

Jan O'Sullivan

35. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if progress has been made in addressing the problems at the Oberstown centre; the involvement she and her Department have had in seeking to resolve them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39941/16]

Domestic Violence Policy

Jan O'Sullivan

37. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has had discussions with the Minister for Justice and Equality on the drafting of the domestic violence Bill, which is due to be published soon, to address the dangers to children of domestic violence and the way in which they might be protected through this legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39975/16]

Child Care Services Staff

Jan O'Sullivan

247. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if, having launched the report Doing the Sums: the Real Cost of Providing Childcare in Ireland, compiled by Early Childhood Ireland, she plans to address low pay and poor conditions in the sector that make it very difficult to retain the highly qualified and motivated persons that work with young children to provide quality care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40292/16]

Library Services Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

255. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of the second round of library services applying to his Department for funding for the open library initiative in 2017; the locations that were included in these applications; the amounts applied for in each application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40041/16]

Mortality Data

Jan O'Sullivan

422. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if statistics are gathered on incidents of sudden death as a result of heart conditions in the context of ensuring that staff in these locations are appropriately trained and that defibrillators are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39453/16]

Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage

Jan O'Sullivan

515. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if negotiations are to commence between a company (details supplied) and the HSE on 15 December 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40040/16]

Health and Safety Regulations

Jan O'Sullivan

250. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to make regulations under section 58 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 imposing specific requirements as to facilities and arrangements for first aid arrangements in gyms, including the provision of defibrillators and staff trained in their use and in CPR; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39163/16]

Library Services Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

201. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of the library services applying to his Department for funding for the open library initiative in 2017; the locations that were included in these applications; the amounts applied for in each application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38648/16]

Primary Care Centres

Jan O'Sullivan

356. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the proposed new primary care centre in Bettystown, County Meath, will open; the range of services to be provided at the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38647/16]

Education and Training Boards

Jan O'Sullivan

155. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the project regarding the Louth-Meath education and training board, ETB, Drogheda, County Louth is still going ahead; when the tendering for the project will be completed; the overall cost of the project; when he expects it to be finished; the number of ETB staff to be accommodated in the new facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38112/16]

Medicinal Products

Jan O'Sullivan

566. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if negotiations are taking place with the company that produces Kalydeco for cystic fibrosis patients in order for the Government to be able to reimburse the drug costs for children aged from two to five years in view of the fact that it is already being reimbursed for persons aged six years and over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37385/16]

Garda Deployment

Jan O'Sullivan

41. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the Garda numbers for the Drogheda district and the Dundalk district for each of the years 2011 to date in 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36607/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Jan O'Sullivan

84. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a new school building project in Whitecross, Julianstown, County Meath, will commence; when the work will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36592/16]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Jan O'Sullivan

85. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress in locating a site for a school building project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36596/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Jan O'Sullivan

87. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in the commencement of a school building project (details supplied); when work will begin; the timeframe for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36606/16]

Road Projects

Jan O'Sullivan

247. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allocate funding for a bypass at Ardee, County Louth; the timeframe for the delivery of such a project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36603/16]

Housing Policy

Jan O'Sullivan

97. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the various conditions that the owners of land banks must adhere to if their lands benefit from the provision of roads to facilitate the construction of houses under the strategic infrastructure fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36526/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

234. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new ASD units that have been provided for children on the autistic spectrum in schools in County Limerick for September 2016; the plans in place for further such units in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36304/16]

Regeneration Projects Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

41. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of money allocated under his capital budget to Limerick City and County Council for regeneration projects for 2016; if that budget will be spent; if there is, as yet, an allocation for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35234/16]

Departmental Expenditure

Jan O'Sullivan

44. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way he proposes to ensure that the €90 million underspent allocation, as of the end of October 2016, to his Department will be spent, particularly in the context of the acute shortage of houses and the growing number of homeless families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35235/16]

Rent Controls

Jan O'Sullivan

52. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if, in view of the recent figures indicating large increases in private rental costs in each of our cities, he will propose to the Government that rent increases should be controlled by, for example, linking them to the consumer price index; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35237/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

66. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when the first bundle of social housing PPPs, consisting of 677 homes and announced in October 2015, will commence; if he has had meetings with the NTMA to ensure a speedy delivery of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35236/16]

Housing Policy

Jan O'Sullivan

170. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the measures in pillar 1 of Rebuilding Ireland to address homelessness with timelines of Q3 and Q4 of 2016, including the delivery of rapid build houses, preventing family homelessness, extending housing first and the tenancy protection service and providing adequate emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35705/16]

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Jan O'Sullivan

84. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she expects the Government to ratify the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; when the necessary legislation disability/equality (miscellaneous provisions) Bill will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35294/16]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Jan O'Sullivan

274. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of whole-time equivalent special needs assistants and resource teachers employed in schools in the years 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35160/16]

DEIS Review

Jan O'Sullivan

275. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects the review of DEIS to be completed; if consideration is being given to incorporating new programmes, either on a pilot or mainstream basis, that have been shown to be effective for children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35162/16]

Planning Issues

Jan O'Sullivan

171. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he had interaction with a company (details supplied) or the Irish strategic investment fund related to the zoning of lands at Pace, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34290/16]

Planning Issues

Jan O'Sullivan

172. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason he changed his position on the zoning of lands at Pace, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34291/16]

Planning Issues

Jan O'Sullivan

173. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he considered an SDZ for the lands at Pace, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34292/16]

Planning Issues

Jan O'Sullivan

174. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which his concerns regarding the proposed zoning of land at Pace, County Meath, were addressed including the detached and distant development from the existing urban area of Dunboyne, the failure to observe sequential development and the impact on traffic volumes on the M3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34295/16]

Immigration Status

Jan O'Sullivan

60. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the action being taken by her Department in response to the call by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in March 2016 for the Government to provide clear, accessible and formal procedures to regularise undocumented children and their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33944/16]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Jan O'Sullivan

25. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department is considering offering care to some of the unaccompanied minors who were removed from the camp at Calais recently; the arrangements that are under consideration for these children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33534/16]

Disability Support Services

Jan O'Sullivan

39. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applications that have been received under the new scheme to support children with disabilities in the preschool sector; the type of support that will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33525/16]

Social Workers Recruitment

Jan O'Sullivan

46. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers who have been recruited in 2016 to respond to the needs of children who have not had a social worker allocated to them; if there are difficulties in attracting applicants; the efforts being made to encourage qualified social workers to apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33526/16]

Adoption Legislation

Jan O'Sullivan

53. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she expects to publish the adoption (information and tracing) Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33527/16]

Housing Issues

Jan O'Sullivan

210. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason his Department has an underspend of €90 million in capital expenditure at end of October 2016; the way he proposes to ensure that money allocated primarily to address housing need is spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33852/16]

National Children's Hospital

Jan O'Sullivan

323. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns that there may not be adequate affordable parking spaces for the families of children in the proposed new national children's hospital in the St. James's Hospital site; the way these concerns are being addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33407/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Jan O'Sullivan

59. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there has been a change from the plan to build a two-phase extension to a school (details supplied) to a complete new replacement school; the timeframe for the new building; if there is a revision of the capital plan to ensure that it is delivered in time for the growing population in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33096/16]

English Language Training Organisations

Jan O'Sullivan

158. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for ACELS recognition that are awaiting a decision; if there is an indicative timeframe for the processing of applications for recognition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32972/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Jan O'Sullivan

18. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the arrangements in place to monitor the agreed price freeze on waste collection charges; if he will provide details of the intensive public awareness, information and promotion campaign that was announced on 21 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28475/16]