Parliamentary questions

Hospitals Data

Jan O'Sullivan

141. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of hip replacements carried out at Our Lady's Hospital Navan in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018, respectively; the number of persons awaiting hip replacement operations at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39192/18]

Road Tolls

Jan O'Sullivan

184. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the contract for the operation of the secondary toll ramps on the M1 entering Drogheda town will conclude; if the ramps in question will be managed by public authorities on conclusion of the contract; the cost if the remaining years of the contract were to be bought out by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39193/18]

Railway Stations

Jan O'Sullivan

185. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Transport Authority plans to commission a feasibility study for a train station for the northside of Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39194/18]

Local Authority Housing Data

Jan O'Sullivan

238. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of new direct local authority built social housing units in the Louth County Council administrative area which came on stream in each of the years from 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the location of each development; the number of units built by voluntary housing bodies and allocated to tenants in County Louth; the location of each development in each of the years from 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39186/18]

Planning Guidelines

Jan O'Sullivan

239. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the new revised guidance for local authorities on one-off rural housing regulations will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39187/18]

Local Authority Boundaries Review

Jan O'Sullivan

240. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number and nature of service level agreements formally agreed and signed between Louth County Council and Meath County Council arising from the recommendations of the 2016 report of the Drogheda boundary commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39188/18]

Local Government Reform

Jan O'Sullivan

533. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the procedure will be put in place to designate Drogheda as a city in view of the fact that it meets the EU criteria for city status and in further view of the fact that its location, population and strategic importance make it suitable to the role of regional capital of the north east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38630/18]

Capital Assistance Scheme

Jan O'Sullivan

544. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason a project (details supplied) has been delayed in view of the fact that funding has been approved, a design team is in place and the housing association concerned has a track record of delivering in the area concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38827/18]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

239. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he next expects to allocate funding to local authorities for housing adaptation grants including for persons with a disability, mobility issues or older persons; his plans to increase the funding for these grants in view of the waiting lists in many areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38162/18]

Enterprise Ireland Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

86. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the quantum of State funding provided to a company (details supplied) through Enterprise Ireland since its establishment; the nature of the funding made available to the firm; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37920/18]

IDA Ireland Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

87. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs supported by the IDA in a company (details supplied); the quantum of State funding through the IDA provided to the company across all of its Irish based operations; the nature of the grants provided to the organisation since its establishment here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37921/18]

Teachers' Remuneration

Jan O'Sullivan

196. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing pay parity for primary principal teachers with those in second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37323/18]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Jan O'Sullivan

525. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 393 of 27 March 2018, if consideration is being given to providing access through the HSE to a treatment (details supplied) for spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37509/18]

Electric Vehicles

Jan O'Sullivan

613. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to increase the number of fast charge points for electric cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37366/18]

Site Acquisitions

Jan O'Sullivan

303. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made in identifying a site for the proposed new post-primary school under the patronage of an organisation (details supplied) that is due to open in the Castletroy/Monaleen area of County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36271/18]

Third Level Fees

Jan O'Sullivan

354. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person whose parents are Irish citizens and who has been living and attending school here since the person was six years of age but whose own passport is from outside the EU qualifies for EU fees for higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36687/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Jan O'Sullivan

357. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made in providing an extension to a school (details supplied) which is now to be delivered in one phase; the likely timeframe for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36724/18]

Medical Card Eligibility

Jan O'Sullivan

921. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce measures to award a medical card to persons who have had a spinal injury on the basis of need rather than means in view of the effect such an injury has on a person's life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36685/18]

Emergency Departments Waiting Times

Jan O'Sullivan

923. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be taken to address the problems of overcrowding in the emergency department of University Hospital Limerick in view of the fact that it consistently tops the list of the hospitals with the most persons awaiting beds in the country; when a decision will be made on the provision and staffing of a 60-bed modular unit to provide extra beds in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36717/18]

Road Projects Status

Jan O'Sullivan

1131. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of plans to develop the M20 motorway between Limerick and Cork; when a design team will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36690/18]

Road Network

Jan O'Sullivan

1134. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or the NTA have plans or proposals to bypass the town of Headford, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36725/18]

Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility

Jan O'Sullivan

1315. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who has been made contractually redundant at 66 years of age will be automatically entitled to receive jobseeker's benefit until they reach 67 years of age in view of the fact that the State pension age is due to rise to 67 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36829/18]

House Purchase Schemes

Jan O'Sullivan

1359. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if persons are considered to satisfy the eligibility criteria relating to employment for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan in circumstances in which the primary applicant is in continuous employment for more than two years and the secondary applicant is in continuous employment for more than one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36076/18]

Social and Affordable Housing Maintenance

Jan O'Sullivan

1360. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps taken by his Department in response to the European Committee of Social Rights finding in 2017 that Ireland was in violation of Article 16 of the Revised Social Charter in respect of social housing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36083/18]

Local Authority Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

1404. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the balance of funding required to be provided by local authorities in addition to the funding they receive from his Department to bring void council homes back into use; his plans to reduce that contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36683/18]

Local Authority Housing

Jan O'Sullivan

1405. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of local authority homes that have been brought back into use by each local authority in each year since the scheme commenced in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36684/18]

Education Costs

Jan O'Sullivan

506. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person that completed a level 7 degree in 2009 and paid the required fees themselves is eligible for funding under the free fees initiative to undertake a level 8 degree (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33192/18]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Jan O'Sullivan

596. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post-leaving certificate, PLC, places available at the Drogheda Institute of Further Education in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of additional places that will be made available to the institute for the 2018-2019 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34910/18]

Workplace Relations Services Staff

Jan O'Sullivan

1286. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of labour inspectors employed by the Workplace Relations Commission in each of the years from 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34673/18]

Labour Court

Jan O'Sullivan

1289. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of cases dealt with by the Labour Court under the terms of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015 since the commencement of the Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34901/18]

Ministerial Meetings

Jan O'Sullivan

1443. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 781 of 12 July 2018, if a meeting has been arranged with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32929/18]

Hospital Staff Data

Jan O'Sullivan

1548. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if there are unfilled authorised posts in a hospital (details supplied); if so, the number of unfilled whole-time equivalent posts in the hospital, including nursing posts, consultants and non-consultant hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33367/18]

Mental Health Services Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

1556. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if funding will be restored to ensure the continuation of a service (details supplied) which provides immediate access to psychological services for children under its care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33397/18]

Sports Organisations

Jan O'Sullivan

2206. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if League of Ireland football clubs that are encountering financial difficulties and have delayed payment of wages to professional footballers will be assisted to stay viable in view of the wide range of activities in the clubs, including underage, youth and women's soccer, that are at risk, particularly in Limerick and Bray; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33572/18]

Road Projects Status

Jan O'Sullivan

2275. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Drogheda northern port access route will be completed; if an application has been made by Louth County Council for funding for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34917/18]

Railway Stations

Jan O'Sullivan

2288. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is the policy of his Department and Irish Rail to develop a train station on the north side of Drogheda; if a site has been selected for such a station; if his Department and agencies have costed the project; the overall cost of the development of a north Drogheda train station project; when such a station will be opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35152/18]

Child Care Services Regulation

Jan O'Sullivan

2333. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that crèches particularly in the Dublin 7 area that are advertising themselves as being registered facilities, but are in fact not; the action Tusla can take against unregistered facilities in order to provide transparency and peace of mind for parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33584/18]

Greenways Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

2408. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be provided to extend the Boyne greenway project at Mornington, County Meath, to Drogheda, County Louth; the resources available to his Department for the next round of greenway funding; when the next round of funding allocations will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34898/18]

State Pensions Reform

Jan O'Sullivan

2488. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of the proposed setting-up of the total contributions approach scheme in the social welfare services office in Sligo; the estimated timeframe for the project; the spend for the entire project; the cost under headings (details supplied) in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33369/18]

State Pensions Reform

Jan O'Sullivan

2489. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of claims expected to be reviewed in the context of the proposed setting-up of the total contributions approach scheme; the quantum of staff allocated for the scheme by full-time staff and grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33370/18]

State Pensions Reform

Jan O'Sullivan

2490. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the quantum of resources that will be allocated to communicating with customers of her Department, that is, telephone, email and post, in terms of the move to the total contributions approach; the resources that will be allocated to the setting-up of the areas, that is, computer instalment and set-up of user accounts for the operation of the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33371/18]

State Pensions Reform

Jan O'Sullivan

2491. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given and account taken of the additional workloads for service officers in the context of the total contributions approach project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33372/18]

Departmental Offices

Jan O'Sullivan

2492. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans in conjunction with the OPW in relation to accommodation in terms of the total contributions approach project in Sligo; if tenders have been awarded to building contractors for the work on-site; the estimated date of completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33375/18]

Departmental Staff Relocation

Jan O'Sullivan

2493. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to transfer staff awaiting a position in Sligo to the social welfare services office to reduce the dependency on temporary staff; her further plans to fill all vacancies across social welfare services offices with permanent staff prior to the implementation of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33376/18]

Rent Pressure Zones

Jan O'Sullivan

2658. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when there will be a review of the rent pressure zones with consideration of the inclusion of further parts of the country, including Limerick and Waterford cities; if the criteria for qualification as a rent pressure zone will be changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33368/18]

Traveller Accommodation

Jan O'Sullivan

2755. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the caravan loan scheme will be reviewed to ensure that it is appropriate to needs and costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34904/18]

Urban Development

Jan O'Sullivan

2756. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the West Gate Vision document produced by Louth County Council; if an application has been made by Louth County Council to access funding for the development of the plan; the amount of funding available for urban renewal and regeneration in the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34906/18]

Technological Universities Staff

Jan O'Sullivan

150. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to ensure that there will be a transparent initiative to attract international and national candidates of calibre and distinction for the post of president of the new university in view of the expected announcement on the establishment of Ireland’s first technological university; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31784/18]

Flood Risk Insurance Cover Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

84. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the progress made on access for businesses to flood insurance in areas which are at risk of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30501/18]

National Monuments

Jan O'Sullivan

189. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works plans to make arrangements to open St. Laurence's Gate, Drogheda, to the public for the duration of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann; if the OPW has short to medium-term plans to illuminate this national monument; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31202/18]

National Monuments

Jan O'Sullivan

190. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW plans to carry out a clean-up operation to remove overgrown vegetation at the site of Magdalene Tower, Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31203/18]

Disease Management

Jan O'Sullivan

330. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his views on the rate of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis here; his views on the benefits offered by the use of IBD nurse specialists in the treatment and management of these conditions; the number of IBD nurse specialists here; his plans to broaden the number of IBD nurse specialists; when further recruitment of IBD nurse specialists is expected to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31199/18]

Disease Management

Jan O'Sullivan

331. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason no further IBD nurse specialists have been recruited since his meeting with a society (details supplied) despite his commitment to assist in doubling up the number of IBD nurse specialists from 14 to 28; when action will be taken to rectify this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31200/18]

HSE Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

332. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the pending application for funding submitted by a society (details supplied) to the HSE is likely to be processed; the reason it has received no reply to its application despite the fact it was submitted over nine months ago; his views on the practical implications of this delay, which has led to the society having to reduce its level of staffing by two valued employees; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this impacts on the provision of support to the 40,000 IBD patients here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31201/18]

Affordable Childcare Scheme Data

Jan O'Sullivan

512. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the estimated 9,000 families that are yet to benefit from the affordable childcare scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31187/18]

Brexit Issues

Jan O'Sullivan

70. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the efforts being made to encourage benefits to accrue to other cities, including opportunities for information technology and other technical supports, software development and accounting services, particularly stressing the lower cost of accommodation in cities other than the capital, in the context of indications that Dublin will benefit from Brexit by way of financial services and other service sector employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30936/18]

Enterprise Support Schemes

Jan O'Sullivan

81. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the support available to female entrepreneurs to start and scale up small and medium businesses; the details and available funding under the competitive start fund for female entrepreneurs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30457/18]

Asylum Seeker Employment

Jan O'Sullivan

106. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the role her Department has played in providing opportunities for asylum seekers to work here; if the information available to her, her Department and the agencies under her remit has contributed to decisions on the way in which asylum seekers can access employment and help to fill skills gaps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30460/18]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Jan O'Sullivan

268. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the identification and acquisition of a site for a proposed new school (details supplied) in County Limerick that is due to open in September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30922/18]

International Agreements

Jan O'Sullivan

337. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when Ireland plans to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30920/18]

Visiting Teacher Service

Jan O'Sullivan

830. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if consideration will be given to restoring the visiting teacher system for Traveller children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30308/18]

Psychological Services

Jan O'Sullivan

232. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to ensure the continuation of an early intervention service (details supplied) which provides immediate access to psychological services for children under its care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29833/18]

Emergency Accommodation Data

Jan O'Sullivan

354. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of the 3,826 homeless children listed in the May 2018 homelessness report in emergency accommodation in hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation or hostels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29770/18]

Health Promotion

Jan O'Sullivan

270. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the report relating to the healthy workplaces consultation process will be finalised, available and published; the amount allocated through the healthy workplace initiative to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29476/18]

Tenant Purchase Scheme

Jan O'Sullivan

341. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if it is a requirement of the tenant purchase scheme that an applicant's income must be derived from work in cases in which the combined social welfare and private pension income is more than €15,000 a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29473/18]

HSE Properties

Jan O'Sullivan

284. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans for the future use of buildings and land on a site (details supplied); if the older buildings, some of which are unoccupied, are to be retained; if consideration has been given to transferring a portion of the site to the local authority for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28800/18]

Garda Deployment

Jan O'Sullivan

152. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase the number of Garda in the Limerick city district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28413/18]

Visiting Teacher Service

Jan O'Sullivan

147. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to restoring the visiting teacher system for Traveller children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28271/18]

Hospital Staff

Jan O'Sullivan

314. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if appropriate staff will be allocated to alleviate pressure on beds which is the main cause of the trolley crisis in University Hospital Limerick in view of the inequality of whole-time equivalent front-line posts in the health service in the mid-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27466/18]

Vacant Properties

Jan O'Sullivan

33. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the job description of vacant homes officers in local authorities; if they are required to investigate and report on the reasons homes in their authority area are left vacant; if they have specific time allocated in their working week to work specifically on activity to bring homes back into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26814/18]

Rental Sector Strategy

Jan O'Sullivan

81. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when new legislation or regulations to restrict short-term lettings will be introduced in order to prevent such use on a full-time basis of properties that would otherwise be available as homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26826/18]

Housing Policy

Jan O'Sullivan

84. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on providing for a legally enforceable right to adequate housing either through statute or by way of a referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26828/18]

Local Authority Housing Data

Jan O'Sullivan

86. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of properties brought back into use under the repair and leasing scheme and the buy and renew scheme of pillar 5 of Rebuilding Ireland in each of the local authority areas by the most recent returns available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26827/18]

Data Protection

Jan O'Sullivan

148. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance when he plans to publish legislation in relation to the national claims information database in view of the introduction of the general data protection regulation, GDPR; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26452/18]

Legislative Programme

Jan O'Sullivan

350. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to commence Parts 2, 3 and 9 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; the timeframe for the commencement of these provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26440/18]

Local Authority Boundaries

Jan O'Sullivan

582. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the report of the Drogheda Boundary Commission review has been formally adopted; if Louth and Meath county councils have formally entered into a service-level agreement based on the recommendations of the review to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26441/18]

Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration

Jan O'Sullivan

165. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if there has been progress on the payment of increments to section 39 funded organisations; the status of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26060/18]

Student Assistance Fund

Jan O'Sullivan

418. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the potential costs and considerations of setting up a student assistance fund specifically for the benefit of postgraduate students in view of the fact that they do not have access to the student assistance fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25353/18]

School Catchment Areas

Jan O'Sullivan

428. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the catchment area for the new Harold's Cross secondary school will be extended to include the Dublin 8 and 12 areas in which there are two MDS primary schools; the rationale for not including these areas, which are in the immediate environment of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25543/18]

Sexual Offences Data

Jan O'Sullivan

459. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding that will be provided for the second sexual abuse and violence in Ireland study; the communications he has had with other Departments from which funding for this study would be divided; the timeline for the completion of the study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24400/18]

Nursing Staff Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

775. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if funding is in place for one full-time multiple sclerosis specialist nurse position in University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25093/18]

Medicinal Products Availability

Jan O'Sullivan

781. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to address the wait time for drugs to be approved for persons with MS; if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure new medicines are available to persons with the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25118/18]

Proposed Legislation

Jan O'Sullivan

938. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the proposed legislation on assisted human reproduction will be passed by the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25643/18]

Vacant Sites Data

Jan O'Sullivan

1307. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of sites of each local authority listed on the vacant sites register in advance of the application of the levy in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24878/18]

Schools Building Projects

Jan O'Sullivan

244. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a decision was made in relation to a school construction project (details supplied) to change the plan from a 2 phase to a 1 stage project; the reason the project is only now being devolved to the education and training board since the decision to have a single construction project was made in the last quarter of 2016; the progress made since then; the costs incurred in relation to phase 1; when it is expected that the project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23335/18]

National Cervical Screening Programme

Jan O'Sullivan

416. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 352 of 15 May 2018, if there is tagging or priority identification in relation to smear tests for women that have been called back for colposcopy due to of abnormalities or pre-cancer symptoms in a smear test and are therefore scheduled for more regular screening to ensure that they are given the detailed attention required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23412/18]

Regional Action Plan for Jobs

Jan O'Sullivan

12. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when the second call for collaborative projects under the regional enterprise development fund will be issued; the amount that will be available for successful projects; if the criteria will be the same as for the first call; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22622/18]

Regional Action Plan for Jobs

Jan O'Sullivan

15. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the mechanism by which her Department monitors the achievement of goals under the regional action plans for jobs; the progress on each of the goals in each region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22631/18]

Gender Balance

Jan O'Sullivan

33. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the progress in achieving more gender balance in funded research under Science Foundation Ireland's Agenda 2020 strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22623/18]

Retail Sector

Jan O'Sullivan

34. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she has had discussions with the Minister for Finance and-or on a European level on fair taxation of imported goods that are being purchased over the Internet by consumers in direct competition with retailers operating in cities and towns here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22624/18]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Jan O'Sullivan

153. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the doctor who carries out eye examinations at a clinic (details supplied) will be replaced in view of the fact waiting times are in excess of 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22863/18]

Planning Appeals

Jan O'Sullivan

204. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there is a significant backlog in the time taken for An Bord Pleanála to deal with appeals; the average waiting time before appeals are decided; if priority is given to applications that go directly to the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22856/18]

Tax Code

Jan O'Sullivan

60. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the detail of the law regarding inheritance tax for siblings who are joint owners of a home in which they live together; if there have been recent changes to the tax imposed on a surviving sibling in the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21817/18]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Jan O'Sullivan

93. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a site has been purchased for a new school (details supplied); if not, the progress that has been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21816/18]

Teacher Recruitment

Jan O'Sullivan

95. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has received an application for an extra teacher for a school (details supplied) which is expected to have the necessary number of students enrolled at the start of the school to require a fifth teacher; when a decision will be made on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21824/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Jan O'Sullivan

96. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a building project for a school (details supplied) in County Limerick; the estimated time of completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21827/18]

Medical Card Eligibility

Jan O'Sullivan

160. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to raise the threshold for medical cards for persons over 70 years of age in the forthcoming budget in the context of restoring cuts implemented during the economic downturn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21734/18]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

286. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if extra assistance is available for poorer communities that wish to apply for the recently announced funding to install CCTV but cannot raise the matching funding required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21279/18]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Jan O'Sullivan

352. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the location in which samples are tested in cases in which a woman has been called back for further testing, that is, colposcopy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20864/18]

Social Welfare Code Review

Jan O'Sullivan

547. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review further the allowance for board and lodgings that can be offset against the moneys paid to au pairs; if consideration will be given to defining a category of cultural au pair to capture the short-term stays of young persons who come to stay with families to improve their English, take part-time courses and perform certain duties in the home that distinguishes them from domestic workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21274/18]