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]