897. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015, as proposed by the Government, fails to include any reference to climate justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11776/15]
896. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015, as recommended by Government, contains no numerical target for emission reduction and fails to incorporate a definition of low carbon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11775/15]
895. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the Government's proposal for the formation of an expert advisory council on climate change, particularly on the rationale behind the current proposal not to confine the membership to persons with independence from stakeholder interests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11774/15]
893. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the internal departmental authorisation process that resulted in applicants for an offshore wind licence for an organisation (details supplied) being granted a lease in 2004, without having first submitted an authorisation to construct, a licence to generate and a licence to supply electricity (details supplied), all described as prerequisites for the application of a foreshore lease by Sustainable Energy Ireland in a 2004 report entitled, Offshore Wind Energy and Industrial Development in the Republic of Ireland; his views regarding the administrative process that sanctioned such a departure from procedures, including the existence of formal approvals; the name and position of the sanctioning officers and-or Minister; if this apparent departure from accepted procedure was sanctioned by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11732/15]
886. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the marine licence vetting committee had the appropriate jurisdiction to approve the offshore grid elements of the Codling 1 foreshore licence application and to grant approval for same; the legislative source of any assumed powers in this regard; if he will confirm that the offshore elements of the Codling 1 project will require planning permission over and above the foreshore licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11524/15]
885. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the names and technical qualifications of individual technical experts who sat on the marine licence vetting committee that conducted the environmental impact assessment of the Codling Bank 1 foreshore licence, which was granted in 2005; if he is unwilling to name these persons, the reason given the existence of this committee in an administrative tribunal role similar to that of An Bord Pleanála and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission whose members are known to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11523/15]
467. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the known extent to which IRA kangaroo courts operated in this jurisdiction, both before and after the Good Friday Agreement; in view of the recent comments by the director of Foyle Women's Aid that such IRA kangaroo courts are still in operation in Northern Ireland, if An Garda Síochána is alert to the possibility of ongoing kangaroo courts operating in parts of this jurisdiction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11466/15]
311. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the planting and seeding of disturbed river banks at La Vallee, Bray, County Wicklow; if the planting scheme will be open to public consultation as construction work in this area was not included in the environmental impact statement or planning application for the Dargle flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11986/15]
310. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works plans to conduct an audit of traffic movements, construction signage and general traffic and pedestrian safety in the vicinity of the River Dargle flood prevention construction site before work recommences in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11985/15]
309. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to restore the People's Park in Bray, County Wicklow; when these works are due for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11984/15]
308. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the planned measures by the Office of Public Works to ensure that unsafe access to the River Dargle flood relief construction site by children is prevented; the measures in place by the office to inspect safety hazards at the site; the current line of responsibility for the statutory safety file for this project; if the safety statement for the works has been inspected and approved by the office; the safety audits which are carried out and by whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11983/15]
307. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding road restoration works at a location (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11982/15]
231. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the outcome of her discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a pension plan for community employment supervisors; when officials involved will report back on this matter as the indicative date was January 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11898/15]
140. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the extent to which the proposed grid connection to the Codling 1 offshore wind park was subjected to an environmental impact assessment as part of the granting of a foreshore lease in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10663/15]
139. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the names, technical qualifications and method of appointment of the individual members of the marine licence vetting committee that assessed the environmental impact assessment for the Codling 1 offshore wind park project for which a foreshore lease was granted in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10662/15]
262. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the name of the visual impact consultancy that assessed the visual impact of the offshore wind farm known as Codling #1 as part of the foreshore lease process for that development; or, if no independent visual impact consultancy was engaged to do so, the qualifications of whoever carried out the assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9823/15]
261. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which the recent High Court judgment, Ó Grianna v. An Bord Pleanála, has been considered with regard to the validity of the foreshore approval and environmental impact assessment process already conducted for the permitted offshore wind park known as Codling 1, in view of the absence of any detailed environmental assessment of the grid connection for that project; if his Department has sought legal and environmental advice on the effects of this High Court judgment, particularly with regard to the planning law impact of project splitting to the current foreshore lease, and any future foreshore lease, for the Codling Bank project; if there is an existing administrative process for managing the withdrawal of legally invalid foreshore leases; his views on the matter in view of the absence of an alternative planning process for Codling 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9821/15]
177. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on the administrative arrangements for Magdalene survivors living overseas. [9865/15]
176. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health in the event that health care services do not have the facility to record enhanced medical cards, if he will confirm that cardholders will be reimbursed in the same manner as Health (Amendment) Act card holders. [9861/15]
175. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health if his Department will contact all general practitioners, both public and private, hospitals and other relevant health service providers to inform them of Magdalen survivors’ entitlements under the enhanced medical card; and the measures being taken to ensure that Magdalen survivors do not have to resolve any difficulties with the scheme or explain their entitlements to health care professionals. [9860/15]
174. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health when the Magdalen survivors will receive their enhanced medical cards; when the Magdalen survivors will receive a guide to their enhanced medical card; the number of liaison officers who will be employed and when; if there will be an application process; if so, what will this entail; and if a complaints and appeals process has been put in place. [9859/15]
173. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the immediate relatives of Magdalen survivors who have enhanced medical cards will have the same entitlement to counselling and psychotherapy as the immediate relatives of Health (Amendment) Act card holders, save the counselling for the immediate relatives of Magdalen survivors will relate to their connection to Magdalen laundries rather than hepatitis C. [9857/15]
172. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the Magdalen survivors who have enhanced medical cards will have the same entitlements to drugs, medicines and appliances as Health (Amendment) Act card holders, save where those drugs, medicines and appliances relate specifically to hepatitis C and the Magdalen survivor does not suffer from hepatitis C. [9856/15]
171. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the Magdalen survivors who have enhanced medical cards will have the same entitlements to dental, ophthalmic and aural treatment, and dental, ophthalmic and aural appliances, as Health (Amendment) Act card holders, save where those treatments and services relate specifically to hepatitis C and the Magdalen survivor does not suffer from hepatitis C. [9855/15]
165. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the dedicated unit will be established; the number of officers who will be provided to assist survivors in understanding their entitlements; if the dedicated unit will provide personal advocacy services to women who are living in institutional settings or in the care of the relevant religious congregations; when the consultation process for the setting up of the unit will begin; and the way membership of the advisory body will be decided. [9864/15]
164. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will commit to providing personal advocates to all Magdalen survivors who are deemed to lack capacity, whether they are living in institutional settings, in the care of the relevant religious orders or in the community. [9863/15]
163. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will confirm that the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013 will be enacted in 2015. [9862/15]
162. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will commit to making a scheme available under her Department to assist Magdalen survivors in availing of complementary therapies. [9858/15]
134. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legislative basis under which the opening hours for Coillte operated car parks throughout County Wicklow are operated; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such car parks may be closed by Coillte at times as early as 4 p.m., including at weekends; if his attention has been further drawn to the adverse restrictions that such inconvenient closing policies may have on tourism in the county and the road traffic impacts caused by visitors avoiding car parks for fear of their cars being inadvertently locked in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9824/15]
360. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a full medical card is granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow, in view of the fact that this person is on a low income and suffering with cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8746/15]
214. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total quantity in megawatts of renewable energy generating capacity that has been approved for REFIT payments since the year 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3164/15]
204. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the quantity in megawatts of renewable energy generating capacity that has received final planning permission by local authorities or An Bord Pleanála since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3163/15]
950. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the quantity in megawatts of renewable energy generating capacity that has received final planning permission by local authorities or An Bord Pleanála since 2000; the exact quantity of renewable energy generating capacity which, under the planning permission granted, may be connected to the national grid in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49684/14]
188. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans that exist for the restoration by the Office of Public Works of the now derelict State-owned Kilmacurragh House, County Wicklow as an important heritage site and to enhance the tourism industry in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49683/14]
159. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update regarding the new development programme for a national memorial to the victims of institutional abuse and the progress regarding same memorial since last November when An Bord Pleanála refused permission for the first planning application by Dublin City Council; if consideration will be provided to the idea of the late campaigner (details supplied) for the memorial to be located as near as possible to the GPO to reflect the wording of the Irish Proclamation regarding the cherishing of the nation's children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47477/14]
132. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a comprehensive update on the plans for the new school building in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the progress being made in view of the fact that the project appears to be behind schedule and no planning permission has been applied for; if she envisages the new school will be provided by the promised date of September 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45507/14]
572. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm if there is a contractual obligation on the providers of the national car testing service to provide an online booking service for NCT customers; if so if he will confirm the way the contractual obligation is monitored; if the State has applied contractual penalties on the NCT service provider on any occasions when the online booking service has not been operating in a satisfactory manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45056/14]
571. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the reported backlogs experienced at present by the national car testing service; the way the application of road traffic penalties for non-display of a current NCT certificate will be managed in the cases of motorists who fail to secure a testing slot in adequate time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45055/14]
170. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the coastal monitoring and conservation plans and objectives for the special area of conservation of Murrough wetlands between Greystones and Wicklow town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44631/14]
135. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the plans for protection against ongoing and serious coastal erosion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44631/14]
175. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the development of a marine spatial planning system including public consultation steps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44536/14]
572. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will publish the Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2014, to provide for the transfer of certain port companies to local authority control; if a timeframe has been set for the transfer of control of the port companies in question; if any decisions have been made on the nature of the subsequent relationship between the port companies and the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43074/14]
1118. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on plans for widening the N11 southbound from the Fassaroe interchange; if this work will be given priority in view of the present severe capacity problems on the N11 both northbound and southbound at peak hours and the likely impact on future traffic volumes of new development in the Cherrywood Business Park arising from the recent announcement that the sale of a 400 acre development site at Cherrywood is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41567/14]
75. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on progress by his Department on a proposed mortgage insurance scheme for first-time buyers of new homes whereby a portion of the mortgage would be guaranteed by the State, in view of the recent proposals by the Central Bank of Ireland for more restrictive loan-to-value and loan-to-income limits for mortgage applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39720/14]
243. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the level of funds available to her through the Heritage Fund Act; the level of funds in the heritage fund; the amounts and benefactors of the fund in the past 24 months; her plans to develop the fund, both in terms of its level and remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38530/14]
285. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures that will be put in place to ensure convicted killers and violent offenders, especially those considered likely to reoffend, serve their full prison sentence instead of being granted enhanced remission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37896/14]
124. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the timeframe for the proposed commission of investigation into mother and baby homes, including the timing of the publication of draft terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36011/14]
123. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the programme ahead for the proposed legislation on adoption tracing and contact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36010/14]
1725. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport arising from the decision to seek expressions of interest from potential partners to develop and operate a national diaspora centre, if the promised committee to assess any recommendations made by Fáilte Ireland has yet been established; if he will elaborate on the chair and the membership of the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34428/14]
1724. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position in regard to expressions of interest from potential partners to develop and operate a national diaspora centre; the reason the process has not progressed beyond a preliminary stage; if a timetable has been set for the completion of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34427/14]