28. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures contained within the national broadband plan to ensure equality in the roll-out of broadband services for rural areas, rural communities and regional towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18015/18]
298. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda retirements from each Garda station in counties Carlow and Kilkenny in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18075/18]
353. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if special funding for a person (details supplied) will be granted; if a special funding scheme to support exceptionally talented young persons under 18 years of age will be investigated, with a view to its introduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17237/18]
239. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if the €80 charge imposed by certain hospital groups on persons with haemochromatosis requiring venesection will be removed as recommended by an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17180/18]
153. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an additional school accommodation application by a school (details supplied); if the project will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17242/18]
152. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that a purpose built school (details supplied) for pupils with a moderate, severe or profound general learning disability, including pupils with autism within these categories, has sufficient access to the NEPS services, including in-services training and school support; the steps he will take to rectify this inequality and ensure that the 15 teachers and 32 SNAs have access and equality to in-service training and school support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17241/18]
70. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health his plans to examine a number of proposals to improve cardiac care in the south east, including the deployment of a modular laboratory that will allow for diagnostic angiograms and intervention procedures; the position regarding efforts by University Hospital Waterford, UHW, management to recruit additional staff to extend the operation of the existing cath lab by 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17018/18]
9. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the steps he and the Health Service Executive have taken regarding the issue of children affected by foetal anticonvulsant syndrome, FACS, in circumstances in which children were exposed to sodium valproate medicines in the womb; his plans to conduct a review of the families and children affected by this issue; his further plans to set up a compensation scheme for the families affected in view of the compensation scheme set up in France; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17017/18]
232. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the qualifying criteria for the telephone allowance due to be reinstated in October 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16914/18]
172. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the review of the pricing system for long-term residential care facilities as recommended within the review of the fair deal scheme; if an independent appeals mechanism will be introduced within the fair deal scheme to provide third party recourse for nursing home providers that fail to agree a fee with the NTPF and in an effort to bring greater transparency to the fair deal pricing mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16969/18]
1227. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase the number of non-EU work permits to allow an organisation (details supplied) to fill vacancies in the truck driving industry; the working terms and conditions of those employed in the industry with specific reference to wage structures; the position regarding the roll-out of the three-year HGV driver apprenticeship by the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15308/18]
1127. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for a farmer (details supplied); the reason for the delays in processing this payment, which are placing undue financial hardship on the person and the person's family and business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16454/18]
1095. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is considering derogation from the three-crop rule for 2018 due to the late planting season ruling out certain crop choices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15882/18]
1015. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health his views on the adequacy of measures in place to recruit and retain highly skilled nurses here and abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16658/18]
1014. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the future of Kilcreene Orthopaedic Hospital, County Kilkenny; his plans to utilise same to alleviate emergency and elective orthopaedic waiting lists in Waterford regional hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16657/18]
1013. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health his plans to reopen the pre-discharge unit, PDU, in Kilcreene Orthopaedic Hospital, County Kilkenny, to bring 26 beds back on stream for use as stepdown, rehabilitation or respite to alleviate congestion at St. Luke's Hospital, County Kilkenny; if the possibility of utilising the four private rooms in the PDU Kilcreene to accommodate isolation patients and in turn take high infection cases out of an acute setting at St. Luke's Hospital will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16656/18]
460. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for an extension and associated building works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16413/18]
459. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for additional school accommodation due to a growth in roll numbers; if funding will be granted for the installation and rental of two prefabricated buildings to accommodate two extra classes from 1 September 2018 for the 2018-19 academic year until a permanent solution is agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16412/18]
458. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for a permanent extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16411/18]
44. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new recruits assigned to each Garda station in counties Carlow and Kilkenny in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16547/18]
63. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Finance the status of the implementation of the recommendations made in the report by his Department's working group on reducing the cost of motor insurance; the number of recommendations that have not been implemented to date; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13924/18]
52. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of additional staff who were hired or allocated to the passport office in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13441/18]
274. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the appointment of two access officers is sufficient in providing assistance to persons with disabilities that contact his Department; if the two access officers have received sufficient training in assisting persons with literacy or learning difficulties that may have problems with understanding or interpreting his Department's rules and regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13119/18]
273. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a confidential phone line will be established within his Department for persons with literacy or learning difficulties or that have problems with understanding or interpreting his Department's cross compliance handbook; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13118/18]
272. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a further review of the entitlements of a person (details supplied) will be carried out under the basic payment scheme allocated to same in 2015/2016; if an oral hearing will be held if necessary to ensure as thorough a review as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13117/18]
806. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of premises within the blue areas of the national broadband map that cannot access a high speed broadband connection in County Kilkenny; the number of premises within the blue areas of the national broadband map that cannot access a high-speed broadband connection on his Department's database in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12916/18]
805. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of premises within the blue areas of the national broadband map that cannot access a high speed broadband connection in County Carlow; the number of premises within the blue areas of the national broadband map that cannot access a high speed broadband connection on his Department's database in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12915/18]
804. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of premises within the blue areas of the national broadband map that cannot access a high speed broadband connection nationally; the number of premises within the blue areas of the national broadband map that cannot access a high speed broadband connection nationally on his Department's database; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12914/18]
763. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to allegations of wrongdoing in the horse racing industry which have been referred to An Garda Síochána by the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine (details supplied); his views on his Department or the committee seeking an update from An Garda Síochána in respect of this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12913/18]
529. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of applications made by local authorities under the art works in public space component of the town and village renewal scheme; when a decision will be returned to the local authorities that have made an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11205/18]
406. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an inspection arising from a technicality which has been immediately rectified and certified under the TAMS 2 scheme for a farmer (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10994/18]
384. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the status of FreeStyle Libre in terms of its availability to children and adults on the General Medical Services, GMS, scheme and long-term illness scheme; if FreeStyle Libre is available to children using insulin pumps or insulin injections; if it is available to adults using insulin pumps or insulin injections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11495/18]
15. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the formal engagements with the New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Winston Peters, that have taken place recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11496/18]
50. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Finance the status of payment service directives which govern the application of a surcharge by a trader exactly equal to the charge applied by a bank to that trader for all debit and credit card transactions under €12; his views on whether this practice is acceptable and legal under the payment services directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10464/18]
182. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for a person (details supplied); the reason for the delays in processing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10238/18]
146. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health his views on media reports that there is a lack of appropriate regulation applied to the role of health care support assistants; if the structures and practices surrounding core issues will be examined (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10237/18]
457. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the possibility of increasing the €10 subsidy cap per ewe under the sheep welfare scheme will be examined in view of the underspend of €5 million in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8645/18]
456. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the possibility of seeking permission from the EU to establish an adverse weather scheme under the rural development programme for persons that have suffered crop losses in 2017 due to adverse weather conditions will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8644/18]
455. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the possibility of re-opening the crop compensation scheme for persons that have suffered crop losses in 2017 due to adverse weather conditions has been examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8643/18]
343. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports emerging of potential health risks in regard to the use of an enzyme (details supplied) in the manufacturing of a vaccine. [8322/18]
38. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to rectify the significant maintenance issues with local and regional roads in counties Carlow and Kilkenny following critical under-investment in maintaining regional and local roads networks since 2012; his views on funding allocations for 2018 being far below that which is required for maintaining regional and local roads across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7632/18]
257. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the feasibility of a reinstatement of rail services for Mullinavat, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7664/18]
256. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to maintain vital rail infrastructure for the south-east region; if matters (details supplied) will be reviewed; if additional funding to secure the future of services in the south County Kilkenny area will be investigated in advance of budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7663/18]
138. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to alleviate the backlog of divorce cases to be heard by the courts; his further plans to expedite the appointment of appropriate judges to clear the backlog of divorce cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7606/18]
25. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures contained within the national broadband plan to ensure equality in the roll-out of broadband services in rural areas, rural communities and regional towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7396/18]
272. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vehicles in the Garda fleet for the Carlow-Kilkenny Garda division registered ten years ago and over as of 31 December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7100/18]
271. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in the Carlow-Kilkenny Garda division for the years ending 31 December 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7099/18]
138. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of reducing stamp duty on combined ATM debit cards to €0.10 per ATM withdrawal up to a maximum of €4.50 per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7101/18]
66. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of delayed GLAS payments for 2017 to persons in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6668/18]
49. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase the level of direct support for the suckler cow herd to €200 per cow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6667/18]