529. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average time it takes for the firearms section of her Department to process applications for import and export licences for non-military firearms; if she is satisfied that there is sufficient staff to process such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37333/15]
351. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount received in the last full year from the public service obligation on electricity bills; the amount paid to wind farm companies; the amounts paid to individual wind farm companies; the names of those companies; the locations of these wind farms; if any of these companies are in receipt of any other subvention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37003/15]
141. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Finance his views on concerns expressed (details supplied) regarding any proposal to increase the intermediate industry funding levy by 500%; the consequent impact on small businesses; if this proposal is being discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37002/15]
617. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the 2,260 additional teaching posts provided for in budget 2016 will be advertised; the location of these posts for a breakdown of the allocation for primary and post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36643/15]
612. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills when schools will be invited to apply for a new summer works scheme which will commence in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36555/15]
460. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health if a second palliative care consultant for the midlands region has taken up the post at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar in County Westmeath; if so, when the consultant commenced the role; what the role specifically entails; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36226/15]
73. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health if additional staff will be provided at a health centre (details supplied) in County Westmeath in order to relieve pressure on existing staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35911/15]
448. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the post-trial dredge report hot-water section Lanesborough by the Inland Fisheries Ireland on the Asian Clam in the River Shannon; if he is satisfied that the recommendations will fully address and remove this invasive species permanently, with particular emphasis on removal and disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35795/15]
447. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the location where the sample of Asian Clam extracted from the River Shannon at Lanesboro in June 2015 by Inland Fisheries Ireland is being stored; if it has been examined; the findings; if these indicate that the Asian Clam dies after a certain period out of water and can be disposed of easily; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35794/15]
421. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the local authorities that recently received an extra tranche of funding for housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability; the respective funding allocated recently for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35362/15]
416. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the sources where a voluntary organisation (details supplied) involved in voluntary mentoring and the evaluation of new companies, out of which almost 60 jobs have already been created, can access State funding to support its activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35601/15]
376. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide the extra funding required to complete the building of a new extension for a school (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35363/15]
219. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is examining the reason only 2,500 of 6,500 properties offered by the National Asset Management Agency for use as social housing were accepted by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35165/15]
185. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the development of a comprehensive service plan for palliative care in the midlands region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35164/15]
184. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the number of persons suffering from cancer who have received a discretionary medical card in the past 12 months; if there is an average waiting time for processing applications, and the issuing of these discretionary cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35163/15]
183. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years of age with cancer who have received a medical card since the measure was introduced in July 2015; if there is an average waiting time for processing applications, and issuing cards to children under 18 years of age with cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35162/15]
182. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the average time a medical card application is with a medical officer before a recommendation is made to a deciding officer; is with a deciding officer before a decision is made; if audits on these processing times relating to medical officers and deciding officers are carried out; if so, when, how and the number of these audits that are carried out, on an annual basis; if these audits lead to an improvement in processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35161/15]
181. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive carries out audits on the average time for processing and deciding on applications for medical cards for very sick children and adults; when, how and the number of these audits that are carried out on an annual basis; if these audits lead to an improvement in processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35160/15]
180. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the number of medical officers and deciding officers working in the medical card section of the Health Service Executive at present; in each year from 2010 to 2014; the number of applications for medical cards dealt with; approved, in each of these years; and to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35159/15]
179. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the number of administrative staff working in the medical card processing section of the Health Service Executive, at present and in each year from 2010 to 2014, inclusive; the number of applications for medical card dealt with and approved, in each of these years and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35158/15]
665. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline her views on the campaign by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, which is calling for the reduction of class sizes to the European Union average, and related matters (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34552/15]
472. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the number of places available on third level nursing courses for students who complete pre-nursing Further Education and Training Awards Council courses; if he is satisfied that there are enough places at third level to accommodate these students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33985/15]
426. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reforms that are being proposed aimed at improving conditions in direct provision accommodation, following the publication of the report of the working group on direct provision and the protection process; if timelines are in place to effect any proposed reforms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34339/15]
414. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to provide funding for a new Garda station in Athlone in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33987/15]
410. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the legislative progress of the Scheme of Mental Capacity Bill 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33986/15]
289. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when funding will be allocated to complete the flood prevention works at Meelick in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34553/15]
558. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on an application for funding for a new school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33425/15]
392. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to indicate the type of accommodation being considered for the refugees who will be given protection; if former Army barracks are being considered as part of these proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33427/15]
381. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the contract to refurbish Mullingar courthouse, County Westmeath, will be signed; when construction will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33198/15]
1538. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the national broadband plan, with particular reference to County Longford and County Westmeath; the level of commercial involvement to date in these counties; the level of State intervention required in these counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30635/15]
778. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the progress of the new primary care centre at Robinstown, Mullingar, County Westmeath including an opening date; the facilities it will offer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30637/15]
154. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in view of concerns by post offices, if her Department has reviewed application forms for Department payments and updated them to ensure that a more neutral wording in relation to payment options is provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30634/15]
256. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there is a need to have a payment details section on an Irish passport application form, when the payment for a passport is made at a local post office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29472/15]
255. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if post offices and their staff have been formally briefed on the recent changes in certain protocols for documentation required for passports, following the changes introduced recently; the person responsible for briefing post offices and their staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29471/15]
331. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of the emergency legislation enacted to impose cuts on the public sector from 2012, if there are any legislative options which can be explored to ensure that former Ministers are excluded from pension increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28688/15]
234. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Finance is he satisfied that enough is being done by stakeholders involved in the National Asset Management Agency social housing initiative in order to address the national housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25854/15]
233. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Finance the number of units identified by the National Asset Management Agency for the provision of social housing that have been allocated to each local authority in each year since 2012 and to date in 2015; the number of those identified and allocated that have subsequently been leased or purchased in each county in each year since 2012 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25853/15]
411. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will receive an appointment to see a specialist consultant at St. James's Hospital in Dublin 8; the reason the person is waiting three months to be seen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24613/15]
349. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the legislative progress of the scheme of Mental Capacity Bill 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24913/15]
314. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of current leads being developed by the Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland to bring further jobs and investment into Counties Longford and Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25147/15]
173. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there is an active policy by her Department to encourage persons to use other financial institutions instead of post offices to receive their social welfare payments; if she is aware that instructions on social welfare forms are promoting this policy; the reason such instructions do not provide the option for persons to receive their payments in post offices; if these instructions will be amended to promote the use of post offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24824/15]
262. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the midlands region will continue to receive the same percentage of funding or higher from the national homelessness budget for 2015, in view of the fact that there is a national budget of €55 million this year, €10 million higher than last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24450/15]
261. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when funding from the national homelessness budget for 2015 will be allocated to the regions; the amount each region will receive; if it will increase compared to last year; the delay in the allocation of the 2015 funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24449/15]
189. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if some of the new cohort of recruits due to leave Templemore College in County Tipperary in the next few weeks will be attached to Garda stations in Counties Longford and Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24451/15]
223. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason funding under the scheme to support national organisations allocated in May 2015 has decreased from a total figure of €1.4 million in 2014 to the current figure of €1.32 million; his views that this cut will impact on these vital services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24111/15]
805. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government following the recent allocation of €41,448 to MOVE Ireland - Men Overcoming Violence, the way this funding compares to the 2014 allocation; where this 2015 funding is being targeted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23863/15]
804. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to announce public realm funding for local authorities in 2015; if respective funding allocations will be the same as 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23862/15]
749. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider grant assistance for proprietors of vacant units, to allow such units to be converted and refurbished into suitable apartment accommodation for single persons, who are on housing waiting lists, thereby taking persons off these lists, and also helping to revitalise towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23207/15]
341. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the timeframe and targets in relation to the roll-out of his Department’s regional enterprise strategy for the midlands region in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23861/15]
1043. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that funding of a national development officer position for MOVE (Men Overcoming Violence) Ireland is protected on a long-term basis after August 2015; the plans for this position in the long-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21540/15]