228. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to introduce measures in the upcoming budget to ease the financial burden of childcare on parents, particularly in view of the recent figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which show that Ireland has the highest child care costs in the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33035/15]
25. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with the current system for the provision of aid-to-the-civil-power duties at Shannon Airport; if he has had discussions with the Department of Justice and Equality with a view to changing the current system and command structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34521/15]
10. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence with regard to his Department's White Paper on Defence, his views on a change to the State's policy and definition of military neutrality, and if he will consider the use of Shannon Airport by the military of the United States of America to be a breach of that military neutrality, and of other policies under the Defence portfolio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34522/15]
38. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the tonnage of Irish beef that has been exported to China and the United States of America since January 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34211/15]
21. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the announcement of Food Wise 2025, the report of the 2025 agrifood strategy committee, the steps taken to ensure the targets set for agriculture production and exports fully take into account the accelerating challenge of climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34210/15]
627. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce a postgraduate grant in budget 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33993/15]
162. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to re-introduce a policy for dedicated guidance counselling services in all secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33951/15]
148. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied with the current special needs assistant allocation levels in the education system, particularly in the early years of school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33950/15]
15. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the discussions he has had with the Department of Finance in relation to the proposed 50:50 ratio of tax cuts to public services investment in advance of the upcoming budget; his views that this constitutes the most effective use of public moneys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33312/15]
10. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the data from the International Monetary Fund's fiscal monitor, which reported that Ireland has one of the lowest Government expenditures in the European Union; his plans to consider this in his preparations for the upcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33311/15]
93. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 131 of 15 July 2015 and 343 of 14 July 2015, his views on the discrepancy between the figures provided by his Department in relation to State funding awarded to indigenous private companies by the county enterprise boards and local enterprise offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33511/15]
40. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her Department's plans to increase rent supplement limits to deal with the continuous rise in rent prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33036/15]
274. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that his recent pledge of a cut of at least 1% to the universal social charge is a prudent decision for the upcoming budget; if he will reconsider this measure with a view to investing the tax collected in the public services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33286/15]
273. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider the envisaged tax cuts pledged for budget 2016, given that, according to data from the International Monetary Fund's fiscal monitor, Government expenditure is already one of the lowest in the European Union; if he has concerns about the implications of this proposed tax reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33285/15]
246. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance his plans to use the €2 billion of bailout funds that the Government expects to receive back from Allied Irish Banks and Permanent TSB, details of which he mentioned in the 2015 spring statement, for investment in public services rather than for debt reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33108/15]
182. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to raise the levels of employers' pay related social insurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33008/15]
180. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the time limits on the length of community employment schemes for those persons over 55 years of age so that they may continue working until retirement age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32947/15]
24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if, in view of the upcoming budget, she has had any discussions with the Department of Social Protection in relation to a specific grant to assist artists starting out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32198/15]
18. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in advance of the upcoming budget, the specific measures she has taken to further the promotion of the arts, with regard to the creation of jobs in creative industries and the support of emerging artists, along with the other recommendations in the Irish Music Rights Organisation's report The Socio-Economic Contribution of Music to the Irish Economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32197/15]
31. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of any discussions he has had with the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Justice and Equality and-or Defence in relation to the system of oversight regarding the landing at Shannon Airport of civil aircraft used by foreign militaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31812/15]
18. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in relation to the exemptions granted by his Department regarding civil aircraft used by foreign militaries under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, if his Department undertakes any particular measures to ensure that, with regard to aircraft which secure exemptions to carry unloaded weapons on board, any weapons carried on board are indeed unloaded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31811/15]
1637. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to upgrade the Wexford-Dublin railway line, with a view to attracting more people to rail travel as opposed to using private cars; his further plans to reopen the direct railway line between Wexford and Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31890/15]
1606. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to put speed ramps in place in an area (details supplied) in County Wexford particularly in view of complaints from residents regarding vehicles moving at high speed and endangering children and adults in the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30874/15]
1554. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 7 of 11 March 2015, the specific measures, legislative or otherwise, he plans to assist Irish musicians and bands in accessing airplay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23908/15]
1371. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the Kilkenny central access scheme follow-up aquatic ecological report of October 2014, which indicated that dumping of unwashed limestone had resulted in 700 metres of ecosystem, including plant and macronvertbrate life, being eradicated; the authorisation that was given for the dumping of said limestone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30691/15]
1057. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of tonsillectomy operations that were carried out on children under 16 years of age through the public system in University Hospital Limerick for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; the number of these that were carried out in this hospital on children under three years of age for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31680/15]
1056. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of tonsillectomy operations that were carried out on children under 16 years of age through the public system in Galway Regional Hospital for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; the number of these that were carried out in this hospital on children under three years of age for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31679/15]
1055. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of tonsillectomy operations that were carried out on children under 16 years of age through the public system in South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, County Cork for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; the number of these that were carried out in this hospital on children under three years of age for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31678/15]
1054. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of tonsillectomy operations that were carried out on children under 16 years of age through the public system in Temple Street Hospital, Dublin 1 for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; the number of these that were carried out in this hospital on children under three years of age for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31677/15]
1053. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of tonsillectomy operations that were carried out on children under 16 years of age through the public system in University Hospital Cork for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; the number of these that were carried out in this hospital on children under three years of age for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31676/15]
1052. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of tonsillectomy operations that were carried out on children under 16 years of age through the public system in Wexford Regional Hospital for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; the number of these that were carried out in this hospital on children under three years of age for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31675/15]
1051. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of tonsillectomy operations that were carried out on children under 16 years of age through the public system in University Hospital Waterford for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; the number of these that were carried out in this hospital on children under three years of age for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31674/15]
129. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a breakdown of the State funding that his Department has awarded to foreign private companies and to indigenous private companies, from 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30545/15]
108. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has read the recent study on water quality across the Barnett Shale in Texas in the United States of America, which appeared in the peer-reviewed Environmental Science and Technology, and which found that, near to hydraulic fracturing centres, drinking water has more chemicals and carcinogens; in view of this study, and the extensive scientific research that has found hydraulic fracturing to have substantial risks and negative consequences for public health, the environment, and the climate, if he is satisfied with the fact that Ireland is currently considering the viability of this practice through the Environmental Protection Agency study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31792/15]
104. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures his Department is considering in order to facilitate community renewable energy generation projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31791/15]
35. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are measures in place to assist a septic tank owner who suspects a problem with the functioning of a tank, which may result in an environmental or health risk, to obtain a local authority inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29010/15]
9. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the number of houses in County Wexford that have their own septic tank unit; if he is satisfied with the number of inspections carried out by the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29011/15]
305. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the plans for a waste-to-energy plant in Gortnadroma in County Limerick; if he is aware of the concerns of local persons in this regard, particularly in relation to the potential environmental and health impacts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29261/15]
304. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of septic tanks that have been registered in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29260/15]
303. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the sanctions that are imposed on local authorities which failed to meet the national inspection plan's target of 1,000 inspections of septic tanks by July 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29259/15]
291. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures his Department is taking to tackle the issue of food waste, particularly in view of the current negotiations at United Nations level for a target of halving global food waste by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29479/15]
146. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider legislation, similar to that recently passed in France, which would make supermarkets give unsold produce to the poor and homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29478/15]
131. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a breakdown of the State funding that his Department has awarded to foreign private companies and to indigenous private companies in 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29340/15]
25. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if at any point in the transatlantic trade and investment partnership negotiation process to date, he has had, or has raised, any concerns regarding the widely reported implications of the partnership's investor-state dispute mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28651/15]
17. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a breakdown of the State funding his Department has awarded to foreign private companies in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and in 2015 to date; if he will provide a breakdown of the State funding his Department has awarded to indigenous private companies in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28652/15]
491. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the recent inspection report made by the Health Information and Quality Authority, which was published on 3 July 2015, and which outlines serious concerns for children who may be at risk in the north Dublin area; the actions his Department plans to take in response to this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28642/15]
424. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of any intelligence solutions offered by the Italian cybersecurity company (details supplied), which his Department has purchased; the negotiations or discussions he has had in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28509/15]
366. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has read the source research upon which much of the growth data for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is based, namely Ecorys 2009 non-tariff measures in EU-US Trade and Investment and Economic Analysis (Rotterdam; Ecorys Netherlands BV), and CEPR 2013 reducing transatlantic barriers to trade and investment: an economic assessment (London: CEPR); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28757/15]
365. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the latest round of negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; if, further to Parliamentary Question No.181 of 19 May 2015, he has had the opportunity to access the confidential reading rooms in the embassy of the United States of America in Dublin, in order to assess the content of the partnership; if so, if he has had the opportunity to read the US's input papers, draft partnership chapters, and consolidated texts, in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28756/15]
364. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department keeps a record of the cost of corporate welfare or public spending provided to private companies in the form of direct aid, subsidies and tax breaks by his Department; if so, for details of the cost to the taxpayer in each of the years 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28724/15]