341. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the progress of implementing the national dementia strategy which was introduced in December 2014; if a specific portion of the Health Service Executive budget is being targeted at this, or if the measures within the strategy are to be achieved through existing budgetary structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16815/15]
339. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the current staffing levels for mental health services in County Galway; the budgetary amount for mental health services in the area formerly referred to as Health Service Executive west for each year since 2011; and if he will provide an outline of the increases in staff numbers. [16810/15]
332. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the current legal position on the sale of cigarettes in packets greater than 20, such as 25, which are available at a price of just 10% more than 20; his plans to standardise quantities permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16789/15]
331. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the status of the application received by the Health Service Executive for the inclusion of Fampridine on the community drugs scheme; when it is envisaged a decision will be made; and if he will confirm that the effectiveness of the medication on the lives of persons with multiple sclerosis is central to the decision-making process. [16788/15]
138. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the current status of the living cities initiative; if approval has been received from the European Commission; and if the initiative, which has significant potential for urban areas across all cities, is being sufficiently publicised. [16814/15]
137. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if, following the amendments to section 481 concerning arrangements for film and television production, any examination on the impact of the changes has been carried out; if any reliefs extend to the development of film and television studios for the purposes of attracting new business into regional locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16811/15]
20. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the study under way on hydraulic fracturing; if he will re-affirm that no policy decisions on licensing will be considered until the study is complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16214/15]
12. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the order by which locations will be selected for works, as part of the national broadband plan, in view of areas such as those covered by the Knockferry exchange in County Galway, for example, which were inexplicably omitted from the national broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16289/15]
129. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of an ophthalmologist for a location in County Galway; the practice of replacing staff who have retired; if the practice will be improved through earlier preparation, in advance of such retirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15998/15]
127. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position in relation to the free preschool year (details supplied), and his view on concerns regarding the current criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16107/15]
21. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress of the review of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, to ensure that these regulations do not prohibitively impact on the building of homes, particularly one-off builds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15684/15]
16. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the introduction of the housing assistance payment; the numbers of local authorities and households participating; and when the scheme will be extended to other areas such as County Galway. [15679/15]
683. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has engaged with the ESB in terms of the organisation's expansion into broadband provision by way of the electricity network; the type and level of engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15809/15]
421. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2014; and if the passage of this legislation will be expedited in view of the upcoming reforms in neighbouring jurisdictions, which could negatively impact on this country. [15825/15]
353. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a beef technology adoption programme payment was not paid in respect of a person (details supplied); when payment is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15371/15]
336. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department and agencies under its remit are conducting reviews on the availability of infrastructure for use by small and medium enterprises or multinationals, to ensure sufficient capacity for expansion, with particular reference to County Galway and the West. [15827/15]
311. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the operation of the single-person child carer tax credit, which replaced the one-parent family tax credit, has negatively impacted on some parents, who share custody and parenting responsibilities; and his views that the rules of the new tax credit are at odds with promoting parental responsibility and equality among different family structures. [15808/15]
310. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance the applicability of value-added tax to the activities of Outdoor Education Ireland; if the organisation operated on behalf of the education and training boards is exempted from this tax for some business operations; if so, if this is in keeping with fair competition, in view of the number of small and medium-sized enterprises operating in this sector, and their importance to rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15807/15]
200. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in recognition of the effects of climate change, which have impacted on Ireland through the severe Atlantic storms of last winter and which impact significantly on developing nations, the steps his Department is taking in promoting climate justice, including the work to secure international agreement in 2015. [15276/15]
192. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with reference to the global island policy framework, his plans on reaching the United Nations target of providing 0.7% of gross national product for development assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15277/15]
22. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the progress on extending the remit of the Health Information and Quality Authority to oversee and inspect private health care facilities; and the type of facilities such new powers will cover. [14662/15]
13. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the progress of the new system for providing services for school leavers with a disability; if it is providing greater choice for the school leavers and their families; if his Department is liaising with the Department of Education and Skills concerning greater third level options for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14661/15]
828. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the review of the scheme to support national organisations; when it is expected that the review will be complete; if it will be published before the end of the period for which bridging funding was provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14931/15]
827. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the process of reviewing the 2007 planning guidelines on development plans, with particular reference to the process of enhancing the guidance for Gaeltacht areas, has commenced and, if so, if he will provide an update. [14887/15]
739. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the report on researching the policies and practices in other jurisdictions such as Wales and the Catalan region in Spain that are comparable socio-linguistically to Gaeltacht areas, as identified in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 to 2030. [14886/15]
643. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the consideration by his Department of the recommendation of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee for the inclusion of the meningitis B vaccine as part of the primary childhood immunisation schedule; and if proposed action on securing the best possible cost arrangements for the State for procuring medications includes such vaccines. [14930/15]
636. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health his views on the concept of a minor ailment scheme involving Irish pharmacies; if he is aware of the high success rate of such schemes in other jurisdictions; and if such a scheme has been, or is being, considered by the Health Service Executive and his Department. [14891/15]
635. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to extending the remit of registered nurse prescribers to address the needs of medical card holders in private nursing home facilities to the same extent as is currently permitted regarding non-medical card holders in such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14890/15]
229. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report on the status and operation of the protocol between his Department and Údarás na Gaeltachta regarding the work of and supports provided by local enterprise offices in Gaeltacht areas. [14889/15]
228. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to set out his views on the type and extent of training being provided to the cohort of staff identified as proficient in providing services to members of the public who wish to transact with the Department through Irish. [14888/15]
18. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in relation to the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures policy framework from 2014 to 2020, the progress at achieving the commitment to introduce a second free preschool year, which is envisaged for introduction before the end of the policy framework duration; and if consideration is being given to enhancing and extending the hours currently provided under the first preschool year, as a precursor to the introduction of the second year. [14469/15]
9. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children's services committees; the local authority areas which have such a committee; if it is envisaged that all counties would have a committee; and if he will report on the way the committees interact with the local community development committees. [14468/15]
229. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional accommodation needs and accommodation improvements that have been identified for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; if she is aware of the increases in enrolment forecast; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13698/15]
105. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if privately owned areas of land designated as natural heritage areas but not designated as Natura are eligible for the €79 per hectare payment as farmland habitat, and eligible for Tier 1 priority under the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme; if not, the reason these areas are not eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13699/15]
31. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda Síochána cars in the Galway division; the future plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13352/15]
10. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the provision of the new divisional headquarters for An Garda Síochána in Galway city; the construction timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13313/15]
32. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance his views on the new proposals from the European Union on introducing a consolidated common corporation tax framework, in view of the potential impact of such a measure on substantial employment numbers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13068/15]
29. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the status of the knowledge development box initiative, as announced in budget 2015; the work to date on the initiative; and when it is envisaged that it will be launched. [13071/15]
713. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the financial options available to the State in supporting the construction of a national ice arena which could be used for exhibitions and training for the Olympics and Paralympics; if he will provide revenues from rental uses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13056/15]
180. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will have a role or an input into the definition of ineligible areas and permanent grassland as they relate to his Department's schemes, particularly as they may impact on special areas of conservation and special protection areas; his views on concerns regarding breaches of the Habitats Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10176/15]
158. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the involvement he and his Department have had regarding the definition of ineligible forage areas and what is meant by permanent grassland under the single payment scheme for farmers and its successor the basic payment scheme, particularly with regard to commonages; if his attention has been drawn to the implications of such definitions on farming practice and its impact on special protection areas and special areas of conservation; his views on concerns that the State may face fines for breaches of the Habitats Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10177/15]
35. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to ensure that Ireland remains at number one in the world in terms of the provision of investment incentives to attract inward investment; the way this encourages companies to invest here; the way it improves the creation of direct and indirect jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12079/15]
11. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in recognition of the improvement in Ireland's ranking in terms of international competitiveness, his plans to further improve our ranking in the year ahead. [12082/15]
19. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons who have retired from the public service and Civil Service under Government voluntary early retirement and voluntary redundancy schemes since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11694/15]
13. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will carry out an inventory in relation to coastal defences here with a view to having a plan for rolling funding for repairs and improvements as necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11693/15]
395. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the reason there is a debt of €1,153.11 outstanding in respect of a person (details supplied) under the 2014 single payment scheme; the reason this money is due; the reason a sum of €3,252.24 was recovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12150/15]
390. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the reason a payment under the single payment scheme was reduced in respect of a person (details supplied), as outlined in his statement on 2 February 2015; the area of land if any that this covers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12056/15]
344. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the basis on which his Department decided a person (details supplied) in County Galway was overpaid under the disadvantaged areas scheme 2013; the lands deemed ineligible; the reason the same aerial photograph was used in the 2013 and 2014 applications to outline the person's lands; the reason these were dated differently, that is, 8 November 2013 and 22 February 2014; the reason an updated photograph has not been used to identify the present farm lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11513/15]
343. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received a payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11508/15]
41. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress on the introduction of a pay-as-you-save system for financing energy efficient upgrades; the number of times the project teams established for this purpose has met and which Departments or departmental sectors are represented on the team. [10228/15]