264. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date in relation to overhauling the system of appointments to State boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2732/15]
17. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the impact the new proposed international protection bill, which will introduce a single application process for seeking asylum, will have on the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1404/15]
1063. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Kyne den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an dtabharfaidh sí tuairisc ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta i dtaca leis na bearta sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, ós rud é go bhfuil an ceathrú cuid de thréimhse na Straitéise istigh in 2015; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [1711/15]
1028. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the exceptionally positive passenger numbers for Iarnród Éireann, and particularly on the western rail corridor, his views that the future continuation of this line would consolidate such increases and contribute to sustainable regional development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1752/15]
935. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress of the housing assistance payment in view of its operation in selected local authority areas; when it is envisaged that the scheme will be introduced elsewhere; if it is known which local authority areas are next to receive the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1755/15]
709. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has identified the reasons some 1,200 nursing home beds are unoccupied, as confirmed by a survey conducted by Nursing Homes Ireland, which also confirmed the existence of 178 vacancies at 23 nursing homes in County Galway; and if so if the HSE has compiled the actions that need to be taken urgently so as to reduce pressure on acute hospital facilities [1760/15]
708. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health regarding the difficulty in predicting the level of demand for emergency departments, owing to the nature of accidents and emergencies, if consideration has been given to creating special teams of medical staff who would work on a flexible and temporary basis in the accident and emergency department of each hospital within hospital groups as and when demand arises as such flexibility could alleviate current problems facing accident and emergency departments. [1759/15]
707. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the organ donation process with reference to the proposals for a new system based on presumed consent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1751/15]
276. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when it is planned to launch the creating competitive regions strategies; and if, with particular reference to the west of Ireland, there has been stakeholder consultation and engagement in creating the strategy. [1756/15]
219. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the recent findings by the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht that there is a lack of staff with sufficient competence in Irish to meet the requirements to deliver services through Irish, the steps that are being taken across the Civil Service to rectify this; if there is an indicative timeframe by which actions are to be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1753/15]
189. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if advance works have been or will be approved for raising roads at a location (details supplied) in County Galway as part of a scheme in the area. [1803/15]
113. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress of introducing new revised rent supplement limits which would better reflect the current rental accommodation market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1754/15]
199. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason disadvantaged area scheme and single payment scheme payments have not been made in respect of a person (details supplied), when payments will issue and if penalties will be applied to their payments. [48817/14]
15. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of engagement with stakeholders in the preparation of the 2015 Action Plan for Jobs; the organisations and persons involved in the consultation process; the mechanism to determine which measures are included; and when it is anticipated that the new plan will be launched. [48151/14]
13. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the launch of distinct employment strategies for the regions as envisaged in the Action Plan for Jobs. [48148/14]
671. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the closing date for applications under the wheelchair accessible vehicle grant scheme 2014 was decided; when this date was announced on the relevant website; if force majeure circumstances will be considered for those deemed to have sent late applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48259/14]
452. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the ambulance response times for call-outs in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 for the north-west area of Connemara, County Galway, including Renvyle, Letterfrack, Leenane, Maam and Cornamona; the length of time it takes for the ambulance to leave its base; its journey time; the time to transport a patient to the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47988/14]
182. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he is taking regarding claims of the in-filling of foreshore at the Old Dock, Long Walk, County Galway; if an investigation is ongoing within the Chief State Solicitor's office; when this investigation commenced; the progress to date; the completion date for this investigation; the action his Department may take with regard to the in-filling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47535/14]
29. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the supports available for the research, development and introduction or commercialisation of the renewable energy resource of wave energy, particularly in view of the fact that European research has indicated that the average wave power in Europe is highest near the west of Ireland. [47277/14]
28. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress of the commitment in the second national energy efficiency action plan to implement a wide-ranging programme to investigate the opportunities and policy options for the micro-generation of electricity via small scale technologies. [47278/14]
172. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the recent measure by the UK Government to provide mountain rescue teams with a rebate on VAT which is a way of alleviating the burden of VAT on the teams while still complying with the EU laws pertaining to VAT. [47471/14]
137. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if an additional 0.5 nursing resource allocation will be approved to University Hospital Galway to ensure the provision of the insulin pump treatment for GUH paediatric diabetic service to make the best possible use of the recently approved 0.5 senior dietetic post which forms part of this important service [47469/14]
503. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be a round of sustainable transport funding in 2015; and when projects will be considered for inclusion. [47342/14]
502. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the community involvement scheme; the uptake of the scheme, on a county basis, since its introduction; and his future plans for the scheme. [47341/14]
487. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the definition of a "commuter route" as defined by Iarnród Éireann; if a customer who commutes to a city to work and purchases a yearly ticket should be classed as a commuter and if the route is classed as a commuter route; the reason the Athenry to Galway route is not defined as a commuter route similar to the Hazlehatch to Dublin and Cobh to Cork routes, both of which have considerably cheaper yearly rates than the route from Athenry to Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47060/14]
452. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has prepared a cyber security strategy to protect digital public services and the users of the services; and if there is an indicative timeframe for the implementation of the strategy's implementation. [47320/14]
361. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the plans for a new programme for managing hospital waiting lists to be piloted in 2015; if further consideration has been provided to piloting such a programme in the Saolta Hospital Group in the west in view of the fact that the concept of hospital groups was piloted in this region. [47343/14]
281. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the investment in Garda vehicles, the financial amount invested in 2013, 2014 and planned for 2015; the number of additional vehicles by Garda division; and if consideration has been given to acquiring and fitting out high specification vehicles which support policing as is the case in other jurisdictions. [47317/14]
280. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on Garda recruitment; the number of recruits that have entered Templemore, County Tipperary in 2014; and the number that will commence training in 2015. [47316/14]
212. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding single payment scheme and disadvantaged area scheme payments for the years 2010 and 2011 in respect of a person (details supplied); the amount due to be paid for each year; and when payment will issue. [46802/14]
201. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if each Department has provided Government with benefit driven external service delivery plans; if he will provide a list of the major offices other than Government Departments which have also submitted such plans; and if he would indicate the desired outcomes arising from the implementation of the plans. [47319/14]
200. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress of building a team of service procurement specialists and the proposed upskilling of public service managers in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47318/14]
110. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 22 October 2014 if she has had or will have discussions with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding the farmers still suffering the effects of destocking with consideration to the difficulties remaining in rebuilding stocks. [46857/14]
94. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for the airstrips at Cleggan and Inishbofin, County Galway; if discussions have taken place or are planned with the Irish Coast Guard regarding the use of the facilities in its work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46858/14]
21. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the status of the N59 - Galway to Clifden, N6 - Galway to M6 and M17-18 - Gort to Tuam road projects in County Galway. [46323/14]
17. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the Galway city outer bypass and if he will reaffirm the commitment and support for this vital project. [46326/14]
23. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance his views that the new regulations under consideration by the Central Bank of Ireland, such as a requirement to have 20% of a deposit of house price to secure a mortgage and other restrictions being considered by financial institutions, such as restricting mortgage lending to persons under 40 years of age only, overlook substantial causes of the housing and construction bubble, and the subsequent financial turmoil, which were the availability of 100%, 110% and higher mortgages and that these restrictions will hamper a person's ability to purchase a home with further consequences for the rental market and ultimately contribute to an increase in homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45970/14]
16. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if, notwithstanding the very welcome tax reductions being implemented in the Finance Bill including the reduction in the different universal social charge bands, the top rate of tax and the increase in the standard rate tax band, further tax reduction measures, with particular reference to further raising the point at which a person commences paying the top rate of tax, may be considered and implemented sooner than the next scheduled budget should the State's financial position continue to improve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45971/14]
112. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress on the new foreshore legislation particularly in view of the impact on seaweed harvesting, with reference to the rights, often found in land register folios, of seaweed harvesters and the rights of those harvesting for domestic use, traditionally working in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45851/14]
95. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of engagement he has had with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht relating to funding for community development workers on, non-Gaeltacht, off-shore islands; if he has identified sources of funding to ensure the continuation of the work performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40954/14]
74. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if consideration is or will be given, as a mechanism for reducing taxation and giving back to taxpayers, to returning all or portions of the pension levy, which was introduced to fund job creation initiatives, particularly in the context of the improving financial and economic position of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45701/14]
38. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills with the increase in enrolments in 2015 and for the next number of years her plans to ensure additional capacity, with particular reference to Galway city and county. [45269/14]
30. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the progress of the prefab replacement programme; the number of schools that have had prefabs replaced by county; the number of schools still to be reached; and her plans and timeframe to replace the temporary structures with permanent classroom accommodation. [45268/14]
162. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that volunteer centres across the country are to lose funding arising from the restructuring of the local development companies system which heretofore has allocated what has come to be known as the 1% funding for encouraging volunteering to the volunteer centres; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that such funding will be unintentionally lost in the transition to the new SICAP funding programme; and if he will provide this funding from the departmental budget to ensure that the volunteer centres are not negatively impacted. [45561/14]
24. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role he plays in ensuring that climate justice features in the upcoming legislation on climate change in view of the fact that it will take into account the disproportionate effects which some developing countries have experienced as a result of climate change and aside from the legislation; if other diplomatic efforts are being made to raise and tackle this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45059/14]
12. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the recent NGO forum on human rights which his Department hosted, and the way his Department will assist in implementing the UN's guiding principles on business and human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45058/14]
588. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Bus Éireann and other public transport providers are required to meet obligations under the 2005 Disability Act, including providing wheelchair accessible travel; and the measures at the his disposal to direct compliance with such obligations particularly in view of the importance of ensuring public transport serves all of the public and with reference the particular route of Galway to Clifden. [45337/14]
534. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if allowances will be provided for each parent in cases of separation and divorce in view of the sharing of parental responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45336/14]
424. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedure for a child to be assessed under the National Educational Psychological Service; the number of children on the waiting list for assessment; the number assessed per school year on average; the waiting list in Galway; her plans to improve the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44861/14]
134. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if financial supports are available to allow small steel fabrication businesses to carry out retraining to upskill staff in order to comply with the new European standard IS EN 1090-1, which came into operation on 1 July 2014 regarding structural steelwork; if the local enterprise offices are permitted to fund such training; and if similar protocols may be in place for all local employment offices. [44299/14]