Results 45,341-45,360 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Health the current waiting time for initial referral to speech and language therapy in an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow for each of the years 2007 to 2012 inclusive; the number of children availing of this service; the number of adults availing of this service; the measures already taken and being taken currently to address this; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dispensing Fees (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Health the criteria that is required for a person with a long term illness to avail of a reduced prescription charge; and when additional illnesses are present the level to which that reduction is applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4354/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow will receive sanction for an extension; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this extension is required as a result of his Department’s request in 2007 that the school increase its capacity, that in excess of 250 students are regularly crowded into sub-standard pre-fabricated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a shortage of primary school places in a locality (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if he has met with local stakeholders in an effort to address this shortage; the action he plans to take to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1339/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school building project will commence at a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1344/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Review (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she expects the review group she established to examine the domiciliary care allowance to conclude its work; if she will provide a report; if she intends to then publish this report; the number of times the group has met; the dates on which the group has met; the full membership of the review group; and if she will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Meetings (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has met with the carer's association since her appointment; if she plans to meet with them again in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1341/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance for the Self-Employed (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her policy in relation to assisting self-employed persons access to social welfare supports as the need arises; when she expects to advance any plans to address current difficulties experienced by self-employed persons in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1343/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Review (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the date on which she received the expert report on reforming the child benefit system; the membership of this expert group; the terms of reference of this expert group; when she intends to bring the report to Government; when she will publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1345/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Carers Strategy (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Health the current status of the National Carer's Strategy; if an implementation plan is in place for this strategy; the elements of the strategy that will be implemented this year; the number of years over which it is hoped to implement all elements of the strategy; if he will outline the structures in place on a cross-departmental basis to coordinate the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: The Minister is correct in the sense that this welcome and overdue legislation will fix restrictions introduced in the past, while extending its remit to the National Asset Management Agency. However, we also need to move beyond the culture where people need to submit freedom of information requests to obtain information. While the Department is doing significant work in this regard in...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: Even in the trenches during the world wars, peace broke out over Christmas and, therefore, I will attempt to leave my colleague's comments to one side. I would like to comment on political reform and while the Bill is focused on the cost of running a Parliament, there is a cost associated with democracy and with having democratic institutions. My constituents, and I presume those of other...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: This week.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 19 - Official Development Assistance
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Vote 29 - International Co-operation (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: I wish to make two final points. Deputy Deasy touched on a point relating to the NGOs and payscales. As politicians representing the taxpayer's interests, we find it frustrating when we ask organisations, some of which are involved in overseas aid while others are involved in other areas, for their remuneration figures and they tell us it is a private matter and nothing to do with us. Mr....

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 19 - Official Development Assistance
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Vote 29 - International Co-operation (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: That is good news. Vote 28 relates to the Department. Note 5.2 is a reference to specialist tasks for which two retired civil servants were paid €142,968 in 2011. I am unclear about the nature of the specialist tasks.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 19 - Official Development Assistance
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Vote 29 - International Co-operation (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: His skill set is unique.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 19 - Official Development Assistance
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Vote 29 - International Co-operation (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: I return to the Comptroller and Auditor General's 2009 report for programme countries, which audited the programmes in Uganda, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Vietnam, Lesotho, Malawi and Timor-Leste. The number of unqualified audit opinions amounted to 55% of the total, in other words, 55% had a clean-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 19 - Official Development Assistance
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Vote 29 - International Co-operation (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: Yes, the audit was for the programme countries in 2009.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 19 - Official Development Assistance
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Vote 29 - International Co-operation (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: The audit refers to 2009.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 19 - Official Development Assistance
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Vote 29 - International Co-operation (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: My understanding is that the term "unqualified" implies a clean bill of health, while the term "qualified" means there is a question mark. One also has the interesting category of "other". We do not need to concern ourselves with the 55% of audit opinions that are unqualified. A further 7% are qualified and we will discuss those in a moment. The category of "other" is interesting and...