Results 44,681-44,700 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tax Reliefs Availability (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 1000. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the continuance of tax relief available to help farmers to pass their farms to relatives and maintain a working farm within the family unit; if he will support the maintenance of such relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35380/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport Fares (10 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: I thank the Minister for his response. On 25 May 2011, people from Greystones paid 67% more than people from Bray to get to the city centre, while today they pay 66% more. That demonstrates how slow and gradual this process has been. If it continues at this pace, people of my generation in Greystones need not worry about it because by the time the anomaly is rectified we will be entitled...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport Fares (10 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: I very much thank and welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to the Chamber to address this Topical Issue on the anomaly faced by Greystones DART commuters with regard to the pricing structure of their tickets. It is really an issue of fairness and equity. Ten years ago, the DART was extended to my hometown, Greystones, and has been a great success. Every morning, thousands...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Exemptions (9 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 181. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has given consideration to some type of reduction in the property tax for residents who are paying management company fees as recognition of the fact that they are paying for some services privately which others receive from the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33474/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (9 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a student (details supplied) in County Wicklow will be offered an opportunity to repeat fifth year in a secondary school as the board of management have already consented to this request, subject to the approval of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32960/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (9 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 362. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider rectifying the substantial additional cost which motorists who tax their vehicles on a quarterly basis must pay as opposed to those who tax their car annually, particularly in view of the fact that many persons find themselves not in a financial position to pay the full amount in one lump sum and the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Management Company Issues (9 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 399. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the operation of management companies effectively weakening local democracy and the ability of locally elected public representatives assisting persons owing to the fact that in some areas large amounts of public space, roadways, drainage, sewage and so on may not be taken in charge by the council and are...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (9 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 400. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the circumstances (details supplied) where the motor tax liability based on CO2 emissions can be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33472/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Management Company Issues (9 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 401. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the rules of law in place governing the operation of management companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33473/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (9 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 533. To ask the Minister for Health following the vaccine named Bexero being approved for use by the European Commission in January 2013, if there are any plans to approve and introduce the use of this vaccine here in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33336/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (9 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 534. To ask the Minister for Health if the level of infection of meningitis B here, being the highest in Europe, has been taken into account in respect of the decision on the use of the vaccine named Bexero for the treatment of meningitis B here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33337/13]

Other Questions: Child Care Services Provision (4 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: I very much welcome the Minister's work on qualifications for the child care sector. I wish to raise a slightly different aspect, however. In my constituency, the Bray Institute of Further Education already offers a level 5 course in childhood care and education and a level 6 course in early childhood and education. BIFE is really leading the way in this regard, but the difficulty is...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 17 - European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
FÁS Financial Statements 2012
National Training Fund (4 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: Is the rate of return in line with other European countries? I understand the point Mr. Ó Foghlú is making. These are estimations the Department is submitting and it is asking for the maximum to cover all eventualities but are we in line with the rest of Europe?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 17 - European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
FÁS Financial Statements 2012
National Training Fund (4 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: I want to return to the construction sector. Obviously, it is an extremely important sector where huge numbers of people are unemployed. I know Mr. Ó Foghlú sent some of this in the material but could we pad it out a little for the record of the meeting? The Comptroller and Auditor General report noted that the Department did not have standardised procedures in place for the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 17 - European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
FÁS Financial Statements 2012
National Training Fund (4 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: In terms of success rates, is Ireland still the highest beneficiary of EGF funding?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 17 - European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
FÁS Financial Statements 2012
National Training Fund (4 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: The Irish Independent reported on 23 July 2012 that in some instances, the Department of Education and Skills had to step in with funding so that workers accessing funding could finish third level courses they had started and that spanned longer than the two years covered by the fund. Somebody might have had funding for part but not all of a course. Obviously, this leaves people in a...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 17 - European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
FÁS Financial Statements 2012
National Training Fund (4 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: I have a question for both FÁS and the Department that is probably connected with Deputy Nolan's questions for FÁS. The Economic Adjustment Programme for Ireland - Winter 2012 Review, which was published in April 2013, contained a number of comments about the high level of unemployment and the fact that this continues to be a very pressing issue and talked about the structural...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 17 - European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
FÁS Financial Statements 2012
National Training Fund (4 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: The area about which I am most critical and which needs most improvement, as the Department has acknowledged in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, is the evaluation of outcomes. The Department has also acknowledged it to an extent today. People who have availed of an intervention are asked to complete a survey. In the case of SR Technics, the rate of non-response to the survey...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 17 - European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
FÁS Financial Statements 2012
National Training Fund (4 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: That sounds like a dramatic improvement, which is good. I have read the Department's views on the issue of the return of €11 million, which was not spent. I understand that the issue is more complex than it appears at first glance. Some people would take the view that the Department received €11 million which it did not spend, whereas the Department might say that there was...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 17 - European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
FÁS Financial Statements 2012
National Training Fund (4 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: That is reasonable. Mr. Ó Foghlú mentioned the issue of linkages. There has been some success in finding linkages from other companies, spin-offs or spun-off areas that are adversely affected by the closure of a firm. On a cursory glance, one would be concerned to see that there were no linkages established with construction programmes. When one goes beyond a cursory look, one...