Written answers
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Wind Energy Generation
10. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is considering enhancing the role of community owned wind farm projects in the State; the assistance the State can...
- Sale of State Assets
11. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the current situation regarding the sale of Bord Gáis Energy. [51566/13]
- Electricity Transmission Network
12. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will define the consultation means in the context of overhead pylons, in view of the fact that the decision has been...
- Wind Energy Generation
14. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on Irish wind energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46204/13]
- Electricity Grid Connection Fees
15. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to compel energy companies to introduce a mechanism of providing schools, small businesses and community or...
- Internet Safety
16. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce Internet filters to help parents to protect children from inappropriate material; and if he will...
- ESB Accounts
17. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he signed off on ESB management's decision to redesignate the company’s defined benefit pension scheme to a...
- Energy Schemes Data
18. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the uptake in 2012 and 2013 of the better energy homes scheme and the better energy warmer homes scheme; and the steps...
- Wind Energy Guidelines
19. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the present State aid assistance regime in place for the development and operation of onshore wind capacity; if he...
- Broadband Services Speeds
20. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the degree to which high speed broadband services are on target to bring the standard here up to the highest quality in...
- National Broadband Plan Implementation
21. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the mapping process for the national broadband plan will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Gas Exploration Licences
23. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a health impact assessment will be included in the EPA-DCENR-NIEA research programme regarding the environmental...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Undocumented Irish in the USA
26. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had recently with the US Administration and or with Members of Congress regarding the need to...
- Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration
27. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the recent reports into the use of donations and proceeds from shops to top up the salaries of chief executive...
- Department of Finance
- Carbon Budget
28. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a matter regarding carbon tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51989/13]
- Tax Exemptions
29. To ask the Minister for Finance if a person who has been in receipt of one-parent family payment for a period in excess of 15 months, and who is seeking to work full time in their own...
- Banking Sector Staff Issues
30. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to plans by AIB to outsource jobs over the next year; if a Project Orlon exists to facilitate this outsourcing; and if he will...
- Tax Exemptions
31. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on allowing working parents to claim child care costs in full against their earned incomes for both tax and USC. [52047/13]
- Public Procurement Contracts
33. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 188 of 26 November 2013, if it is usual for contracts as large as the one awarded to a company (details supplied) for...
- Departmental Contracts Data
34. To ask the Minister for Finance the total number of contracts and their total financial cost awarded to companies (details supplied) in each of the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013...
- Property Taxation Administration
35. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding payment of the local property tax in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Tax Compliance
36. To ask the Minister for Finance if a company (details supplied) in Dublin 17 is operating under the tax code with employees under the community employment scheme; and if he will make a...
- Pension Provisions
37. To ask the Minister for Finance in a case where an individual in a private sector defined benefit pension scheme has elected, prior to retirement, to commute a portion into a lump sum, if he...
- IBRC Loans
38. To ask the Minister for Finance if the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation special liquidator has considered offering to sell loans to the original borrowers at a 10% margin, or any other...
- Credit Unions Regulation
39. To ask the Minister for Finance the supports that will be available to credit unions who are being requested to employ managers and other support staff as a result of recently published...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Roadworthiness Testing
40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if Bus Éireann engages the services of the UK-based association (details supplied) to conduct inspections on school buses; if this service is...
- Education and Training Boards Staff
43. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of newly appointed resource persons employed in Youthreach Centres of Education since 2005 to date by the City of Dublin ETB; the...
- Home Tuition Scheme Administration
44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale behind the decision to confine early intervention services for children aged between two and four years with a diagnosis of autism,...
- Student Grant Scheme Applications
45. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52001/13]
- School Enrolments
46. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the regulations governing secondary school enrolment fees/voluntary contributions; his plans to introduce any changes to the current situation;...
- Student Grant Scheme Administration
47. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason when details from an accountant are sufficient for the Revenue Commissioners, such details provided by an accountant regarding the...
- Physical Education
48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to require all primary and post-primary students to undertake instruction in swimming and life saving; and if he will make a statement...
- Student Grant Scheme Appeals
49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can submit an appeal to the student grants appeal board when there is a review of the Student...
- Student Grant Scheme Payments
50. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an award of a full 100% non-adjacent rate maintenance grant and 100% fees and student contribution will be honoured in respect of a person...
- Public Sector Pensions Issues
51. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to a parliamentary question of 23 October 2013, when a reply will issue to a query (details supplied) raised with his Department on 23...
- Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration
52. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total salary of the chief executive officer of the Teaching Council; if they receive more than one salary for the role, that is, from his...
- School Accommodation
53. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm plans for the future accomodation needs of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Schools Building Projects Status
54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm plans for the management of a proposed second level school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on...
- Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration
57. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the recent reports into the use of donations and proceeds from shops to top up the salaries of chief executive officers and other...
- Special Educational Needs Staffing
58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the discrepancies in the allocations between special needs assistants in the school system, with some schools...
- Site Acquisitions
59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding site selection for a new campus for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Redundancy Payments
60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in the event of a school closing, if ancillary staff such as school secretary and caretaker are entitled to redundancy; if so whose responsibility...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Public Sector Pensions Data
61. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the maximum pension payable to a civil servant on a salary of €150,000 per annum who retires at each age between 60 and 65 in each...
- Valuation Office
62. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form a county breakdown of the the number of re-valuations undertaken by the Valuation Office; the number...
- Burial Grounds
63. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the transferring of lands for the use of a public burial ground at Abbey Island in Derrynane, County Kerry...
- Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
- Departmental Expenditure
64. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of running the seed and venture capital scheme to date; and the cost of similar schemes. [52049/13]
- Small and Medium Enterprises Supports
65. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether it would be more efficient for the Government from a time and cost point of view to direct money ring-fenced for...
- Enterprise Support Schemes
66. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the specific projects that he plans for County Monaghan arising from the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2012-2016; and if...
- Department of Social Protection
- Social Insurance Issues
68. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the initiative introduced in July 2011 to reduce the PRSI liability for employers hiring employees up to €365 per week will expire; if...
- Carer's Allowance Appeals
70. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a decision on a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a...
- Departmental Reports
71. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has seen the content of the citizens information centre report on the centralised rent supplement units and the experience of applicants and...
- Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications
72. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [52041/13]
- Social Welfare Fraud Data
73. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of calls and online reports that were received by her Department's anonymous reporting service in 2012 and 2013; and the number of these...
- Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
74. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her Department's policy on dependants (details supplied). [52052/13]
- Invalidity Pension Appeals
75. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for an invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied). [52055/13]
- Social Welfare Benefits
76. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the procedure of back week relating to a community employment scheme and the non-payment of welfare allowance for two weeks...
- Death Certificates Issues
77. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will support the case of a person (details supplied) regarding the recognition of a death of an unborn child. [52133/13]
- Security of the Elderly
78. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to provide additional funds for senior citizens alert following the termination of the telephone allowance; and if she will make a...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Data
79. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of rent allowance at present; the number of such in each country; and the total cost of same. [52173/13]
- Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
80. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the lack of support for persons that were self-employed; and if she will make a statement on...
- Social Welfare Code Reform
81. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will give consideration to the ten solutions for smarter futures as put forward by the One Family campaign group; her response to the...
- State Pension (Non-Contributory) Appeals
83. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal against a cut in the non-contributory old age pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and...
- Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Animal Welfare
84. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to reports of illegal deer hunting around the country; and the safeguards that exist to prevent...
- Irish Language Issues
85. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Irish language; if he will pursue the ending of the Irish language...
- Arts Funding
86. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will ensure that funding for the arts is maintained in view of the importance of the arts to citizens and to the economy; and if...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Fuel Oil Specifications
87. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which testing of diesel has take place in County Clare in the past 12 months; if it has been brought to his...
- Renewable Energy Generation Issues
88. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the Irish Planning Institute's claim that the renewable export framework is premature without an overall...
- Broadband Services Provision
89. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will clarify the terms of the national broadband scheme as offered to consumers; in particular the issues regarding...
- National Postcode System Establishment
90. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he intends to introduce the postcode system; when is it expected to come into full operation; and if he will make a...
- Energy Schemes Issues
91. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason an elderly person who is in receipt of an old age pension from the UK together with a fuel allowance is...
- Electricity Generation
92. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which it is expected to replace electricity generation from fossil fuels with alternatives in the short and...
- Electricity Transmission Network
95. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the use of interconnectors to increase the availability of electricity in this jurisdiction at times of...
- Mobile Telephony Services Provision
96. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if an evaluation has been done as to how the situation of inadequate mobile telephone service can be addressed with...
- Broadband Services Provision
97. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the ongoing steps being taken to improve the quality and availability of broadband services throughout the country with...
- Post Office Network
98. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the envisaged or enhanced role he sees for the post office network including sub-post offices and counter services with...
- Energy Resources
99. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress regarding the availability of product from the Corrib gas field to the national grid in the short and medium...
- Exploration Industry Data
101. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which any new indications of commercially viable finds of oil, gas or other minerals has been brought to...
- Energy Prices
102. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which energy costs here compare with those in other EU member states, eurozone and non-eurozone; and if he...
- Fuel Prices
103. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the price of motor fuel here at filling stations compares with prices throughout the EU; and if he...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Traveller Accommodation
104. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to the acknowledged need for for the redevelopment of Labre Park Traveller accommodation in Ballyfermot, which...
- Fire Safety Issues
105. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government following the evacuation of apartments in Navan due to fire safety issues, and in view of the fact that there have been...
- Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility
106. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the procedure whereby persons applying for social housing must receive proof from the land registry from...
- Seniors Alert Scheme
107. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a number of applications in respect of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Homeless Accommodation Funding (1 comment)
108. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if will set out in tabular form the funds allocated by his Department to county councils (details supplied) for the...
- Irish Water Staff
109. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the grades and numbers for each employee at all levels that will be employed by Irish...
- Leader Programmes Funding
110. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has assessed the total value of unallocated LEADER funding; the total amount of funding that has been unallocated;...
- Proposed Legislation
112. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a proposal (details supplied) on residential tenancy legislation. [52051/13]
- Housing Adaptation Grants Funding
113. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the funding that will be provided to Meath County Council for housing adaptation grants as a result of the announcements...
- Water Services Provision
114. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding Burncourt regional water supply; when will works be completed; if his attention has been drawn to...
- Shared Ownership Scheme
115. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there is any recourse in the case of a person (details supplied) who bought apartments from the Dublin Docklands...
- Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists
116. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the waiting list for local authority housing at the time of the latest figures available; and...
- Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure
117. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the financial provision that has been made by his Department to provide social housing in the 2014 budget; and if he will...
- Homeless Persons Data
119. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of persons deemed to be homeless in the State; and the number of such in each county. [52172/13]
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Syrian Conflict
121. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the number of persons who have travelled from Ireland to fight in the Syrian civil war; if his Department has...
- Garda Operations
122. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on Garda Operation Bambi; the number of persons arrested and charged as part of this operation to date broken down on an annual...
- Garda Transport Provision
123. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase the number of vehicles in Coolock, Raheny and Clontarf Garda stations, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Succession Act
124. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce strict rules regarding debarring persons who have been proved guilty of killing others from inheriting from their estates;...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications
125. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will have their disadvantaged area based payment processed; the reason for the delay...
- Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments
127. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an outstanding disadvantaged area payment from 2011 will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork;...
- Sheep Fencing-Mobile Equipment Scheme Applications
128. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reconsider an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the sheep fencing-mobile handling equipment...
- Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals
129. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an appeal relating to a disadvantaged area payment over-declaration will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied)...
- Hare Coursing
130. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will bring forward regulations outlawing or suspending hare coursing during periods of freezing weather, snow or hail, and...
- Single Payment Scheme Administration
131. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that a single farm payment was made for land for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004 in respect of a person (details...
- Registration of Title
135. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a land registry deal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo which has been ongoing since...
- Sea Lice Controls
136. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is concerned by the recent ordering of a culling of lice infested farmed salmon in Norway to protect young migrating wild...
- Agriculture Schemes Data
137. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the latest figures from the start of the year to 28 November 2013 of the number of farmers in County Kerry that...
- Farm Inspections
142. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding farm inspections and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Animal Welfare
143. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the course of action that will be undertaken to deal with those responsible for the burning to death of a horse in Tallaght last week...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Inter-Country Adoptions
144. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason an index register of domestic adopted children is available for public scrutiny but internationally adopted children's records...
- Children in Care
145. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the nationalities of children in care on a county basis for the past 10 years. [52061/13]
- Missing Children
146. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a breakdown of the number of children who have been reported missing from the care system in Dublin and on a national...
- Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration
147. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the recent reports into the use of donations and proceeds from shops to top up the salaries of chief executive officers and...
- Department of Health
- Primary Medical Certificates Applications
148. To ask the Minister for Health if he will examine a primary medical certificate application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [51979/13]
- Medical Card Reviews
149. To ask the Minister for Health if he will examine a medical card review in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51985/13]
- Nursing Staff Recruitment
150. To ask the Minister for Health his advice on a matter concerning a tracheostomy nurse post (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51988/13]
- Medical Card Reviews
151. To ask the Minister for Health if provision will be made for a refund in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51990/13]
- Treatment Abroad Scheme
152. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline in detail the operation of the treatment abroad scheme; the way applications are received; the criteria applied when determining...
- Public Sector Pensions Issues
153. To ask the Minister for Health if a Health Service Executive pension scheme estimate will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the...
- HSE Staff Remuneration
154. To ask the Minister for Health the reason an employee of the Health Service Executive who suffered an injury at work has, for the fourth time suffered the loss of their personal allowance...
- Hospital Appointment Status
155. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a hip operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52031/13]
- HSE Staffing
156. To ask the Minister for Health the number of therapists employed in psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language for children with disabilities in each of the four...
- Medical Card Applications
157. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive a decision on their medical card application [52033/13]
- Residential Institutions Issues
158. To ask the Minister for Health the number of mother and baby homes that were inspected in the State prior to and after the passing of the 1952 Act; under what authority were they carried out...
- Health Services Provision
159. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Meath will receive assurances as to when their established care plan will be put into place and in addition provide...
- Primary Care Centres Provision
160. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to establish a primary care centre in Donaghmede, Dublin 13 and the North Fringe [52131/13]
- General Practitioner Training
161. To ask the Minister for Health if he will significantly increase the number of general practitioner training places following recent media reports and statements from the Irish College of...
- Medical Card Applications
162. To ask the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52148/13]
- Hospital Accommodation Provision
163. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the problem of the empty and unused ward in the new West Kerry Community Hospital in Dingle, by investigating the viability of contracting...
- Tobacco Control Measures
164. To ask the Minister for Health if he fears that plain packaging cigarettes will lead to an increase in the illicit trade, counterfeit and contraband; the amount this costs the exchequer in...
- Medical Card Eligibility
165. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a medical card was recently removed from a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52177/13]
- Hospital Waiting Lists
166. To ask the Minister for Health the tendering process used to tackle the hearing aid waiting lists; if he is satisfied that the process was carried out correctly, that it is, in line with...
- Tobacco Control Measures
167. To ask the Minister for Health if he is considering, as part of the new plain packaging laws, excluding cigar and pipe tobaccos, as was the case with the display ban introduced for...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Parking Regulations
168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a disabled person's parking card in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Driver Licence Applications
169. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a drivers licence will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the normal processing times for same;...
- Local Improvements Scheme
170. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be allocated for local improvement schemes within the local authorities in the upcoming year, 2014; and if he will make a...
- Register of Electors Issues
171. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on adding a section in the driving licence application process where persons could ask to be added to the electoral register if...
- Road Safety Authority
172. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff employed by the Road Safety Authority in each of the past five years. [52122/13]
- National Car Test
174. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to change the situation relating to NCT certificates where a person purchases a car that has a lapsed NCT certificate, for...
- Public Transport Provision
175. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of bus shelters that have been installed in the Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council administrative areas since...
