Written answers

Thursday, 5 June 2014

  • Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
    • Job Creation
      11. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the actions he will take to provide more sustainable employment opportunities for persons employed under zero hour contracts or for...
    • Company Closures
      13. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in view of the closure of a company (details supplied) and other long-standing printing companies, if he has any initiatives planned to...
    • Social Enterprise Sector
      14. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the work of the inter-departmental group on social enterprise; and the progress that has been made in...
    • Local Enterprise Offices Remit
      15. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to work in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in providing a rural, agricultural dimension...
    • Employment Rights
      16. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will intervene in a dispute (details supplied) where staff and former workers have been left without wages and have been forced...
    • Enterprise Support Schemes
      17. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the up to date draw down of the micro finance loan fund and the credit guarantee scheme. [23805/14]
    • Workplace Relations Services Issues
      18. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress of implementing the new workplace relations service; when the legislation underpinning the proposed new structures will be...
    • Manufacturing Sector
      19. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress that is being made towards the goal of increasing employment in the manufacturing sector by 20,000; and if he will make a...
    • Science Foundation Ireland Remit
      20. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the investment priorities at this time of Science Foundation Ireland; if this investment is geared towards pure or so called blue skies...
    • Industrial Relations
      21. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding progress in relation to giving pensioner groups access to the State's industrial relations machinery in dealing...
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
    • Consular Services Staff
      22. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken to ensure the financial probity of those appointed as consuls or honorary consuls abroad. [23980/14]
    • Emigrant Support Services
      23. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the financial assistance available to Irish persons living abroad on working visa who get sick or injured and are out of...
    • International Agreements
      24. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on the 20th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, his views on the current status of...
    • Human Rights Issues
      25. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will intervene with the Pakistani authorities and condemn in the highest possible way the stoning to death of Farzana...
    • Northern Ireland Issues
      26. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at his recent meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State; and if he will make a statement on...
    • Dublin-Monaghan Bombings
      30. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State at his recent meeting the need for the British Government to...
  • Department of Finance
    • Tax Code
      31. To ask the Minister for Finance in respect of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994, the reason a person who has purchased a suitable second hand...
    • Tax Exemptions
      32. To ask the Minister for Finance if the use of a commercial vehicle by a self-employed person, while carrying tools to travel from their registered office to their clients is considered...
  • Department of Education and Skills
    • SOLAS Administration
      34. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a resolution to the withdrawal of FÁS-SOLAS instructor cards in respect of a person (details supplied) in County...
    • Schools Building Projects Status
      35. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of all school building projects in progress, approved and planned in the future for County Kildare; and if he will make...
    • School Enrolments
      36. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on a section 29 appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on...
    • Schools Building Projects Applications
      37. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the size or intake a school needs to attain if it is to be considered for the addition of a general purpose room; and if he will make a statement...
    • Special Educational Needs Staffing
      38. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will arrange for a full-time special needs assistant to be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; if he will...
    • School Staffing Appeals Mechanism
      39. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will meet a delegation from a school (details supplied) regarding their appeal for an extra teacher from September 2014 based on their...
    • Special Educational Needs Staffing
      40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to special needs assistants, if the definition of what constitutes care needs has been changed in circular 0030/2014; if such an...
    • Third Level Funding
      41. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will support the continued existence of a long-standing reputable third level education institution (details supplied); and if he will make...
    • State Examinations
      42. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the eligibility criteria used to determine those who are eligible for the roles of exam supervisors-superintendents for the State leaving...
    • Schools Building Projects Applications
      43. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when his Department will be in a position to seek tenders for a new secondary school in Skibbereen, County Cork; the proposed timetable for the...
    • School Transport Administration
      44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied with the current tendering process for school bus contracts in County Cork; if there is open and transparent competition; the...
    • Education and Training Boards
      45. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding S32 (2) of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013 (details supplied); if he will amend the legislation accordingly; and...
    • School Staffing
      46. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding two teachers in respect of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24059/14]
    • Schools Building Projects Status
      48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposed building project for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; the present stage of this project; when the...
  • Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
    • Job Creation Data
      49. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he can verify the actual number of jobs created and-or lost in each of the past six years to date; and if he will...
    • Enterprise Support Schemes
      51. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which science and innovation supports have been made available to small and medium enterprises in each of the past five...
    • Foreign Direct Investment
      52. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which foreign direct investment has resulted in job creation in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make...
    • Enterprise Support Services Provision
      56. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which science and innovation continues to play a role in the setting up of new or supporting existing enterprises here;...
    • Job Creation
      57. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he expects jobs to be created in the small and medium enterprise sector in the coming years; the way this compares...
    • Small and Medium Enterprises Supports
      59. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of small and medium enterprises in the manufacturing services sectors that have qualified for State or EU support in each of...
    • Enterprise Support Services Provision
      61. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which there are incentives to encourage entrepreneurship among young persons currently; if the strategy employed is...
    • Jobs Data
      62. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs created or lost in major industries or small and medium enterprises in County Kildare in each of the past five years...
    • Industrial Development
      63. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will consider making funding available for the purchase of a site or sites in the south east area, particularly County Carlow,...
  • Department of Social Protection
    • Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
      64. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to allow college students on their summer holidays to apply for jobseeker's allowance or another social welfare payment, as they are...
    • Invalidity Pension Appeals
      65. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for invalidity allowance payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the person is...
    • Public Sector Staff Retirements
      66. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of public service employees that have been forced out of employment at age 65, from 1 January 2014 to date, who do not have a contributory...
    • Free Travel Scheme Review
      67. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on her Department's review of the free travel scheme; her proposals to alter the current scheme; and if she will make a statement...
    • Family Income Supplement Appeals
      68. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will urgently examine family income supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on...
    • Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals
      69. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in awarding domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [24022/14]
    • Departmental Expenditure
      72. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the savings that have so far been achieved from the introduction of section 13 and section 14 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2014; and when...
  • Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
    • Special Areas of Conservation Designation
      73. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will give consideration to the proposals made in correspondence (details supplied) regarding raised bogs; if he will act upon...
    • Seirbhísí Eitilte
      74. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht an bhfuil sé i gceist aige síneadh a chur le conradh Aer Árann le seirbhís aeir a chur ar fáil chuig...
  • Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
    • Register of Electors
      75. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will instigate a review of the electoral register in view of the large number of mistakes that are continuously...
    • Building Regulations Qualifications
      76. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to include the architectural technologist profession in the band of professionals which are to be accepted by...
    • Appointments to State Boards
      77. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the appointment of the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland Admissions Board has been completed; and if he will...
    • Building Regulations Application
      78. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the new building regulations the measures in place to regulate the professional fees of engineers retained by...
    • Election Management System
      79. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons who were employed in carrying out the count and the election monitoring during the recent local and...
    • Local Authority Housing
      80. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a person, who availed of the rural local authority housing scheme in which the applicant provided the site and the local...
  • Department of Defence
    • Defence Forces Personnel
      81. To ask the Minister for Defence his views in relation to the issues raised regarding contract soldiers; if he will restructure their pay and conditions; if he has discussed the issues with...
  • Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
    • Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments
      82. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the disadvantaged area based payment for 2013 will be paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County...
    • Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments
      83. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under AEOS 3 to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this...
    • Single Payment Scheme Payments
      84. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the circumstances of a case where a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has not been paid a single farm payment for over five...
    • Single Payment Scheme Administration
      85. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department was made aware of problems with the online single payment form system in 2014, particularly where changes had to be...
    • Afforestation Programme
      87. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved a forestry contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications
      88. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive a disadvantaged area payment this year as they have now resolved their...
  • Department of Justice and Equality
    • Garda Transport Provision
      89. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will reverse the decision to remove the patrol car attached to Ballynacargy, County Westmeath Garda station. [23987/14]
    • Residential Institutions Issues
      90. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if, in relation to the recent public disclosure that the remains of several hundred children are located at the site of the former Bon Secours...
    • Garda Communications
      91. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the PULSE electronic database used by An Garda Síochána contains a tracking function which displays the name or identifier of each...
    • Information and Communications Technology Issues
      92. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form amounts invoiced, allocated or assigned by her Department to other public bodies and agencies for Information...
    • Firearms Licences
      93. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason, when members of the public apply for firearms licences, they are not issued with receipts from a garda or superintendent; if she sees...
  • Department of Health
    • Medical Card Applications
      94. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23981/14]
    • Primary Medical Certificates Applications
      95. To ask the Minister for Health if he will arrange for the issuing of a primary medical certificate in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement...
    • Medical Card Eligibility
      96. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to realise an amendment to the Health Act of 1970 that will legally entitle any child diagnosed with a serious illness or congenital condition to a...
    • Hospital Services
      97. To ask the Minister for Health when Waterford University Hospital will have a full 24-7 cardiology service; if he will confirm that the required expertise will be on hand at all times and...
    • Motorised Transport Grant Numbers
      98. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding reform of the mobility allowance; when he will be in a position to introduce legislation to regularise the scheme to allow his Department...
    • Ambulance Service Staff
      102. To ask the Minister for Health the criteria for paramedics who are on a panel seeking a transfer from one region to another. [24004/14]
    • Hospital Services
      104. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the reinstatement of orthoptist services in Dungarvan Hospital; the reason for the delay in relation to same; and if he will...
    • Medical Card Reviews
      105. To ask the Minister for Health if he will investigate the circumstances regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6W; if he will review the cessation of...
    • Services for People with Disabilities
      106. To ask the Minister for Health the level of State support offered to an organisation (details supplied) in each year from 2007 to date; if he recognises that the organisation is a key...
    • Symphysiotomy Reports
      107. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the action being taken to provide support and redress to survivors of symphysiotomy; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
      108. To ask the Minister for Health if correspondence (details supplied), which suggest a difference in the rules for Ireland South, is accurate; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      110. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be referred to Cork University Hospital. [24030/14]
    • Medical Card Appeals
      111. To ask the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appeal for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24036/14]
    • Medical Card Eligibility
      113. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the grounds on which 50,277 medical cards were withdrawn in the first three months of this year; the savings achieved as a...
    • Medical Card Reviews
      114. To ask the Minister for Health in view of the announced suspension of medical card reviews, if this suspension affects cards which are currently under review, and cases currently under...
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      115. To ask the Minister for Health if an early hospital appointment will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [24052/14]
    • Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
      116. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Laois is due a refund on the purchase of medical equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24061/14]
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      117. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24064/14]
    • Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications
      118. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a fair deal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24066/14]
    • Health Services Provision
      120. To ask the Minister for Health the numbers on waiting lists in respect of assessment and treatment for speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy with a breakdown...
    • Universal Health Insurance White Paper
      121. To ask the Minister for Health if he will set out the plans for the allied health professionals such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists under his...
    • Medical Card Eligibility
      122. To ask the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) in County Mayo will have their full medical card restored in view of the recent announcement that reviews of discretionary...
    • Ministerial Appointments
      124. To ask the Minister for Health if, when he appointed Mr. Noel Daly as Chair of the West/North West Hospital Group, he was aware that he was a 50% shareholder and founder of N and M Health...
  • Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
    • Driver Licence Applications
      125. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the application for an amendment to a licence will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he...
    • Road Traffic Offences
      126. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will clarify for taxi drivers who enter their destination to their satellite navigation software on their smart phones whether the...
    • Driver Licences
      127. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when it is hoped to have a reciprocal driver licensing agreement put in place between British Columbia in Canada and here; and if he will...
    • Industrial Disputes
      128. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received the preliminary report from the expert panel established to find a resolution to the Aer Lingus pensions dispute; if...
  • Department of Children and Youth Affairs
    • Youth Services Provision
      130. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is any central Government funding available to newly established not for profit organisations who provide care services to young...