Written answers
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
- Department of Social Protection
- Disability Allowance Appeals
1. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan has been waiting more than two months for a disability allowance. [39325/14]
- Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications
3. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a domiciliary care allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make...
- Carer's Allowance Applications
5. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an application for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she...
- Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare
6. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has concluded its reflection on the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare and the findings of the 2010...
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
7. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if performance-related pay has been paid to any of her staff or staff in her Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; if so, the...
- Community Employment Schemes Eligibility
8. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a community employment supervisor who is funded by her Department is forced to retire when he or she reaches the age of 66; the reason this...
- Pension Provisions
10. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason the 2008 Labour Court recommendation on a pension scheme for community employment supervisors was not implemented. [39452/14]
- Child Benefit Data
11. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of children in the State in respect of whom child benefit is not being paid. [39457/14]
- Invalidity Pension Appeals
14. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has an appeal in for invalidity pension will be medically assessed; and if she will make a...
- Department of Finance
- Financial Services Regulation
15. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding financial brokers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39329/14]
- Property Taxation Rate
16. To ask the Minister for Finance if the 15% reduction which local authorities are permitted to apply to property taxes collected in their area is a once-off event or, alternatively, if it is...
- Revenue Commissioners Resources
17. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated savings which could be achieved for the Exchequer by increasing the number of inspectors and auditors employed by the Revenue Commissioners by an...
- Tax Code
18. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer, in each case, of increasing the standard rate cut-off point for PAYE to €33,000, €34,000, €35,000,...
- VAT Rate Reductions
20. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer of decreasing the higher rate of VAT from 23% to 22% and 21%, respectively; and the cost of decreasing the lower rate of...
- European Investment Bank Loans
22. To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the fact that the European Investment Bank has agreed to provide funding towards the library extension at the University of Limerick; if he will...
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
23. To ask the Minister for Finance if performance-related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; if so, the number...
- Corporate Tax Compliance
24. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the OECD's base erosion and profit shifting plan and its implications for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39467/14]
- Financial Services Regulation
25. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will review the mis-selling of payment protection insurance by Permanent TSB to a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [39489/14]
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Public Sector Staff Remuneration
26. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether it is time to end the financial emergency measures in the public interest with regard to teachers (details...
- Legislative Measures
27. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason for the delay in commencing the Construction Contracts Act 2013; if he will provide a full update and a likely date when it...
- Departmental Expenditure
28. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the names of the companies that in 2013 received €86 million in rent from Government Departments and the general Civil Service;...
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
29. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if performance-related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in...
- National Monuments
31. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a site (details supplied) in County Kerry may be made more accessible for wheelchair users; and if he will make a...
- Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
- Science and Technology Groups
32. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to a publication (details supplied) by the Institute of Physics in Ireland published in June 2014; his...
- Employment Rights
33. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding employees in the insurance industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
34. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if performance-related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in...
- Job Retention
35. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will arrange a meeting with the Industrial Development Agency-Enterprise Ireland and a company (details supplied) in County Meath...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Sugar Industry
36. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the reactivation of the sugar beet industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39332/14]
- Control of Dogs
37. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if cardiac injection is used in the killing of dogs in dog pounds; if so how it is compatible with new animal welfare legislation; if...
- Agriculture Schemes Payments
38. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when outstanding payments under the single payment scheme and the disadvantaged area based scheme will be issued to a person (details...
- Departmental Legal Cases
40. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received a response from the Chief State Solicitor on an issue in respect of a person (details supplied) after the matter...
- Beef Industry Irregularities
41. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 105 of 18 September 2014, his views on concerns that the operation of price-fixing and...
- Public Procurement Contracts
42. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a contract in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Beef Imports
43. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the companies that imported beef into Ireland in 2014; when the imports took place and the amount each company imported. [39386/14]
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
44. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if performance-related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in...
- Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments
45. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive their disadvantaged area payment. [39410/14]
- Milk Quota
46. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the milk quota situation and super-levy difficulties; if it is likely that the EU will remain significantly...
- EU Regulations
47. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will intervene in two satellite inspection cases (details supplied) in Co. Tipperary; when the results of these inspections will...
- Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments
48. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive their disadvantaged areas payment; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Staff Data
49. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on reports of an exodus of 141 Department of Agriculture staff in 2014; his plans to replace these staff; his views that...
- Animal Disease Controls
50. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he proposes to deal with the problem of residual PIs to complete the BVD eradication programme; and if he will make a...
- GLAS Scheme Eligibility
52. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he will meet his stated target of 30,000 applicants accepted into GLAS in 2015, in view of the fact that his Department has...
- Single Payment Scheme Eligibility
53. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reference area under the single payment scheme established by his Department in respect of the 2013 SPS in respect of a person...
- Pigmeat Sector
54. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to support the pigmeat sector in view of current difficulties; if he has put any specific proposals to the European...
- Department of Defence
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
55. To ask the Minister for Defence if performance-related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; if so, the number...
- Departmental Properties
56. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will seek approval from the Civil Defence headquarters at Benamore, Roscrea, County Tipperary, to allow community volunteers access a playing field to...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Garda Deployment
57. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied that the numbers of Gardaí and tactics deployed were appropriate regarding their attendance at protests against the...
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
58. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if performance-related pay has been paid to any of her staff or staff in her Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; if so,...
- Garda Deployment
59. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if GMC Sierra or Uisce Éireann are contributing financially towards the cost of the Garda mobilisation into the north east of the city of...
- Garda Investigations
61. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding concerns of commuters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39490/14]
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
62. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if performance-related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014;...
- Departmental Contracts
63. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason pre-school providers (details supplied) are waiting up to six or seven weeks to receive contract payments from his Department;...
- Adoption Legislation
64. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the welfare of children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39437/14]
- Youth Services Funding
65. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to increase funding to Foróige for 2015 in view of the valuable and important work it carries out throughout the country; and...
- Department of Health
- Water Fluoridation
66. To ask the Minister for Health the reason after 50 years of fluoridation no proper environmental impact studies have ever been done. [39443/14]
- Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review
67. To ask the Minister for Health when the review the of the fair deal scheme will be completed; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39316/14]
- Health Strategies
68. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider prioritising the development of a strategy for allergy care and a detailed policy to deal with anaphylaxis; and if he will make a statement...
- Accident and Emergency Services Provision
69. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the winter planning group established to address winter pressures at the accident and emergency department at the University Hospital...
- Infectious Diseases Epidemic
70. To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that Ireland is sufficiently prepared to cope with any potential outbreak of the Ebola virus; the strategies in place if this happens; if...
- Home Care Packages
71. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no funding available to persons for assistance under the home care package (details supplied), the...
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
72. To ask the Minister for Health if performance-related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; if so, the number of...
- Medical Card Applications
73. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an over 70s medical card was refused in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly as they were 68...
- Medical Indemnity Cover
75. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a full third party investigation is carried out in relation to the case of an independent midwife (details supplied) to ensure that due...
- Disabilities Statistics
76. To ask the Minister for Health with regard to the1099 persons on the national disability database in County Louth, if he will provide the number that have a physical disability, intellectual...
- Hospital Staff
77. To ask the Minister for Health the number of outreach paediatric palliative care nurses in the country; the hospitals they are attached to; the number of children under their care; and if he...
- Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
78. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive a prosthesis for their leg. [39438/14]
- Hospital Transfers
79. To ask the Minister for Health if he will expedite the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who has been in rehabilitation in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital,...
- Health Services
80. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a home bus service in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39442/14]
- Home Help Service Provision
81. To ask the Minister for Health the reason home help staff on €11 per hour and €5 travel expenses will be expected to provide a quality service for our senior citizens and the...
- HSE Staffing
82. To ask the Minister for Health the reason assistant psychology posts are not recognised within the Health Service Executive pay scales; the reason such posts are not mentioned in the future...
- Medical Card Eligibility
83. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39455/14]
- Hospital Waiting Lists
84. To ask the Minister for Health the surgical supports available for both adults and children with scoliosis in the State; the waiting times for each surgical centre; if additional resources...
- Services for People with Disabilities
85. To ask the Minister for Health if the existing Health Service Executive services respite, shared care services will be maintained in respect of a person (details supplied) in County...
- Mobility Allowance Eligibility
86. To ask the Minister for Health if a person who is currently in receipt of mobility allowance returns to work on a temporary basis, will they qualify again for the mobility allowance once the...
- Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration
89. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding persons (details supplied) who are not receiving an adequate financial contribution to nursing care for a parent as well as adequate...
- Dental Services Provision
90. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the feasibility of restoring scale and polish dental treatment (details supplied) which has been discontinued; and if he will make a statement...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Foreign Policy
91. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will affirm that the long-standing policy of neutrality remains as a central element of Irish foreign policy; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
92. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if performance-related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in...
- Passports Data
93. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Irish passports currently held by persons resident in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39405/14]
- Department of Education and Skills
- SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Administration
94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason persons under the age of 26 on jobseeker's benefit only receive €100 training allowance on a FÁS training scheme while...
- Pension Provisions
95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm that employment scheme supervisors who were working for FÁS up until its dissolution and who continue to work in that...
- Minor Works Scheme Restoration
96. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reinstate the minor works grant scheme for the 2014-15 school year in view of the importance of this scheme over the years to maintain...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the fact that Irish primary schools are among the most overcrowded in the EU with an average of 25 pupils per class; if there will be...
- School Staffing
98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an appeal for a Student Universal Support Ireland grant in respect of a person (details supplied) will be expedited in view of the fact that...
- Special Educational Needs Staffing
100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding remedial and special needs teachers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39331/14]
- Home Tuition Scheme Provision
101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive approval for home tuition; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a...
- Special Educational Needs Service Provision
102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will restore the previous austerity cuts of 15% for the new special needs assistant programme, to ensure that the role of special needs...
- Special Educational Needs Expenditure
105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current cost of providing the maths recovery programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39371/14]
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if performance-related pay has been paid to any of her staff or staff in her Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; if...
- Special Educational Needs Service Provision
110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to concerns in respect of proposals to change the system of allocating teaching resources to schools to support...
- Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the purpose served by the three year requirement in the definition of re-entry, for the purposes of the student grant scheme 2014 in SI No. 20 of...
- School Transport Eligibility
113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to address the problem of the ending of school transport for students with special needs when they reach a certain age; and if she will...
- State Examinations
114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that retired teachers on pension are taking from young qualified teachers in schools, correcting, and...
- School Staffing
115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure young qualified teachers get work in preference to retired teachers. [39431/14]
- Summer Works Scheme Applications
118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the names of schools in the Dublin 3, 5, 13 and 17 areas that were successful in getting works carried out during the 2014 summer works scheme;...
- School Accommodation
119. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to substantial concerns that parents of children attending a school of 277 pupils (details supplied) in County...
- Education Policy
120. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the historical model that has been utilised by her Department when anticipating future educational needs across the State; and if she will make a...
- School Accommodation
121. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a minimum floor area that is specified for a classroom; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some schools are approaching...
- Teaching Council of Ireland
122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will implement the recommendation of the gaeltacht placement working group; if she will address the issue of huge costs of approximately...
- Gaelscoileanna Issues
123. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that progression from Gaelscoil to Gaelcholáiste is close to 100% where commute distance is not...
- School Staffing
126. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine an issue of 35 pupils in a classroom (details supplied) in County Kerry; if she will address the issue; and if she will make...
- State Examinations
127. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of leaving certificate students doing higher level subjects by subject in the country, in particular the number doing higher level...
- School Enrolments Data
128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of 16 year olds and the number of 17 year olds currently not in full-time education. [39507/14]
- Education and Training Boards Funding
129. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the education and training boards who have notified her or her Department of their intention to apply for overdraft facilities; the stage at...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Control of Dogs
130. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the use of the captive bolt is either in practise or permitted in dog pounds. [39338/14]
- Nuclear Plants
132. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding plans by the British Government to build a new nuclear power plant 240 km off the Irish coast; and if...
- Irish Water Remit
136. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the protocol between Irish Water and local authorities, in view of the fact that...
- Water Supply
137. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government where the property owner's liability for leaks begins, is it at the boundary or at the meter which is on public property;...
- Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding
138. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ring-fence funding to support the national collective of community-based women's networks to deliver the only...
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
142. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if performance-related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and...
- Irish Water Administration
144. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the reservations persons have regarding declaring children's PPS details on the Irish Water application form,...
- Leader Programmes Applications
149. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when a decision will be made on whether Leader funds which have been allocated to projects in County Clare which will not...
- Irish Water Establishment
151. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding Irish Water (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39456/14]
- Water Charges Exemptions
152. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on whether hepatitis C sufferers are exempt from paying water charges. [39462/14]
- Local Authority Staff Recruitment
153. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of requests his Department has received from Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council since 1 January 2014...
- Social and Affordable Housing Provision
156. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on social housing plans for the northside of Dublin. [39481/14]
- Water Meters
157. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water has taken all necessary steps to ensure that every digit on the meters can be read by a homeowner and that...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Telecommunications Infrastructure
160. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has considered the opportunity of laying new telecommunications fibre at the same time as Irish Water...
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
161. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if performance-related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011 to 2013,...
- Postal Services
162. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has consulted with An Post concerning a business plan for the company; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Haulage Industry Regulation
163. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will introduce measures to ensure that the costs of operating a truck here are in line with the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland...
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
164. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if performance-related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in...
- Air Services Provision
165. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the tender process for the Kerry-Dublin public service obligation flight route; and if he will make a statement on...
- Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme
166. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will not cut an airport pension by 60% in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Applications
168. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a person (details supplied) will receive compensation under the turf cutting scheme; the reason for the delay; and if she will...
- Departmental Staff Remuneration
169. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if performance-related pay has been paid to any of her staff or staff in her Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in...
- Census of Population Publication
170. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to publish the 1926 census; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39414/14]
- Ministerial Correspondence
171. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39425/14]
