Written answers
Wednesday, 10 December 2014
- Department of Social Protection
- Departmental Expenditure
9. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has conducted a cost analysis of the additional 20 gardaí seconded to her Department to tackle social welfare fraud; the...
- Community Employment Schemes Eligibility
11. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that community employment schemes are now means tested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46999/14]
- Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility
12. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the changes she made to farm assist with respect to income disregards in view of the fact that it has had a serious negative...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility
13. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has conducted research on the impact the reduction in rent supplement levels has had on the level of homelessness in the State; and...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
14. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that current levels of rent supplement are adequate to meet the housing needs of recipients, particularly in view of increasing...
- Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility
15. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has carried out an analysis on the impact her changes to farm assist with respect to income disregards have had on farmers; if she will...
- Community Welfare Services
16. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans for re-opening the nine community welfare clinics, including those closed in Clogheen, Ardfinnan, Newcastle and New Inn, County Tipperary...
- Carer's Allowance Eligibility
17. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the current application process for carer's allowance being unsuitable with respect to those looking after persons with learning...
- Social Welfare Code Reform
18. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that where a young person who is having a domiciliary care allowance payment awarded in respect of them...
- Community Employment Schemes Funding
19. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her Department's commitment to the future of the community employment schemes; and if she will review a matter (details supplied) regarding community...
- Exchequer Savings
20. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the reported budgetary savings made in her Department throughout her time as Minister that have had...
- Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls
21. To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of the welcomed partial return of the Christmas bonus for social welfare recipients if she will acknowledge the need for a similar gesture by...
- Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme
22. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will liaise with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to initiate an investigation into the sale of commercial property in 2013-14...
- Personal Insolvency Practitioners
23. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will explore with the Departments of Justice and Equality and Finance the possibility of putting together a financial assistance programme for...
- Social Welfare Fraud Investigations
24. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views to review the monitoring mechanisms employed to reduce fraudulent payment of child benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Employment Support Services
25. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update in respect of her Department's plans to require jobseekers to upload a copy of their CV to continue receiving social...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
26. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the rent supplement levels; her views that such an increase will have an immediate effect on the reduction of homelessness; and...
- Labour Court Recommendations
27. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to put a mechanism in place to implement the Labour Court recommendation of 2008 in regard to an agreed pension scheme proviso for...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility
28. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the eligibility for rent supplement to include issues such as the need not to participate in anti-social behaviour; and if she...
- Social Welfare Benefits Data
29. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for disability allowance and-or carer's allowance received in the past six months in respect of children whose parents...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
30. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reasons she has ruled out the raising of the caps on rent assistance when they are well below the market rents for houses and contributing to the...
- Exceptional Needs Payment Application Numbers
31. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the capacity of the emergency needs payment scheme to meet the growing and future demands on it, from persons who are struggling due to cuts made to...
- Pensions Legislation
32. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the actions she will take to increase pension coverage here; if she will provide an update on the operation of the provisions contained in the Social...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
33. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase rent supplement levels by 25% in the areas which have experienced the sharpest rise in homelessness as a result of rising rents....
- Child Poverty
34. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the actions she will take to address the increasing child poverty rates here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47005/14]
- Domiciliary Care Allowance Eligibility
35. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on extending the period where a family can claim domiciliary care allowance for a child to 18 years rather than them going onto disability...
- Departmental Schemes
36. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has conducted an analysis of the cost and number of staff that will be required to administer the €100 water conservation grant; and if...
- Homeless Accommodation Provision
37. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide Threshold further power and resources to prevent homelessness, including in cases of repossessions. [47078/14]
- Carer's Allowance Eligibility
38. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the criteria for granting the carers' allowance for persons who care for children with severe autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Strategies
39. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to transfer payments from her Department to an electronic system; if she has discussed this proposed change with the Department of...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
40. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will determine a formula whereby tenants whose rent has increases substantially over the past 12 months may be offered partial rent support...
- Social Welfare Benefits Data
41. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for carer’s allowance, ophthalmic benefit or dental benefit, invalidity pension and disability allowance received...
- Unemployment Data
42. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which unemployment alleviation measures continue to make a positive impact in respect of long-term and youth unemployment; and if she...
- Anti-Poverty Strategy
43. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which measures to alleviate poverty arising budget 2015 continue to make positive impact; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times
44. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she may continue to improve the time taken to process appeals in respect of various social protection payments; and if she will...
- Back to Work Allowance Application Numbers
46. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which back to work applications have been approved in each of the past three years to date; the extent to which those previously...
- Work Placement Programmes
47. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for various unemployment reliefs such as JobBridge that continue to be awarded; the extent to which the schemes are...
- Social Welfare Benefits Data
48. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of children whose parents heretofore were in receipt of domiciliary care allowance who are reaching 16 years of age qualified for...
- Exceptional Needs Payments
49. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the degree to which adequate resources continue to be made available to her Department to meet exceptional needs payment requirements; and if she...
- Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times
50. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which backlogs have been addressed in respect of various headings and payments operated by her Department; and if she will make a...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Administration
51. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the names of the persons or groups who lobbied her Department to cease rent supplement in the Ballymun, Dublin 11 area as she...
- Work Placement Programmes
53. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to make changes to the TÚS scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47372/14]
- Pension Provisions
54. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if persons who have worked up their contribution pensions over numerous years will be effected by the new pension system coming into effect; if she...
- Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
59. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that long term sick claimants of illness benefit supports are not permitted to avail of the Christmas...
- Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility
62. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter regarding employment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Social Insurance
63. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the social welfare scope section in the period 2000 to date made decisions whereby family members employed in the particular family company were...
- Department of Finance
- Financial Services Regulation
64. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 223 of 2 December 2014, the reason a ten year licence was provided to the company (details supplied), despite the fact...
- Tax Compliance
65. To ask the Minister for Finance the penalties, interest and surcharges applied by the Revenue Commissioners where a person or company is late in filing its accounts; his views that these are...
- Property Taxation Administration
66. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to reform the property tax so that a person's ability to pay is taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47455/14]
- Fuel Oil Specifications
67. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of complaints of petrol-stretching in counties Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Leitrim, received by the customs and excise service in each of the months...
- Property Taxation Administration
69. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding property tax name change in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Insurance Compensation Fund
70. To ask the Minister for Finance the progress that has been made in respect of the liquidation of Setanta Insurance; if those caught up in outstanding claims are facing any losses; the role of...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Flood Relief Schemes Status
71. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a reply will issue regarding a representation made to his office (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- National Lottery Licence Sale
72. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason An Post is not retaining the lotto business as it now appears that this business has been handed to a company outside Ireland;...
- Departmental Expenditure
73. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the anticipated extra expenditure required next year across all Departments to maintain the current level of public services taking...
- Public Sector Staff Recruitment
74. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to lift the embargo on public sector recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47447/14]
- Pensions Levy
75. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will support the retired public servants on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47497/14]
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Agriculture Schemes Payments
76. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a timeframe as to when a single farm payment and a disadvantaged area payment will issue in respect of a person...
- Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments
78. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments under the agri-environment options scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and...
- Agriculture Schemes Eligibility
80. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 2 December 2014, that a site inspection takes place immediately in respect of a person...
- Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments
81. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the impact of a cross compliance inspection on the REP scheme 4 payment in respect of a person...
- Dairy Sector
82. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent commentary by Teagasc on likely future returns for dairy farmers resulting in a severe drop in income; the...
- Trade Relations
83. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he proposes to raise at the next EU Agriculture Council the need for the European Commission to introduce adequate market support...
- Agriculture Schemes Payments
84. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of all 2014 payments made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the disadvantaged...
- Single Payment Scheme Eligibility
85. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way boglands unfit for grazing are defined for the purposes of the EU single payment scheme; and the way boglands unfit for...
- Agriculture Schemes Payments
86. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- State Bodies Mergers
87. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an up to date report on the proposed merger of the Valuation Office, Property Registration Authority and Ordnance Survey...
- Immigration Controls
88. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the the recent published letter to President Obama expressing admiration for the President's display of true leadership in tackling...
- Garda Operations
89. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the protocol of An Garda Síochána for notifying the coroner at the weekend and out of office hours of a suspicious death. [47398/14]
- Coroners Service
92. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the policy of the coroner for releasing post mortem reports and the report of the State Pathologist to the family of homicide victims prior to an...
- Victim Support Services
93. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the support in place for families of victims of homicide. [47402/14]
- Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal
94. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the statistics for amount and length of processing time for applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal from the family of a...
- Victim Support Services
98. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the legal support the State offers to families of victims of homicide. [47407/14]
- Coroners Service
99. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the proposals there are to reform the coronial system and the Coroners Act 1962 to bring it in line with international standards; the reforms...
- Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Administration
101. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the way complaints regarding a member of An Garda Síochána made to a senior member of An Garda Síochána are dealt with, that...
- Liquor Licensing Laws
108. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of test purchases which have been carried out under section 14 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 in the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013...
- Visa Agreements
109. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to ease visa restrictions between Ireland and Georgia; her plans to waiver visas for diplomatic passports; and if she will make a...
- Public Procurement Contracts Data
111. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details on all contracts awarded by the Irish Prison Service to building consultants and firms over the past three years; and...
- Fuel Oil Specifications
113. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints of petrol stretching received by the Garda districts in counties Mayo, Roscommon-Longford, Galway and Sligo-Leitim...
- Penalty Points System
114. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Nos 494 of 26 November, 2013 and No. 558 of 18 February 2014 if the Garda authorities have now finalised a...
- Crime Prevention
115. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps being taken to deal with the issue of petrol stretching; if any convictions have yet been secured against those involved in the...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
117. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to include infant mortalities, adoption practices, vaccine trials and medical experimentation, forced labour and incarceration of...
- Department of Health
- Medical Records
118. To ask the Minister for Health if and when a primary medical certificate will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Audiology Services Provision
119. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the continuing rise and current three year waiting list in the audiology department, Health Service Executive for Offaly-Laois area; and...
- HSE Funding
120. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding funding for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47374/14]
- Patient Transport Provision
121. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who sought to avail of hospital transport was deemed not eligible for the service; and if he will...
- Drug Treatment Programmes Places
122. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 615 of 15 July 2014 if he will provide figures of the amount and location of detox beds that are designated solely for...
- Hospital Appointments Administration
123. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be facilitated with a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47384/14]
- Health Services Provision
124. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the provision of clinical and laboratory genetic services continue to be provided on a national basis, similar to that as currently...
- Health Services Staff
125. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide, by year, from 2009 to date in 2014, the reductions in occupational health therapy posts; the reasons for the reductions; his plans to...
- HSE Staff Remuneration
126. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the pension case in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24, noting the stated view of the Pensions Ombudsman that...
- Hospital Services
127. To ask the Minister for Health the schedule being followed in respect of development of the proposed ambulatory care centre at Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement...
- Medical Records
128. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a primary medical certificate in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a...
- Hospitals Funding
129. To ask the Minister for Health if demographic trends were considered when allocating resources for Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital for 2014 in view of demographic trends in similar...
- Home Help Service Provision
130. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding home help in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47438/14]
- Medical Card Administration
131. To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements for the implementation of the new medical card guidelines as announced by him on 25 November 2014; when the new arrangements will take effect...
- Maternity Services
132. To ask the Minister for Health the actions he has taken in view of a recent inquest (details supplied) in County Sligo; if he will meet the family of the deceased to hear their concerns at...
- Dental Services Provision
133. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Galway may be considered for urgent dental treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47450/14]
- Hospital Staff
134. To ask the Minister for Health further to the lifting of the embargo on recruitment in the public sector by him if that decision will facilitate the transfer of Health Service Executive...
- Respite Care Services
135. To ask the Minister for Health if he will support respite services at a special school (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47460/14]
- Hospital Appointments Administration
136. To ask the Minister for Health if he will take steps to expedite a neurological procedure in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on...
- Nursing Staff Provision
137. To ask the Minister for Health if an additional 0.5 nursing resource allocation will be approved to University Hospital Galway to ensure the provision of the insulin pump treatment for GUH...
- Hospital Consultants Recruitment
138. To ask the Minister for Health the reason there has been such a long delay in adding another paediatric urologist position at Crumlin Hospital, Dublin, as currently there is only one full...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
139. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the routine out-patient waiting list at St James Hospital, Dublin 8; the number of persons waiting more than three months, more than...
- Hospital Appointments Administration
140. To ask the Minister for Health if he will expedite admission to the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County...
- Primary Care Centre Provision
141. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a primary care centre (details supplied) that is planned for an area in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the...
- National Dementia Strategy Publication
142. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the national dementia strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47487/14]
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Transport Fees
144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school transport refund will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on...
- Employment Data
145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons currently involved in retraining-upskilling schemes; the number of job placements achieved arising from such schemes over...
- Schools Data
146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children attending primary schools in Ballymun, Dublin 11; and if she will provide in tabular form the absentee rates for the years...
- School Accommodation
147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for an Educate Together secondary school in Ballymun, Dublin 11. [47359/14]
- Gender Balance
148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures she will implement to bring a higher representation of women in senior positions in the universities and institutes of technology....
- State Examinations Reviews
150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way teachers correcting their own students work will improve further the learning experience at second level and the educational rationale...
- Teacher Training Provision
152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to have resources and training to support the proposed changes in each subject areas and that these resources are available to all...
- State Examinations Appeals
153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of appeals at junior certificate level in the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [47432/14]
- Education and Training Boards Administration
156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the extended executive powers of chief executives of education and training boards; her further views on having so much power vested...
- Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student universal support Ireland grant in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on...
- Commemorative Plaques
159. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update regarding the new development programme for a national memorial to the victims of institutional abuse and the...
- School Accommodation
160. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding funding for the rental of temporary accommodation in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Air Pollution
161. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on recent recordings of air pollution levels by University College Cork centre of research into atmospheric...
- Waste Management
162. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the details of regulation and disposal of clinical nuclear waste in private hospitals here; the...
- Departmental Funding
163. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 344 of 1 April 2014, if he will provide an update on discussions between his...
- Local Authority Funding
164. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if Galway County Council have applied for funding to renovate a vacant unit (details provided) in County Galway; if any...
- Irish Water Administration
166. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the sources of information Irish Water have used to compile name and address information for its customers. [47425/14]
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Enterprise Support Schemes
167. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the supports available to businesses to develop innovative websites to enable growth of online trade; and if he will make...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Tourism Promotion
168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is his Department's intention to increase the tourism potential of the Liffey Valley amenity area; the deliberations he or his...
- Driver Licences
169. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a national driving licence service centre for the Dublin 7 and Dublin 15 areas. [47428/14]
- National Car Test
170. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the provisions in place to ensure a person who is awaiting a national car test, which was booked on 16 November 2014 but will not be...
- Driving Test Regulations
171. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a driving test exemption for farmers who hold a full car or jeep and trailer licence for more than ten years but did not...
- VAT Exemptions
172. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the recent measure by the UK Government to provide mountain rescue teams with a rebate on VAT which is...
- Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Cultural Policy
173. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht regarding the Government's commitment to Ireland hosting the European Capital of Culture in 2020; if she will issue a national call...
