Written answers

Thursday, 5 March 2015

  • Department of Social Protection
    • Community Employment Schemes Review
      10. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the operation of the community employment scheme; her further plans to increase the numbers participating in the scheme; and if...
    • One-Parent Family Payments
      11. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to prevent lone parents, who are also carers, from losing €86 per week subsequent to her plans to lower the cut-off...
    • Social Welfare Code
      12. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will change the recently launched First Steps scheme, specifically in relation to penalties, which will be applied to the social welfare...
    • Farm Assist Scheme
      13. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the analysis carried out on the impact her changes to farm assist, with respect to income disregards, have had on farmers; if she will reconsider the...
    • Pensions Reform
      14. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied with the power and independence of the Pensions Authority; and if she plans to make changes in this regard. [9212/15]
    • Departmental Reports
      15. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on her Department's recent report, which states that better-off families are set to be the main beneficiaries of budget 2015; and if she...
    • National Internship Scheme Administration
      16. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department is taking to ensure that internships carried out under the JobBridge scheme are of a high standard as regards the quality...
    • Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
      17. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of applicants refused a social welfare payment who did not go to Appeals Office for the years 2013 and 2014; the reason for the high...
    • Pension Provisions
      18. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she will bring forward proposals for a new supplementary workplace retirement saving scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times
      19. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of current processing times for decisions of first instance and for the conclusion of appeals, by scheme. [9315/15]
    • Free Travel Scheme Eligibility
      20. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will resolve an anomaly whereby parents of certain children with disabilities may qualify for free travel if they are in receipt of the...
    • One-Parent Family Payments
      21. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the analysis carried out of the impact the changes to the one-parent family allowance will have on poverty levels, deprivation and the level of...
    • Labour Activation Measures
      22. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures that will be taken under the Action Plans for Jobs to assist those who are out of work for three years or more; if specific black spots...
    • National Internship Scheme Administration
      24. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views that the JobBridge monitoring checklist is inadequate and fails to measure the quality of internships in a meaningful way. [9311/15]
    • Child Benefit Rates
      25. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has done an analysis of the impact of the reductions in child benefit on poverty and deprivation levels; if she will fully reverse...
    • Rent Supplement Scheme Administration
      26. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the most recent comprehensive rent study that shows the highest year-on-year rent increases occurring in County...
    • One-Parent Family Payments
      28. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on her review with regard to the possible loss of earnings of up to €86 per week to a person in receipt of the one-parent...
    • National Internship Scheme Administration
      29. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the operation of the JobBridge scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9207/15]
    • Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure
      30. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her targets for expenditure on social protection, as a proportion of gross domestic product; the latest figures for Irish expenditure on that matrix;...
    • Anti-Poverty Strategy
      31. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures she is putting in place to tackle food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9126/15]
    • Labour Activation Measures
      32. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will justify the way those who are required to take up a Gateway position end up financially worse off, through paying pay related social...
    • One-Parent Family Payments
      33. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects one-parent families to be in a position to access family income supplement, or other support payments, in the wake of...
    • Respite Care Grant Administration
      34. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has made an analysis of the impact of the cut in the respite care grant payment on its recipients; if she will reverse the cut...
    • Departmental Staff
      35. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the various mechanisms, offices and positions employed by her Department to monitor the quality of decisions of deciding officers and to monitor...
    • Social Welfare Code
      36. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the current schemes to ensure that they support the self-employed, in view of the fact that they are the main driving force for...
    • Social Welfare Overpayments
      37. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce a statute of limitations to govern the recovery of overpayments. [9314/15]
    • Free Travel Scheme Eligibility
      38. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the free travel companion pass for visually impaired children will be widened to include children with other physical or intellectual...
    • Rent Supplement Scheme Administration
      39. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the extension of the Threshold tenancy protection service to County Cork; her plans to extend this service to other areas in...
    • National Internship Scheme Administration
      40. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her response to the proposal by the National Youth Council to double JobBridge payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9122/15]
    • Data Protection
      41. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans for data sharing between her Department and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Labour Activation Measures
      42. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will remove any penalties to social welfare recipients due to non-participation in labour activation schemes, in view of the National...
    • Social Welfare Benefits Data
      43. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will report, in tabular form, the number of persons in receipt of the one-parent family payment who were in community employment schemes in...
    • One-Parent Family Payments
      44. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse her decision to end the one-parent family payment to lone parents when their youngest child reaches seven years of age; if she...
    • Farm Assist Scheme
      45. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reversing the changes she made to farm assist with respect to income disregards, in view of the fact that it has had a serious...
    • Civil Marriages Data
      46. To ask the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the notification requirements for marriage and the fee for registering intent of marriage, which was increased from €150 to...
    • Rent Supplement Scheme Administration
      47. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has carried out an analysis of the rental market rates; if she will review the cap on rent supplement payments; and if she will...
    • Social Welfare Overpayments
      48. To ask the Minister for Social Protection in the case of social welfare recipients who have had a decision of recovery-of-overpayment made against them, if the 15% is calculated on the...
    • Humanitarian Assistance Scheme
      49. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total amount paid out for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 from the humanitarian assistance fund; if she will provide a breakdown for each of...
    • Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility
      51. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is in receipt of a jobseeker's allowance and has an adult dependant and a child becomes ineligible for rent supplement if the person...
    • Social Welfare Code (1 comment)
      52. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider creating a status analogous to being on the live register for previously self-employed persons who, following the financial...
    • Rent Supplement Scheme Administration
      53. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied with the support available to families who through no fault of their own have become homeless and have difficulty accessing...
    • Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme Data
      54. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for mortgage support refused in each of the past three years and to date in 2015; the extent to which such cases have been...
    • Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility
      55. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she remains satisfied that hardship is alleviated in respect of non-European Union nationals in this country who, in most cases,...
    • One-Parent Family Payments
      57. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects lone parents to be in a position to maintain their level of income in the aftermath of a reduction in entitlements;...
    • Jobseeker's Allowance Data
      58. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons in receipt of jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's assistance in each of the past four years and to date in 2015; and if...
    • Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times
      59. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which waiting lists apply in respect of applications for the various means-tested social welfare payments; and if she will make a...
    • Pension Provisions
      60. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of applications for non-contributory old age pension received in her Department in each of the years from 2010 to 2014, and to date...
    • Carer's Allowance Waiting Times
      61. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the current average time for the processing of carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9769/15]
    • Social Welfare Benefits
      63. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the extent of hardship and suffering caused in respect of a family (details supplied) in County Kildare who cannot...
    • Jobseeker's Allowance Payments
      65. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if adult dependant allowance is payable in respect of a jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1, or if that...
    • Dental Services
      66. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if dental benefit is available in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9785/15]
    • Rent Supplement Scheme Applications
      67. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she has monitored the position regarding an application for rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in County...
    • Jobseeker's Allowance Payments
      68. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the full entitlement and current payment of jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, who has no income...
    • Exceptional Needs Payment Appeals
      69. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which an application for an exceptional needs payment will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare;...
    • Disability Allowance Appeals
      70. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Social Welfare Code
      71. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the work of her Department in reviewing the entitlements of former self-employed citizens who find themselves out of...
    • Pension Provisions
      72. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the current status of plans for a central pensions register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9829/15]
    • One-Parent Family Payments
      75. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the one-parent family payment; the number of these in receipt of a court-mandated maintenance payment or other...
    • Exceptional Needs Payments
      76. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the maximum amount payable under the exceptional needs payment payable in respect of a person (details supplied) in County...
  • Department of Finance
    • House Prices
      78. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the desirability of house price increases; if the policy of his Department should be to encourage or discourage increases in house prices; and if...
    • Revenue Commissioners Investigations
      79. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing a special task force to combat illegal tobacco and fuel smuggling here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9674/15]
    • Fuel Trader's Licence
      81. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide the conditions required to be fulfilled by an applicant before a petrol and diesel retailing licence will be issued; if the retailer is...
    • Fiscal Policy
      83. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that a quote attributed to him which recently appeared in a British news magazine (details supplied) is accurate, that is, if quantitative...
    • Vehicle Registration
      84. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will address the general issues raised in correspondence, in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22, regarding the application of vehicle...
    • Tax Code
      85. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to review the taxation position of self-employed persons compared to others in employment; the improvements he hopes to be able to make; and if he...
    • Revenue Documents Issuance
      86. To ask the Minister for Finance if a warehouse (details supplied) in County Cork still has its licence in place to operate as a bonded warehouse; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Central Bank of Ireland Investigations
      87. To ask the Minister for Finance the current state of the Central Bank of Ireland investigation of issues relating to under-provisioning at a company (details supplied); and if he will make a...
    • Tax Data
      88. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, the sales of marked diesel on a county basis in each year from 2012 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Pension Provisions
      89. To ask the Minister for Finance the total value of pension assets transferred abroad by trustees since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9832/15]
    • State Debt
      90. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 12 February 2015, if his reply that the projected structural deficit for 2015 is above the headline deficit...
    • Banking Operations
      91. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on requiring banks to provide more information as to why lending applications are declined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9834/15]
    • Tax Compliance
      92. To ask the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners are conducting a dedicated investigation of taxation issues relating to hospital consultants who have income from both public and...
    • Tax Settlements
      93. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of State agencies and public bodies, including third level institutions, that have made settlements with the Revenue Commissioners since 2011; and...
    • National Pensions Reserve Fund Investments
      94. To ask the Minister for Finance the value of direct investments by the National Pensions Reserve Fund in tobacco firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9837/15]
    • Insurance Industry
      97. To ask the Minister for Finance the current status of the investigation of matters relating to Setanta Insurance; when customers with outstanding claims will receive compensation; and if he...
    • Deposit Guarantee Scheme
      98. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of covered deposits in the Irish banking system at the end of September 2008 under the deposit guarantee scheme; and if he will provide a breakdown...
  • Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
    • Office of Public Works Properties
      99. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 192 of 18 November 2014, the progress that has been achieved in identifying space for community use...
    • Pension Provisions
      101. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the spouses' and children's superannuation scheme. [9722/15]
    • Office of the Ombudsman Staff
      102. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to delays in the Ombudsman’s office processing complaints, due to lack of adequate staffing; his...
    • Professional Fees
      103. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has held discussions with representatives of providers of professional services to the State in respect of cuts made to...
  • Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
    • Employment Rights
      104. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the regulation for au pairs; his plans for new regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9652/15]
    • Job Losses
      105. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the involvement he has had regarding job losses at a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9708/15]
    • Workplace Relations Services
      107. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Workplace Relations Bill 2014. [9866/15]
  • Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
    • Animal Welfare
      108. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding greyhound care. [9614/15]
    • Agriculture Schemes Payments
      109. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the situation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare, under the single payment scheme; and if...
    • Felling Licences Applications
      110. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide copies of all general and limited felling licences associated with a development (details supplied) in County...
    • Agriculture Schemes Appeals
      111. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on a case (details supplied); if the person's explanation of circumstances will be accepted; and if he...
    • Land Parcel Identification System
      112. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that all commonage land parcel identification system reviews, from 2009 to date in 2015, have been carried out in...
    • Grassland Sheep Scheme Payments
      113. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason payment under the grassland sheep scheme has not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will...
    • Organic Farming Scheme Applications
      114. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm if a person (details supplied) in County Limerick made a late application in 2013 under the organic farming scheme...
    • Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments
      115. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on a payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo under the rural environment...
    • Hare Coursing
      116. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if hare coursing will be banned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9699/15]
    • Irish Land Commission
      117. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that the Land Commission vesting orders for land and attached seaweed rights are held in Portlaoise, County Laois;...
    • Forestry Grants
      118. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied), who had an approved forestry grant, is now subject to a retrospective penalty of over...
    • GLAS Administration
      120. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of approved agricultural planners in the country, approved to prepare green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme plans;...
    • GLAS Payments
      122. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is precluded by European Union regulation from making payments under the green low-carbon agri-envivornmental scheme for five...
    • Animal Disease Controls
      123. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a farmer (details supplied) did not receive compensation for disposing of calves which had bovine viral diarrhoea; the way...
    • Forestry Grants
      124. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when applications for forestry grants and premiums on special protection area protected lands, particularly hen harrier special...
    • GLAS Payments
      125. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is an automatic top-up under the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme plus for Natura 2000, national heritage areas...
    • GLAS Administration
      126. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the special arrangements put in place under the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme for farmers farming land designated as a...
    • Sheep Technology Adoption Programme Payments
      127. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will be made for the sheep technology adoption programme 2014 in respect of a farmer (details supplied) in County...
    • Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments
      128. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the 2014 agri-environment options scheme will be made to a farmer (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he...
    • Agriculture Schemes Data
      129. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who received a single payment of less than €10,000 in 2014 who may expect to receive a single payment in...
    • Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments
      130. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a payment under the agri-environment options scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork;...
    • Single Payment Scheme Payments
      131. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payments under the 2014 single payment scheme due in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare;...
    • TAMS Eligibility
      132. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if milk recording systems and milk parlour feeding systems will be eligible for grant aid under the targeted agricultural management...
    • Organic Farming
      133. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant aid will be provided for a fodder growing system in respect of farmers involved in organic farming; and if he will make a...
    • Coillte Teoranta Lands
      134. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legislative basis under which the opening hours for Coillte operated car parks throughout County Wicklow are operated; if his...
  • Department of Justice and Equality
    • Courts Service
      135. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for examinership through the Circuit Court since the Companies Act 2014 was enacted; the approximate saving to firms...
    • Anti-Social Behaviour
      136. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will support a matter regarding anti-social activity at a location (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [9613/15]
    • Court Accommodation Refurbishment
      137. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding services at Westport courthouse, County Mayo; when repair and refurbishment works will be completed on the building; and...
    • Spent Convictions Legislation
      138. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 and when it will be entered into law; and if she will make a...
    • Garda Surveys
      140. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views that the morale of An Garda Síochána ought to be of concern to her and her Department; if she has received any report, formal...
    • Naturalisation Applications
      141. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the processing time for applications to change immigration status; if she will report on any backlog in processing applications; and if she will...
    • Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigations
      142. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints made to the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation in 2012 to 2014, inclusive, and to date in 2015; and the number of...
    • Employment Rights
      143. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the gender discrimination shown in the National University of Ireland Galway health assessment form for job applications; and her...
    • Fuel Quality
      144. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 74 of 28 January 2015, when a reply will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9679/15]
    • Naturalisation Certificates
      146. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 24 February 2015, and in view of there being no registration fees to the Garda National Immigration...
    • Immigrant Investor Programme Data
      147. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of schemes that allow foreign investors achieve residency here; the criteria determining whether a foreign investor can gain...
    • Garda Transport Data
      148. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the statistics that are available on the number of paddy wagon prisoner vans that are available in An Garda Síochána, at present,...
    • Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations
      149. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the knowledge she has of new allegations surrounding the bugging of a criminal suspect and witnesses by gardaí in County Cork; and if she...
    • Garda Transport Provision
      150. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the concern of members of An Garda Síochána in County Donegal regarding the lack of public order...
    • Prison Staff
      151. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will intervene to avert threatened strike action by prison officers regarding safety concerns; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Residency Permits
      152. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the options open to regularise their residency in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Naturalisation Applications
      153. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an update of Stamp 4 and an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if...
    • Passport Controls
      154. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when the passport of a person (details supplied) in County Louth, retained at immigration in Dublin Airport, might be returned to that person...
    • Naturalisation Applications
      155. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if in the context of application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24, arising from letter dated 1 October...
    • Residency Permits
      156. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9778/15]
    • Subsidiary Protection Applications
      157. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current or expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Naturalisation Applications
      158. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which progress has been made to accommodate her efforts to regularise the position of a person to achieve naturalisation in the...
    • Subsidiary Protection Applications
      159. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current or expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Residency Permits
      160. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which her Department has been updated on the application for long-term residency-permission to remain in the case of a person...
    • Insolvency Service of Ireland
      161. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on reducing the bankruptcy period to one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9849/15]
    • Magdalen Laundries
      162. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will commit to making a scheme available under her Department to assist Magdalen survivors in availing of complementary therapies. [9858/15]
    • Legislative Process
      163. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will confirm that the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013 will be enacted in 2015. [9862/15]
    • Magdalen Laundries
      164. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will commit to providing personal advocates to all Magdalen survivors who are deemed to lack capacity, whether they are living in...
  • Department of Children and Youth Affairs
    • Child Care Services Funding
      166. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding support available to a community organisation that is considering refurbishing part of a community-owned building to make it...
    • Proposed Legislation
      167. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the after-care Bill 2014 in respect of the further entitlement of young persons to State care when leaving...
    • Inter-Country Adoptions
      168. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the ongoing negotiations over a bilateral agreement on inter-country adoption between Ireland and the...
    • Early Child Care Education
      169. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of providing a second early childhood care and education year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9844/15]
  • Department of Health
    • Tobacco Control Measures
      170. To ask the Minister for Health if he will examine a proposal (details supplied) on plain packaging. [9720/15]
    • Magdalen Laundries
      171. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the Magdalen survivors who have enhanced medical cards will have the same entitlements to dental, ophthalmic and aural treatment, and...
    • Medical Card Administration
      178. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the national assessment guidelines for medical cards to make provisions for the local property tax as an allowable expense; and if he will...
    • HSE National Service Plan
      179. To ask the Minister for Health the targets set in this year's Health Service Executive service plan for the treatment of scoliosis and the provision of spinal surgeries; the target number of...
    • General Practitioner Services
      180. To ask the Minister for Health the measures being put in put in place for patients, including general medical services patients, to receive general practitioner services, in view of the fact...
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      181. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be prioritised for a cataract operation, in view of the deterioration in the person's condition while...
    • Hospital Facilities
      182. To ask the Minister for Health if a decision has been made regarding the business plan to build a second catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford; if his attention has...
    • Drug Treatment Programmes
      183. To ask the Minister for Health the reason methadone is used as the sole opioid treatment; if consideration has been or will be given to using buprenorphine as an alternative treatment...
    • Hospitals Policy
      184. To ask the Minister for Health his views that the protection and promotion of the dignity of the individual person receiving treatment in our hospitals should be one of the core values in...
    • Health Services
      185. To ask the Minister for Health when an assessment of needs will be carried out in respect of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on...
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      186. To ask the Minister for Health if he will investigate the contracting out of relevant elective surgeries to hospitals in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, which should be able to...
    • Hospital Staff Data
      187. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of child anaesthetists working in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, in 2012 to 2014, inclusive, and to date in 2015;...
    • Accident and Emergency Departments
      189. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 480 of 3 February 2015, his plans to address the discrepancy in information available regarding the response times of the...
    • Hospital Procedures
      190. To ask the Minister for Health his views that delays in patients undergoing procedures at the country's hospitals - over a year in some cases - will cost the State more money because...
    • Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
      191. To ask the Minister for Health when a hearing aid will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9673/15]
    • Hospital Equipment
      192. To ask the Minister for Health when the telemedicine stroke machine at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway, will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data
      193. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the placement list for the nursing homes support scheme; the timeframe for the awarding of places; and if he will make a statement on...
    • General Practitioner Services
      194. To ask the Minister for Health based on primary care reimbursement service guidelines, the frequency with which general practitioners review prescribed medications to general medical scheme...
    • Hospital Appointments Administration
      195. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to date regarding, and his plans for the provision of, connectivity between Galway, Portiuncula, Roscommon and Castlebar hospitals in...
    • Ambulance Service Provision
      196. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in publishing the Lightfoot capacity review report on the ambulance service; when the Health Service Executive received the report;...
    • Organ Donation
      197. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the policy that is being drafted by the Health Service Executive and his Department to address the issue of the costs incurred by donors...
    • Treatment Abroad Scheme
      199. To ask the Minister for Health if he will order a reversal of the decision by the Health Service Executive travel abroad scheme a number of years ago to no longer provide full subsistence...
    • Medical Card Applications
      200. To ask the Minister for Health if he will examine an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as all relevant details, including medical, have...
    • Respite Care Grant Data
      201. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the significant drop in the amount of respite beds available, particularly in the past two years (details supplied); and if he will make a...
    • Respite Care Services
      204. To ask the Minister for Health the action being taken to address the lack of respite beds at an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9713/15]
    • Prescription Charges
      205. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the differential in price which arose in the case of a drug (details supplied) since it stopped being a prescription only...
    • Drug Treatment Programmes Policy
      206. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding methadone use and children. [9721/15]
    • Offshore Islands
      207. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the island health care committee of the Health Service Executive has not yet met members of Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann; the reason...
    • Drug Treatment Programmes
      208. To ask the Minister for Health the increase in the reported use of heroin in the Galway area in the past four years; the steps being taken to deal with this problem; the social programmes...
    • HSE Investigations
      209. To ask the Minister for Health the circumstances under which an investigation was set up into a termination of pregnancy under the Protection of Health During Pregnancy Act 2013 in Our Lady...
    • Disability Services Funding
      210. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that the finance section of the national social care division of the Health Service Executive has written to disability organisations last month...
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      211. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 477 of 3 February 2015, and in view of the maximum time obligation of eight months for adult patients requiring...
    • Hospital Services
      212. To ask the Minister for Health with regard to Kerry General Hospital, the steps being taken by the Health Service Executive to establish a dedicated stroke unit in the hospital; and if he...
    • Medical Card Applications
      213. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 14; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9751/15]
    • Dental Services
      214. To ask the Minister for Health the policy rationale for the closure of Saint James's dental clinic and the Health Service Executive policy of treating patients at the Hermitage and the...
    • Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications
      215. To ask the Minister for Health if funding will be provided as soon as possible in respect of an application under the nursing home support scheme, in view of the person's circumstances...
    • Disability Services Funding
      216. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the value-for-money review being conducted by the Health Service Executive and the impacts the requests being made, under this review, pose to...
    • Registration of Marriages
      217. To ask the Minister for Health in relation to the notification requirements for marriage and the fee for registering intent of marriage which was increased from €150 to €200 in...
    • Medical Card Eligibility
      218. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 qualifies for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9780/15]
    • Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
      219. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding glasses, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9797/15]
    • Air Ambulance Service Provision
      220. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide available turnaround figures for the emergency aero-medical ambulance service at each acute hospital; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Mental Health Services Funding
      221. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the way, and where, the €35 million funding allocated for the development of community mental health services in 2015...
    • General Medical Services Scheme Administration
      222. To ask the Minister for Health the proposals in place to ensure that general practitioners' medical files are transferred between doctors when the need arises; and if he will make a...
    • Hospital Mortality Rates
      224. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 125 of 1 April 2014, the reason the 2011 to 2013 mortality rates, by hospital, have not been published; if his Department...
    • Respite Care Services
      225. To ask the Minister for Health the number of Health Service Executive beds vacant in Dublin for respite care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9848/15]
    • Hospital Appointment Delays
      226. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting time for magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, scans at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly; if there are provisions for emergency...
    • Nursing Home Beds
      227. To ask the Minister for Health with regard to the €25 million allocated to tackle delayed discharges, the amount of this now being spent. [9853/15]
    • Home Help Service Provision
      228. To ask the Minister for Health if home support hours make provision for housekeeping tasks, as well as personal care, for patients in need of maximum support, particularly those with no...
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
    • Passport Applications
      229. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 421 of 17 February 2015, if he will clarify in what manner this application was incorrectly witnessed;...
    • Boston College Archives
      230. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the ongoing pursuit of the Boston College tapes archive, which is against the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. [9630/15]
    • Ministerial Advisers Remuneration
      231. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total severance packages, stated in total euro amounts and individually detailed, received by any special advisers to his office since...
    • Foreign Policy
      232. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the primary goal and purpose of Irish foreign policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9645/15]
  • Department of Education and Skills
    • Primary Online Database
      233. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills with regard to the primary online database children's form, which is currently being sent to parents to fill out, the reason the mother's details...
    • School Accommodation
      234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will facilitate a meeting between her officials and representatives of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on...
    • Teacher Training Provision
      235. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reverse the decision which has resulted in St. Patrick's College in Thurles, County Tipperary, not being permitted to take on first...
    • School Services Staff
      236. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in Dublin 20 that has lost a senior caretaker and a clerical officer working 22.5 hours per week, as a result of...
    • Third Level Charges
      237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce assistance with the cost of fees for persons living in remote areas who wish to access online and accredited third level...
    • School Accommodation
      238. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has received two applications from a school (details supplied) in County Galway for an extension and other urgent works; the...
    • Special Educational Needs Service Provision
      240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the new system of allocating resource hours, making it an equitable system for children with Down syndrome, will be introduced; and if she...
    • Psychological Assessments
      241. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding financial assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9790/15]
    • School Staffing
      242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine correspondence (details supplied) in respect of exceptional circumstances; if she will ensure the full complement of teachers...
    • Schools Health and Safety
      243. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to serious health and safety concerns that exist due to lack of appropriate parking space at a school (details...
  • Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
    • Seaweed Harvesting Licences
      244. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions that have taken place regarding seaweed rights in view of the recent public discussion in respect of these...
    • Local Authority Staff Recruitment
      245. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the chief executive officer of the Meath local enterprise office will be replaced. [9796/15]
    • Litter Pollution Legislation
      246. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the exemption from litter fines for election advertising, under sections 19 and 21 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as...
    • Housing Issues
      247. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage of income being spent on housing costs he regards as affordable; his views on the steps the Government is...
    • Water Charges Administration
      248. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the Commission for Energy Regulation permitting Irish Water to increase water charges after 2019 if revenue...
    • Housing Issues
      249. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has concerns regarding the possible influence the high proportion of Teachtaí Dála who are landlords or...
    • Planning Issues
      250. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government with respect to the Newlands Cross flyover works currently under way in South Dublin County Council, if he will identify...
    • Litter Pollution
      251. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to Dublin City Council's protocol for the erection of temporary posters to advertise public meetings which...
    • Motor Tax Exemptions
      252. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can receive a refund of motor taxation paid in view of the circumstances of...
    • Building Regulations
      253. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to relax some of the building regulations relative to once-off houses in particular; his views that the...
    • Fire Service
      254. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will commit to undertaking a risk assessment in relation to the Keeping Communities Safe document and the impact...
    • Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility
      255. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to review the set-income threshold for access to social housing support; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Seniors Alert Scheme
      256. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if day-to-day responsibility for the seniors alert scheme has or is to be transferred to Pobal; the reason for this move;...
    • Pyrite Issues
      257. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to visit property owners in north Mayo who have been affected by pyrite; the supports that have been offered to...
    • Library Services
      258. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm there will be no change to the status of the County Cavan library headquarters; and if he will make a...
    • Fuel Laundering
      260. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements he has put in place with the Minister for the Environment in the Northern Ireland Executive, Oireachtas...
    • Wind Energy Generation
      261. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which the recent High Court judgment, Ó Grianna v An Bord Pleanála, has been considered with...
    • Water and Sewerage Scheme Grants
      263. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the changes being introduced to annual grants to households in group water schemes; the amount that will be saved in 2015...
    • Social and Affordable Housing Provision
      264. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update regarding the number of social housing units to be delivered in 2015; and if he will make a...
    • Private Rented Accommodation Provision
      265. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures he will introduce to bring certainty to the housing rental market; and if he will make a statement on the...
  • Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
    • Rural Transport Services Provision
      266. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the policy being pursued by his Department to progress the facilitation of effective modes of rural and inter-urban transport; and if he...
    • Bus Éireann Services
      268. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he will take to secure the Athlone to Westport bus service in view of its importance in providing connectivity between Galway,...
    • National Car Test
      269. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, details of the pass and fail percentage rates for each national car test centre in 2014; and if he...
    • Aer Lingus Sale
      270. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the International Airlines Group, IAG, bid for Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9845/15]
  • Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
    • State Properties
      271. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the area of bog owned by the State in an area (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Data
      272. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the names of bogs to which her Department has successfully relocated applicants from (details supplied); the number of plots...
    • Invasive Plant Species
      273. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the advice and-or financial support available from her Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to address the growing...
    • Wildlife Conservation
      274. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if adequate measures were put in place on Sliabh Ban, Doughill Forest, County Roscommon, to protect wildlife populations prior to the...
    • Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Data
      275. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applicants who applied for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme categorised by year...
    • Wildlife Conservation
      277. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether the burning season will be extended by a month (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments
      278. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a payment under the turf cutting compensation scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will...
    • Heritage Sites
      279. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will consider the purchase of a property (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on...
    • Calafoirt agus Céanna
      281. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht an bhfuil sé i gceist aon obair dhreideála a dhéanamh ag céibh Inis Oírr de bharr an mhéid gainimh...
    • Forbairt Pobal
      282. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht an bhfuil sí sásta leis an mbainistiú atá á dhéanamh ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ar na...
    • Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge
      283. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cé mhéad ionad atá in úsáid d’imeachtaí Coláiste Gaeilge atá scrúdaithe ag a...
    • Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Data
      284. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applicants who have applied for relocation, and the number of applicants who have been successfully relocated, from...
    • National Parks Projects
      286. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will convene a forum to deal with issues in Killarney National Park (details supplied); and if she will make a...
    • Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Eligibility
      287. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applicants who did not meet the criteria of the turf cutting cessation scheme, that is, were not cutting turf on their...
    • Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments
      288. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of turf plots on which multiple compensation payments were made and the specific amounts paid for each such multiple plot,...
    • Arts Funding
      289. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 258 of 26 February 2015, the total amount of national funding that has been committed to the...