Written answers
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
- Department of Education and Skills
- National Council for Special Education
12. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the National Council for Special Education will publish policy advice on the education of children with autism; and her plans to...
- State Examinations Reviews
13. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the implementation of junior certificate reforms and her engagement with the trade unions. [15477/15]
- Schools Building Projects Status
14. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the consideration that has been provided to the technical reports on the two existing primary schools in Monasterevin in County Kildare, and the...
- EU Court Rulings
15. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, with regard to the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of a person (details supplied), she will commit to making...
- Education Policy
16. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on her Department's engagement with the two national schools on Arranmore Island in County Donegal; if her...
- Bullying in Schools
17. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce the yellow flag anti-racism programme to all schools nationally; the cost of doing this; if she has liaised with the...
- Schools Establishment
18. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views that there is inadequate school provision in the greater Dún Laoghaire area in County Dublin, both at primary and secondary level;...
- Third Level Funding
19. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, details of State funding in the third level sector, per student and per year, from 2006 to 2015, including...
- Educational Disadvantage
20. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will commit to removing the cap on the expansion of the delivering equality of opportunity in schools programme; if she will put in place...
- Teaching Contracts
21. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that issues of working time and conditions recently raised at teacher conferences have exposed a...
- Schools Building Projects Status
22. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider, as a matter of priority, the inclusion of the proposed new co-educational primary school for Monasterevin in County Kildare...
- Legislative Measures
23. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the the Apprentices (Amendment) Bill 2014; if she is reviewing the educational content that currently exists for...
- Proposed Legislation
24. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for accompanying regulations to the Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2015. [15475/15]
- Departmental Functions
25. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she has taken to bring science policy within the ambit of her Department in view of the fact that scientific research, particularly...
- Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board
26. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when her promised review of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund will take place; and if she will consider including a provision to allow...
- State Examinations Reviews
27. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she expects to be in a position to reach agreement with the relevant unions in respect of reform of the junior certificate...
- Third Level Institutions
28. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the National College of Art and Design; if she will provide an update on changes...
- Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration
29. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views that special needs assistants in the early childhood care and education sector should be funded by the State; if so, her plans in this...
- Skills Shortages
30. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she and her Department have identified the most sought after skills in the modern workplace, with reference to both indigenous...
- School Services Staff
31. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will consider discontinuing the use of JobBridge to fill special needs assistant and ancillary posts; and if she will make a...
- School Meals Programme
32. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that one in eight schools under the delivering equality of opportunity in schools programme are not...
- Autism Support Services
33. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the methods in place to prevent children with autism spectrum disorder from dropping out of the education system...
- Schools Building Projects Status
34. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Donegal was not granted capital funding during the current five year construction programme,...
- Early Child Care Education
35. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views that the provision of child care under the early childhood care and education scheme should be sustainable for providers; her further...
- Department of Social Protection
- Carer's Allowance Appeals
42. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an oral hearing will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied) who was refused a Carer's Allowance; and if she will make a...
- Carer's Allowance Waiting Times
43. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the current processing time for a Carer's Allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15873/15]
- Disability Allowance Payments
44. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if payment of arrears of Disability Allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be expedited in view of the fact that the...
- Community Employment Schemes Places
45. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by some Community Employment Schemes in recruiting staff to meet their quota of...
- Money Advice and Budgeting Service
46. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on reform of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service from 51 individual companies to six companies; her views on maintaining a strong...
- Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility
50. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the legislation or the operational guidelines governing the supplementary welfare allowance scheme that permits a community...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Applications
51. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determining an application for rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will...
- Equal Opportunities Employment
52. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps that have been taken to promote the wage subsidy scheme, the EmployAbility service, partial capacity benefit, the workplace...
- Disability Allowance Payments
54. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive disability allowance arrears; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15951/15]
- Respite Care Grant Eligibility
56. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if respite grant entitlement continues to exist in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Disability Activation Projects
57. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the funding of programmes under the disability activation project, which is due to cease shortly; the options she is...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Reliefs Eligibility
58. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending tax relief on dental expenses to include routine dental work, in view of the reduction in benefits under the treatment benefit...
- Sovereign Debt
60. To ask the Minister for Finance if legislation will be introduced to tackle and prevent vulture funds from claiming more than other lenders in the case of the sovereign debt crises; and if he...
- Mortgage Interest Relief Eligibility
61. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding tax credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15903/15]
- Credit Unions
62. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is committed to continuing tax expenditures, that is Government taxpayer support in the form of the deliberate transfer of public resources,...
- Tax Reliefs Eligibility
63. To ask the Minister for Finance if there are any circumstances where capital acquisitions agriculture relief will be extended to a person who earns marginally in excess of the income...
- Irish Water Expenditure
64. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 163 of 15 April 2015, if he will provide, for each given year, the components of the figures provided for the impact of...
- Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme
65. To ask the Minister for Finance when an application under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers regulations 1994 will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County...
- VAT Rate Application
66. To ask the Minister for Finance the criteria for the two thirds rule in the event of selling machinery when the repairs total two thirds of the total cost, should the value added tax rate be...
- Mortgage Interest Rates
67. To ask the Minister for Finance the action his Department has taken and is continuing to take to put pressure on Irish banks to reduce the variable interest rates being charged to mortgage...
- Tax Reliefs Availability
68. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to update retirement relief from capital gains tax (details supplied) to take account of the contribution of spouses to business; and if he will make...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Water and Sewerage Schemes Status
69. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a progress report on necessary work to (details supplied) in County Carlow; the work being planned; the progress that...
- Departmental Budgets
70. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the funds he has allocated to each of the 16 Departments per Department in the years 2011 to 2014...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Milk Suppliers
71. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the procedures that must be undertaken for a new entrant milk supplier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15851/15]
- Milk Quota
72. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the milk quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15881/15]
- Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments
73. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the 2014 disadvantaged areas scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the...
- Harbours and Piers Development
74. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide for a crane on the slip in Killybegs Harbour, County Donegal, which is needed to facilitate the small inshore...
- Horse Racing Industry
75. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is actively recruiting agricultural officers with a view to carrying out drug inspections within the horse racing...
- Agriculture Schemes
76. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that farmers who have made applications to the national reserve will be corresponded with to provide them with an...
- Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility
77. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on...
- Single Payment Scheme Appeals
78. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received arrears under the single payment scheme in view of the fact...
- Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments
79. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive payment on an agri-environment options scheme 3; and if he will make a...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces Equipment
80. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of the inventory of both weapons and equipment in use by the Defence Forces, currently produced by Israel and purchased from Israeli...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Prisoner Transport
81. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the annual cost of transporting persons committed to prison for the non-payment of fines from 2010 to 2013; and if she will make a statement on...
- Residency Permits
82. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in determination of an application for a permanent residences card pursuant to the European Communities (Free Movement of...
- Road Traffic Offences
83. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details, in tabular form, by court area and month to date in 2015, of the number of speed detection summonses which have been...
- Immigration Status
84. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if a letter dated 21 August 2014 which issued from INIS may be resent to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as that person never...
- Direct Provision System
85. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the action that is being taken to reform the direct provision system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15891/15]
- Asylum Applications
86. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to address the asylum backlog of 4,309 cases (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15892/15]
- Proposed Legislation
89. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when legislation concerning spent convictions is likely to be enacted, in view of the fact this is a critical issue for those who may have had a...
- Home Repossession Rate
90. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her and her Department's attention has been drawn to the exact number of cases before the courts relating to repossession orders for the months...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Child Care Services Provision
91. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for the closure of a playschool (details supplied) in County Cork; if the possibility of continuing the service has been...
- Youth Services Funding
92. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will support the Donnycarney Community and Youth Centre, Dublin 5, for 2015 and 2016 as a matter of priority (details supplied); and...
- Department of Health
- Medical Card Eligibility
93. To ask the Minister for Health if all discretionary medical card holders automatically have their cards renewed when the current card lapses; if not, the criteria that will be applied in...
- Health Services Staff Recruitment
94. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the appointment of podiatrists to all posts advertised by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Diabetes Strategy
95. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, by county, the number of diabetes lower limb amputations, in the years 2009 to 2014 and up to the end of March 2015; and if...
- Primary Care Centre Provision
96. To ask the Minister for Health the progress to date in the provision of a new health facility (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15852/15]
- Home Help Service
97. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be re-imbursed for the costs of their home help care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15856/15]
- Health Services
98. To ask the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive facility, Cuan Ros on the Navan Road, Dublin 7, is under consideration to be used as a step-down facility; and if he will make a...
- Services for People with Disabilities
99. To ask the Minister for Health the reason there are no crisis intervention beds available for adults with an intellectual disability in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Dental Services Expenditure
101. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding cuts to dental care here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15865/15]
- Nursing Home Repayment Scheme
108. To ask the Minister for Health if the fair deal scheme will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will expedite the matter. [15912/15]
- National Lottery Funding Disbursement
109. To ask the Minister for Health the timeframe for the allocation of funds under his Department's 2015 national lottery fund. [15914/15]
- Hospital Appointment Status
111. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will have hip replacement surgery. [15930/15]
- Health Services Provision
112. To ask the Minister for Health if and when required ongoing physiotherapy will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on...
- Hospital Appointment Status
113. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment in Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal; and if he will make a...
- Hospital Services
114. To ask the Minister for Health the rationale behind the decision to again announce that St. Vincent’s University Hospital will no longer be a designated primary percutaneous coronary...
- Medical Card Eligibility
115. To ask the Minister for Health if he will re-instate a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [15958/15]
- Hospital Appointment Status
116. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be seen by the relevant consultant at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin 24. [15988/15]
- Mental Health Services Provision
118. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the protection of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 with an intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Export Trade Council
119. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of times the Export Trade Council has met since its creation; the way membership is determined; and if he will make a statement...
- Trade Relations
120. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role of local market teams; the plans, if any, he has to extend these structures to other embassies; and if he will make a statement on...
- Global Economic Forum
121. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the achievements of the previous global economic forums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15885/15]
- Cross-Border Co-operation
122. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the areas that have been identified for enhanced North / South co-operation arising from the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a...
- Passport Applications
123. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade How a person who is 16 years of age, who is living in Thailand for the past 14 years, but was born here (details supplied) can go about...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Higher Education Grants
125. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has investigated the reason counties with the lowest disposable income have seen a significant drop-off in the number of students availing...
- Special Educational Needs Service Provision
126. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the specific steps that she is taking to enhance supports for children with a learning disability within the education system; and if she will...
- Schools Building Projects Administration
127. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she expects to be in a position to bring about a reduction in class sizes, with particular reference to locations...
- Minor Works Scheme Applications
128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when work will commence on the security upgrade of the building and site at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 14, in view of health and...
- School Funding
129. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, from 2011 to date in 2015, the level of funding provided to Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa in County...
- Schools Refurbishment
130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the essential refurbishment of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry, to enable its amalgamation with another...
- School Management
131. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills is she will confirm the details of the higher authority that governs School Boards of Management to ensure proper procedures and directives are...
- Schools Health and Safety
132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary teachers who have been absent from work as a result of an assault, for each of the past four years; the number, each year,...
- Schools Building Projects Expenditure
133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the amount spent, by category, on new school buildings in voluntary secondary schools, community and...
- Schools Refurbishment
134. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details on money spent on capital grants for refurbishment and improvement of existing school buildings, by category, in...
- Summer Works Scheme Expenditure
135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details on money spent on summer works projects in voluntary secondary schools, community and comprehensive schools...
- Departmental Properties
136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department is responsible for the property that once housed a school (details supplied); if so, her plans for this property following the...
- School Staffing
137. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 681 of 15 April 2015, if a more comprehensive reply will issue as the question in relation to the...
- State Examinations Reviews
138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which discussions are ongoing with the relevant unions with a view to achieving an amicable settlement in respect of reform of the...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which class sizes and pupil-teacher ratios in the classroom have fluctuated in the past six years; the extent to which it is...
- Special Educational Needs Staffing
140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she remains satisfied regarding the availability of adequate special needs classes at primary and secondary level, the regions and areas most...
- Schools Building Projects Expenditure
142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she proposes to replace, extend or upgrade primary and second level accommodation in various areas, indicating a particular...
- School Enrolments Data
150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of section 29 appeals arising from school enrolment issues noted at primary and secondary level throughout County Kildare; the number...
- Student Grant Scheme Applications
152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which all outstanding applications for higher education grants for the 2014-15 academic year have been approved, rejected or are...
- School Transport Provision
153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the failure by her Department to respond to a request for an extension to a school transport service; when this was received by...
- Broadband Service Provision
154. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 696 of 15 April 2015, when the re-tendering process will commence in respect of a school (details supplied)...
- Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, who holds a stamp 4, qualifies for a higher education grant; and if she will make a statement...
- Higher Education Institutions
156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the Private College Network complaint (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15995/15]
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Voluntary Sector Funding
157. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when disability and health organisations will be informed regarding funding following the cross-departmental review that...
- Irish Water Administration
158. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has concerns regarding Irish Water becoming technically insolvent as it is a private company; and if he will make a...
- Local Authority Housing
159. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has estimated the number of units to be bought by councils from developers, and the number to...
- Irish Water Remit
160. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in the case of a leak in the pipes of council tenant properties, the person responsible for fixing them, and in the case...
- Housing Adaptation Grant Applications
161. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, for each local authority, the number of applications for housing adaptation grants for necessary works...
- Waste Management
162. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address concerns over the proposed full producer responsibility initiatives for waste tyres; his views that the...
- Mortgage to Rent Scheme Applications
163. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an application under the mortgage to rent scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in Cork...
- Housing Issues
164. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 559 of 27 May 2014, the contacts he has had with the Mica Action Group in County...
- Local Authority Housing
165. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of an application (details supplied) for funding from Kildare County Council; and if he will make a statement...
- Building Regulations
166. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 788 of 15 April 2015, if his reference to BR 443 (2006) Conventions for U-value...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Fuel Prices
169. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason petrol prices in recent months have not properly decreased, in line with the drop in the price of fuel oil;...
- Petroleum and Gas Exploration
170. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of capped oil and gas wells currently in Irish waters; the timeframe a prospecting licence holder is entitled...
- Postal Codes
171. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the proposed postal codes; and what this will mean for rural Ireland. [15932/15]
- Post Office Network
172. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will address concerns surrounding the future of the post office network and the overall impact this will have on...
- Renewable Energy Generation
173. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proposals the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has for renewables and, in particular, solar...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Road Safety Data
175. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if and when the Road Safety Authority website database of Ireland road collisions will be updated with details of such...
- Motor Tax Collection
176. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the work being carried out by his Department and the interdepartmental group reviewing road charges and...
- Public Transport Initiatives
177. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the decision-making process in respect of Government investment in major public transport projects for the north side of Dublin, and the...
- Light Rail Projects
178. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proportion of the peak-time tram capacity of the Luas cross-city line that will be taken up by the new cross-city service, once it is...
- Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- National Parks and Wildlife Service Staff
179. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the number of rangers in County Tipperary, the largest inland county here; her specific recruitment and selection...
