Written answers

Wednesday, 3 February 2016

• Department of Social Protection
  • Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility
    24. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will qualify under the jobseeker's allowance scheme based on the person's Pay Related Social...
  • Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments
    25. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if it is acceptable that extra allowances such as the supplementary welfare allowance diet supplement are being cut off or reduced...
  • Community Employment Schemes Operation
    26. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking and her oversight to ensure that persons on community employment schemes receive proper health and safety...
  • Carer's Allowance Applications
    28. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to facilitate an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on...
• Department of Finance
  • Tax Code
    29. To ask the Minister for Finance the expected revenue from the imposition of a 25% special tobacco levy on tobacco companies as a proportion of the profits they generate in the Irish market....
  • Mortgage Interest Relief Eligibility
    30. To ask the Minister for Finance the changes in eligibility for tax relief on mortgage interest in respect of first-time buyer home loans in 2009 and 2010; if first-time buyers who obtained...
• Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
  • Public Sector Staff Sick Leave
    31. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to support a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4568/16]
  • Ministerial Staff
    32. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a parliamentary assistant to a Teachta Dála, who is a Minister, has the same entitlement to apply for voluntary early retirement...
  • Flood Relief Schemes Funding
    33. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 26 November 2015, if he reconsidered the case and if he will expedite the granting of funding...
  • Office of the Ombudsman Investigations
    34. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 16 of 14 October 2015, if he is aware that the judicial reviews against the ombudsman have been...
  • Departmental Agencies Expenditure
    35. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount the Commission for Public Service Appointments incurred in independent psychologist fees in the years 2012 to 2016 to date; if...
  • Commission for Public Service Appointments
    36. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 14 October 2015, the date the legal tender was entered into; if it prevented the Commission...
  • Departmental Staff Career Breaks
    37. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the options open to a civil servant on a six-month career break to extend it by a further two months; and if he will make a statement on...
  • Departmental Staff Retirements
    38. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if an existing contract is in place to provide retirement planning courses for civil servants; when the next tendering process will take...
  • Planning Issues
    39. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 11 November 2014, if the plans have been updated. [4517/16]
  • Pension Provisions
    40. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform why the employment status of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin in relation to a pension was changed from constable to...
• Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
  • Action Plan for Jobs
    41. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his targets to reduce long-term unemployment in terms of specific numbers and percentages in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and the...
• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
  • Basic Payment Scheme Payments
    42. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in a person (details supplied) in County Cork receiving a grant under the area aid scheme; when the...
  • GLAS Eligibility
    43. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if tier 3 farmers will be allowed into the second tranche of the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a...
  • Agriculture Scheme Payments
    44. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4496/16]
  • Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Eligibility
    45. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps whereby a person can retain payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme while entering a long-term leasing...
  • Fishing Industry
    46. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports in place or to be put in place for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has been unable to fish for the past...
  • Basic Payment Scheme Payments
    47. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has not received a payment under the basic payment scheme; and if he will...
  • GLAS Payments
    48. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to facilitate a payment to a person (details supplied) under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a...
• Department of Defence
  • Overseas Missions
    49. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the humanitarian work of the Defence Forces in Tibnin in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3907/16]
  • Commemorative Events
    50. To ask the Minister for Defence if relatives of 1916 veterans who did not accept a State pension are permitted for inclusion on the register to attend State centenary events; the procedure...
• Department of Justice and Equality
  • Parole Boards
    51. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress in giving effect to the 2011 decision to establish the Parole Board on a legally independent basis; the details of appointments made...
  • Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Data
    52. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 143 of 26 November 2015 and her statement that the statistics were being compiled and would be provided to...
  • Crime Levels
    53. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the continued concern of the local community at the increased crime levels in Tallaght in Dublin 24; her views on the need to...
• Department of Children and Youth Affairs
  • Home Schooling
    54. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children being home educated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4498/16]
  • After-School Support Services
    56. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps he has taken and when he will establish a group to agree a model for afterschool care, including a quality framework (details...
  • Action Plan on Bullying
    57. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will publish a national strategy on children’s cyber safety and to ratify United Nations treaties to protect children online;...
• Department of Health
  • Drug Treatment Programmes
    58. To ask the Minister for Health why a drugs treatment centre (details supplied) in Dublin 17 is being forced to close due to threats and intimidation; to act on this matter; and if he will...
  • Treatment Abroad Scheme
    59. To ask the Minister for Health why surgery has been delayed for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4490/16]
  • Hospital Staff Recruitment
    60. To ask the Minister for Health the urgent steps he is taking to fill the 120 vacant nursing posts at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4491/16]
  • Nursing Staff Recruitment
    61. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of recruiting an additional 1,000 nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4492/16]
  • Health and Social Care Professionals Registration Boards
    62. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure balance between the public interest and the interests of practitioners and service providers when appointments are made to the...
  • Legislative Measures
    63. To ask the Minister for Health how long it will take to complete by-laws under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4513/16]
  • Respite Care Services
    64. To ask the Minister for Health the status of parents and guardians in regard to respite care facilities and the apparently new policy of transferring long-term residents into smaller...
  • Medical Card Eligibility
    65. To ask the Minister for Health if a person who is ordinarily resident here but is currently a student in the United Kingdom can qualify for a Medical Card; how frequently must this person...
  • Patient Transfers
    67. To ask the Minister for Health his views on media reports that the HSE plans to close St. Brigid's nursing home in Crooksling, Brittas, County Dublin, and to transfer the 56 beds to the...
  • Vaccination Programme
    68. To ask the Minister for Health to establish an independent investigation into the adverse affects of the Gardasil vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4555/16]
  • Treatment Abroad Scheme
    70. To ask the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) was denied scheduled surgery under the treatment abroad scheme while on the public waiting list; and if he will make a statement...
  • Mental Health Services Provision
    71. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the huge distress for psychiatric patients at an institution (details supplied) which prohibits smoking; and if he will make a statement on...
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  • Northern Ireland Issues
    72. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he asked the British Government whether the recent proposals to block legal action against British soldiers in Iraq will be extended to...
  • International Election Monitoring
    73. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if and on what basis additional persons have been added to the Election Observation Roster since it was established in May 2013; how the...
• Department of Education and Skills
  • Special Educational Needs Service Provision
    74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 for an appliance; and when can they expect a decision on their case. [4483/16]
  • Schools Building Projects Administration
    75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria she has used to decide on the location of the proposed new secondary school in Firhouse Old Bawn in Dublin 24; the proposed catchment...
  • Home Tuition Scheme Administration
    76. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the Departments and agencies which have a role in the oversight of home school tuition; if she will consolidate oversight of home school tuition...
  • European Globalisation Fund
    77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will submit an application under the European Globalisation Fund following the liquidation of Xtravision and the resulting 580 job losses;...
  • Schools Building Projects Status
    78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a case regarding a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4522/16]
  • Residential Institutions Statutory Fund
    80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a financial statement for Caranua for the year 2015 including a breakdown of the moneys spent in 2015. [4535/16]
  • Departmental Properties
    82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the former site of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12; her views on the interest of the local community in this issue; and if...
  • Schools Building Projects Status
    83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has made contact with South Dublin County Council regarding the proposed Kingswood Community College in Dublin 24; the progress made in...
  • Schools Refurbishment
    84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the situation regarding the 35 year old roof at a school (details supplied) in County Longford, that an application for funding...
  • Third Level Participation
    85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to support Aontas in its efforts to build further on adult learning in third level education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4561/16]
  • School Accommodation
    86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to support a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4562/16]
• Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
  • Social and Affordable Housing Provision
    87. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 147 of 13 January 2016, how many persons are awaiting social housing in the...
  • Rental Accommodation Standards
    88. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to support certification of all rented accommodation; to support legislation to make landlords responsible for...
  • Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure
    89. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has reviewed the offer of €2 billion from the Irish League of Credit Unions to facilitate the building of...
  • Water Services Provision
    90. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the progress to date in his negotiations with the local authorities and Irish Water on the takeover of estates where there...
  • Architectural Qualifications
    91. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to establish a board to examine the credentials of architects and if established practitioners would qualify under a new...
  • Local Authority Expenditure
    92. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has had contact with South Dublin County Council on the need for additional funding for the Council Housing...
  • Litter Pollution
    93. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to provide additional assistance and funding to South Dublin County Council to allow it to take further effective action in...
• Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
  • Broadband Service Provision
    94. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the date for the roll-out of high speed broadband for the Hermitage, Glanmire, County Cork; and if he will make a...
  • Renewable Energy Generation
    95. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to support a matter (details supplied) regarding geothermal energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4560/16]
• Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
  • Road Projects Status
    96. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the east-west link road from Dundalk, County Louth to Cavan town; why progress on this section of road is solely the...
• Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
  • Hedge Cutting Season
    97. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to support a matter on Birdwatch Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4558/16]