Parliamentary questions

Fishing Industry Development

Thomas Pringle

3. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role he envisages for Bord Iascaigh Mhara in developing a seafood innovation centre in Killybegs, County Donegal; the way he sees the Killybegs campus of Letterkenny Institute of Technology, LYIT, complementing that role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29487/13]

Harbours and Piers Development

Thomas Pringle

30. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the stages that the small craft harbour at Killybegs fishery harbour centre, County Donegal is to be developed, including the design and strategy; and if he will give an indication of when the development is to be completed. [29384/13]

Fodder Crisis

Thomas Pringle

50. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to tackle the ongoing fall-out from the fodder crisis; and if he will consider creating a task force to deal with fodder related issues, including cashflow problems on farms, securing enough feed for next winter and managing the damage done to land, as well as dealing with mental health issues in the farming community. [29385/13]

Driving Licence Issues

Thomas Pringle

228. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline in tabular form the number of learner drivers unaccompanied by a qualified driver that were involved in road traffic accidents since mid 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29583/13]

Ministerial Transport

Thomas Pringle

31. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline his Department's role in the implementation of the new code of practice for the use of the Government jet in terms of the ministerial air transport service; if he will outline in tabular format the average hourly costs, as well as the statistics on the use of the service by each travelling Minister and the Taoiseach, including date of travel, destination, ministerial time on-board and the number of passengers travelling for 2012-2013. [29125/13]

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Thomas Pringle

383. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has yet considered the Bethany Survivors Group's request for inclusion within the residential institutions redress scheme or a similar type scheme designed for children who had been in the Bethany Home; if he has made a decision on this matter; if he has reverted to the group on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28989/13]

Mobility Allowance Decision

Thomas Pringle

523. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if the final report on the wider issue of general transport for persons with disabilities has been submitted; if a decision has been reached on a replacement for the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant; if this replacement will run seamlessly after the final payment of the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant to ensure that persons are not at a disadvantage; and if he will ensure that the replacement or alternative scheme will address the needs of all recipients equally nationwide. [28885/13]

Water Charges Administration

Thomas Pringle

3. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he foresees a reduction in commercial water rates under Irish Water in view of the fact that the local authorities have been operating the polluter pays principle in relation to commercial water rates for many years and full cost recovery for the supply of water to commercial users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27066/13]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Thomas Pringle

54. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding to local authorities to build specific instance houses in rural areas to accommodate families in rural communities acknowledging that they are a very cost effective way of providing social housing and recognise the rural nature of many local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27065/13]

Departmental Reports

Thomas Pringle

202. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance if the report of the Financial Inclusion Working Group on the pilot of the standard bank account has been submitted; and if he will outline the conclusions of the report and the decisions being made on foot of this. [27705/13]

Value for Money Reviews

Thomas Pringle

250. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the value for money review of small primary schools has been finalised yet; and if he will outline the recommendations of the report and any decision he intends making. [26813/13]

Subsidiary Protection Administration

Thomas Pringle

679. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way he can reconcile efforts to modify the procedures for subsidiary protection in view of the fact that they have appealed the judgement in the MM v Minister for Justice to the Supreme Court; the way the backlog can be cleared in view of this appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27317/13]

Garda Investigations

Thomas Pringle

680. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 23 May 2013, if he will confirm if a criminal investigation is ongoing in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27318/13]

Ready to Work Programme

Thomas Pringle

33. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that funding is continued for the ready for work programme supported by business in the community to enable them to continue their work in helping homeless persons into work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25863/13]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

47. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the level of information required to be provided for a claimant to satisfy the habitual residence condition; if decisions are made on a purely arbitrary basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25864/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Pringle

84. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he foresees the full implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; and his plans to ensure the effective assessment and planning for students with special educational needs. [25457/13]

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Thomas Pringle

97. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the role of the special needs assistant; and his plans to broaden the scope of the role to further facilitate the needs of children with special educational needs. [25458/13]

Garda Investigations

Thomas Pringle

150. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 308 of 25 September 2012, if there is any sign of the report into the incidents being completed and victims being able to gain some closure from the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24868/13]

Foreign Direct Investment

Thomas Pringle

36. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the efforts made to secure foreign direct investment in the north west region; the number of new jobs that have been announced in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24348/13]

Competition Authority Staff

Thomas Pringle

45. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the staffing improvements that have been implemented in the Competition Authority to ensure that it has the capacity to investigate anti competitive behaviour in the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24349/13]

Domestic Violence Policy

Thomas Pringle

197. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider the implementation of a domestic violence offenders register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24600/13]

Subsidiary Protection Applications

Thomas Pringle

211. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the new provisions for dealing with subsidiary protection under the Immigration and Refugee Acts will be in place and decisions allowed to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24789/13]

Basic Payments Account

Thomas Pringle

86. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance the uptake of basic payment accounts for the financially excluded in the pilot study; if he will consider allowing the post office system to participate in the final roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23989/13]

National Procurement Service Framework Agreements

Thomas Pringle

146. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a copy of the impact assessment on local jobs in relation to the public procurement (frameworks agreements) circular 06/12 (details supplied). [23628/13]

Health Services Issues

Thomas Pringle

109. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the recent cuts to services at St Michael's House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22627/13]

Institutes of Technology Issues

Thomas Pringle

86. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that the Killybegs Campus of Letterkenny Institute of Technology will continue to be supported as part of Letterkenny IT to ensure that the campus can continue to contribute to the provision of third level education in South West Donegal and the economic development of the area delivering courses in the school of tourism and renewable energies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21660/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Thomas Pringle

87. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will add Down syndrome to the low incident list of intellectual disabilities to ensure that children can access the full suite of resources to help them to develop through the education system to their full ability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21661/13]

Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale

Thomas Pringle

200. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update and progress report of his Department's considerations in relation to the possible sale of the harvesting rights of Coillte; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21887/13]

Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale

Thomas Pringle

202. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he intends to maintain a sustainable forest strategy in the event that the sale of the harvesting rights of Coillte goes ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21889/13]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Thomas Pringle

342. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive their agri-environment options scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21417/13]

Higher Education Institutions Issues

Thomas Pringle

79. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, broken down by years for each since 2000 and for each institute of technology and university, the cost of compliance with section 35 of the University Act 1997 (Quality Assurance); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20858/13]

Higher Education Institutions Expenditure

Thomas Pringle

80. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the amount of money spent on external legal fees divided between human resources and other issues since 2000, broken down by institute of technology and by university and by year. [20860/13]

Climate Change Policy

Thomas Pringle

5. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he sees Ireland benefiting from the green economy and climate change opportunities; the way the carbon tax will assist this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20695/13]

Official Engagements

Thomas Pringle

134. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach when he plans to meet with Justice for the Forgotten, and if he will confirm a date for same. [20275/13]

National Internship Scheme Administration

Thomas Pringle

33. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the situation in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council owned Ballyogan Recycling Depot, aat which a number of persons have been taken on to the JobsBridge scheme which has resulted in other workers being displaced [18808/13]

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

43. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection with regards to young homeless persons on the half rate social welfare payment who are trapped in emergency accommodation if she will consider proposals that will allow these young persons to access a full payment in order that they may find secure accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18806/13]

Pension Provisions

Thomas Pringle

336. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the way the Sterling exchange rate is arrived at for applicants in receipt of top up State pension payments to UK State pensions who are resident in this State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18241/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

337. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal continues to be denied a social welfare payment based on the habitual residence condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18242/13]

Youth Guarantee

Thomas Pringle

399. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to implement the proposal from Focus Ireland for a tailored youth guarantee for homelessness young persons in receipt of the reduced rate of jobseeker's allowance;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19104/13]

Turbary Rights

Thomas Pringle

517. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Q3 agreements are in place in respect of turbary rights for persons (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18243/13]

Turbary Rights

Thomas Pringle

518. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when are turbary rights extinguished on a bog under normal circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18244/13]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Thomas Pringle

52. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the impact the changes in the pupil teacher ratio will have on colleges of further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17583/13]

Further Education and Training Programmes Funding

Thomas Pringle

62. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the development of the further education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17582/13]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Thomas Pringle

224. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify his intentions regarding the Mercer report and its effect on lower grade employees. [16150/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Thomas Pringle

569. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal may expect to have their habitual residence determination made by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16021/13]

Household Benefits Scheme

Thomas Pringle

639. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reviewing the situation where carers who are not living with the person they are caring for are ineligible for telephone allowance, in view of the fact that there is an increased need to contact the person they are caring for in this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16943/13]

Newborn Screening Cards

Thomas Pringle

1124. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will consider extending the deadline of 31 March 2013 for the public to consent to their records or those of their children being kept regarding Guthrie screening cards between 1984 and 2002 under the the national newborn bloodspot screening programme, and if he will consider creating a public awareness campaign on the issue [16046/13]

Mental Health Services Provision

Thomas Pringle

1240. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that the €35 million ring-fenced this year for mental health services will be used specifically for the provision of mental health services and to appoint new staff in the sector; and the progress that has been made to date. [16781/13]

Geological Surveys

Thomas Pringle

108. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has seen the results of the geological survey conducted by Coillte; if he intends to make that survey public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15009/13]

Guthrie Cards Retention

Thomas Pringle

574. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will consider introducing legislation to allow for the preservation of important medical data in view of the decision to destroy all Guthrie screening cards between 1984 and 2002 under the national newborn bloodspot screening programme, containing potentially valuable biomedical data for rare genetic diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15141/13]