Parliamentary questions

Anti-Social Behaviour

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

184. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for dealing with anti-social behaviour issues across housing tenures in view of his commitment to do this in its programme and the great hardship faced by many persons in their homes due to this problem. [5550/13]

Security of the Elderly

John McGuinness

185. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding being provided for the seniors alert scheme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5589/13]

Dormant Accounts Fund Management

Brendan Smith

186. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the programmes he intends running under the dormant accounts programme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5585/13]

Rural Development Programme Funding

Robert Troy

187. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there will be any expenditure under the CLÁR programme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5583/13]

Water Services Registrations

Martin Heydon

188. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 to include the numbers and overall percentages of septic tanks that have been registered on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5405/13]

Nuclear Safety

Michael Colreavy

189. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will make available the report issued on the threat posed by Sellafield; and if not the reason for same. [5413/13]

Dormant Accounts Fund Management

Kevin Humphreys

190. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to provide funding for urban community centres under the dormant accounts scheme or other programmes in view of the fact that centres in urban areas cannot access schemes such as Leader; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5082/13]

Climate Change Policy

Sean Fleming

191. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions he has held with his EU counterparts regarding climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5572/13]

Pyrite Panel Report Implementation

Éamon Ó Cuív

192. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe for the establishment of a pyrite resolution board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5578/13]

Leader Programmes Funding

Charlie McConalogue

194. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of Leader projects awaiting his approval; the length of time each project is being assessed by his Department; the names of the sponsors of the projects and the integrated companies that approved them; when a decision will be taken on these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5591/13]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Clare Daly

195. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 720 of 16 January 2013, in relation to possible time limits on remediation of houses experiencing damage by heave inducing pyrites and that such a time limit is of immediate concern to thousands of families living in estates known to have heave-inducing levels of pyrite in the underfloor fill and whose houses are damaged but not yet sufficiently damaged to trigger remediation under the proposed traffic light categories and that his response states that houses in the Amber category may be considered, if he will outline the circumstances whereby these houses would not be remediated. [5566/13]

Water Services Registrations

Tony McLoughlin

196. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update in the implementation of the Water Services Amendment Act 2012. [5070/13]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility

Seán Crowe

197. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the rationale for seeking to change tenant purchase schemes in order that discounts are based on earnings rather than the length of time a social housing tenant has been renting their home. [5553/13]

Water Services Registrations

Peadar Tóibín

198. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that the deadline for registration of septic tanks is 1 February 2013, the reason local authorities, including Meath County Council, have had no details yet from his Department about the grant scheme and are unable to give information or application forms to members of the public. [5412/13]

Proposed Legislation

Niall Collins

199. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe for the publication of a Climate Change Bill; his plans to tackle climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5570/13]

Priory Hall Development

Thomas P. Broughan

200. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects the Priory Hall, Dublin, resolution process to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5068/13]

Planning Issues

Dara Calleary

201. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the new measures contained in the recently launched development contribution guidelines; his plans for implementation of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5569/13]

Community Development Initiatives

Robert Troy

202. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the direct funding provided for the development of volunteering by his Department for each year from 2009 including the estimated provision for 2013; the plans he has to support volunteering here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5584/13]

Proposed Legislation

Timmy Dooley

203. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for a Low Carbon Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5571/13]

RAPID Programme

Michael Moynihan

204. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding provided for RAPID co-ordinators in 2013; the steps he has taken to ensure that local authorities provide funding for RAPID co-ordinators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5580/13]

Dormant Accounts Fund Management

Kevin Humphreys

205. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the grants or funding available to urban community centres under programmes administered by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5081/13]

Water Services Provision

Joan Collins

206. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the information he has regarding the unaccounted for water in private estates built during the period 1992 to 2012 receiving treated water from public water mains and the measures that have been taken to charge the developers of these estates for this wasted resource. [5563/13]

Local Government Reform

Pearse Doherty

207. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made in the devolution of functions from central to local government; the contact and responses, if any, he has had with other Departments; and the timeframe for devolution. [5409/13]

Nitrates Action Programme Implementation

Martin Ferris

208. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of flexibility he has in the application of the EU Nitrate Directive; the discussions that have taken place with relevant stakeholders; and the plans he has in place for the forthcoming year. [5415/13]

Local Authority Funding

John Halligan

209. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the situation that many councils across the country are reliant on parking charges to run basic services which results in high parking charges which are one of the main contributors to the difficulties that are being experienced by retailers in town centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5481/13]

Water Services Registrations

Mick Wallace

210. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the approximate cost of remedial works on septic tanks; the percentage of tanks that he intends to inspect; the timescale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5545/13]

Departmental Agencies Board Appointments

Billy Kelleher

211. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the number of organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department that have vacancies on their board; the length of time any such vacancies have been unfilled; the number of vacancies that have been advertised; the number of applications to fill such vacancies that have been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5098/13]

Seanad Referendum

Thomas P. Broughan

212. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach if legislation is currently being prepared to facilitate a referendum on the abolition of Seanad Éireann; the timeframe for the publication of the legislation; when the referendum will be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5220/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

213. Deputy Damien English asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5390/13]

Ireland Newfoundland Partnership Board

Pat Breen

214. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the current status of the Ireland Newfoundland Partnership; the number of meetings held last year; the planned initiatives that are in place for this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5513/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Thomas Pringle

215. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach if he will outline in tabular form the total cost of all conferences and seminars attended by his Department in 2012; the purpose of each conference/seminar; the location; the number of delegates that attended from his Department/agencies or otherwise that were represented; the total cost of each conference/seminar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5643/13]

Scottish Independence

Robert Dowds

216. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide clarification regarding the Government's view as to whether Scotland would or should continue to be a member state of the EU if it were to become independent; and his views on the importance of maintaining an excellent working relationship with the Scottish Government and its people. [5177/13]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Sean Fleming

217. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of his Department’s €4 million capital spending for 2013 that will go towards construction projects; the projects that are involved; the details of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5276/13]

North South Ministerial Council

Joe McHugh

218. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the work that is ongoing at North-South Ministerial Council level in respect of the northwest gateway initiative; the date when the issue is likely to be next discussed by the North-South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5339/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

219. Deputy Damien English asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5384/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Nicky McFadden

220. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide information on the countries that receive overseas aid from Ireland; the amount of aid provided to each of those countries; if he will outline the programmes on which aid money is spent in each country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5455/13]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

221. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans, if any, to discuss with the United States authorities, the proposed new Immigration Reform Bill; the way this proposal could benefit the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5524/13]

Human Rights Issues

Brendan Smith

222. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the details of discussions, if any, he has had to date with the British Government in relation to a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5525/13]

International Relations

Brendan Griffin

223. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the possibility of an IN/OUT EU Referendum in the UK; if a contingency plan is being considered in the event of an EU exit by the UK; if he is conscious of the impact on economy here that such a development could have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5608/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Thomas Pringle

224. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline in tabular form the total cost of all conferences and seminars attended by his Department in 2012; the purpose of each conference/seminar; the location; the number of delegates that attended from his Department/agencies or otherwise that were represented; the total cost of each conference/seminar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5637/13]

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Terence Flanagan

225. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of money spent on administrative costs for all Irish Embassies by his Department in the past two years. [5793/13]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Willie O'Dea

226. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of former public servants recruited before 6 April 1995 who are currently receiving a public sector pension including both pensions funded by the Exchequer and through the Local Government Fund, and those pension schemes for which he has responsibility; the age profile of those public servants; if he will provide in tabular form the numbers of public sector pensioners in the following parameters between €1,000 intervals up to €20,000 and those on more than €20,000. [5892/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Derek Nolan

227. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the overseas aid budget will be protected in the forthcoming EU Budget; if he will lobby European leaders to ensure the protection of overseas development funding during budgetary negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5910/13]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Tom Fleming

228. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the progress being made in the USA by Prsident Obama and the Congress in regularising the status of our immigrants in the USA who still have illegal status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5947/13]

Human Rights Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

229. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will address the issue of medicines, supposedly being exempt from the sanctions imposed on Iran, but prevented from getting into Iran because of banking sanctions, an issue causing considerable difficulties for the civilian population; if he will pursue this as a breach of human rights and through his place on U.N. Human Rights Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5954/13]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Joe McHugh

230. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with reference to US President Barack Obama's speech regarding immigration reform which was delivered on 29 January at Las Vegas, Nevada, if he will provide an update on his continuing work to support Irish citizens who live without documentation in the USA. [5975/13]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Denis Naughten

231. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will comment on the communications with the US authorities on the plans for comprehensive immigration reform announced last week; if progress had been made on the E3 Visa Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6069/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Maureen O'Sullivan

232. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance in view of Ireland's new membership to the Asia Development Bank and its contribution of €20 million to the bank, the projects that have been funded with the €20 million and the level of engagement from Irish businesses that exists with the Asia Development Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5244/13]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Derek Nolan

233. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if there will be any exemptions for persons paying management fees to property management companies in the forthcoming Local Property Tax Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5911/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Anne Ferris

234. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if the recent figures released by the Revenue Commissioners and reported in the media, which indicate that seizures of illicit tobacco have fallen by 56% in the past four years, is related to the reduction in the number of gardaí working on this area of investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5921/13]