Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Harbour Authority Properties

John Halligan

1187. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address the health and safety issues raised in relation to Shanoon, Dunmore East, County Waterford (details supplied) and have same made once again available to the hundreds of mobile home holiday makers who have been camping on the site for decades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37713/13]

Health Services Staff Data

John Halligan

1403. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of mental health service employees that were employed in County Waterford during the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the number of posts that were filled during that time; the number of vacant posts that remain unfilled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37712/13]

Hospital Staff

John Halligan

1404. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if the orthaeopedic surgical rotation in Waterford Regional Hospital is currently operating at full capacity; if not, if he will confirm the efforts being made to fill any vacant positions; the efforts being made to speed up the provision of these essential services; when the provision of elective surgeries will recommence, as at the moment this Deputy understands only trauma cases are being seen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37714/13]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

John Halligan

7. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to reach the EU targets set for increasing renewable energy here [28076/13]

Fisheries Protection

John Halligan

167. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will acknowledge that the Irish inshore fishermen have suffered from restrictions imposed by regulations on the eel fishery industry; his views on whether the social, cultural and historic effects were not taken into consideration at the time of the ban; if he will further acknowledge that the EU Directive responsible for the imposed regulations was in fact initially intended to allow for a 40% escapement of adult silver eels to the sea to spawn and not intended to result in a total ban on eel fishing which was imposed here at the time; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the European Parliament's fisheries Committee has recently rejected a ban proposed by a Green Party activist calling for a complete ban on eel fishing similar to that currently imposed here; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the committee subsequently decided to place greater emphasis on using scientific evidence to address declining stocks and that it was agreed that any changes must involve consultations with fishing communities; if he will review the UK's policy to increase silver eel populations to 40% of historic pre 1980's levels with a view to potentially adopting this practice here; his views on whether the original proposals were far too restrictive and commit to considering re-opening the eel fishery here following on from the undertakings given at the time when it was closed to review the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35649/13]

Rental Accommodation Scheme Administration

John Halligan

87. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will look at the case of a person (details supplied) whose son has a disability who has been issued with a notice to quit in her current accommodation and cannot find anywhere to live within the rent caps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33194/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

John Halligan

101. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the issue of rent allowance caps in the case of a person (details supplied) a young woman, homeless for three months who cannot find anywhere within the rent allowance caps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33193/13]

Departmental Funding

John Halligan

39. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has undertaken or intends to undertake an analysis or impact study on the cumulative effects of the cuts in family support services, health services, guidance and mental health services, special needs assistants and resource hours and school completion programme on children and young persons in the areas catered for by the City of Dublin Youth Service Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32605/13]

Tax Code

John Halligan

94. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider establishing a 12.5% minimum effective tax rate and close off any loophole in our corporate tax that allows some companies based here to pay less than the current 12.5% nominal rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31854/13]

Banking Sector Regulation

John Halligan

95. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance if he believes the revelations contained in the recently publicised Anglo tapes have any implications for Government policy in relation to banking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31853/13]

Hospital Services

John Halligan

105. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health his plans for Loughlinstown hospital in view of the Framework for Smaller Hospitals report and the reorganisation of the services across South Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30415/13]

Public Sector Staff Issues

John Halligan

7. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he intends, in the interests of efficient expenditure of public money, to conduct a study of the cost of outsourcing in the public sector as against the cost of direct employment in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29688/13]

Sale of State Assets

John Halligan

34. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the planned programme of State asset disposal as agreed with the troika; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29690/13]

EU Regulations

John Halligan

51. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the Irish Competent Authority, required under EU timber regulation, will be established; the resources that will be made available to the competent authority to ensure that it is appropriately staffed and is given the appropriate tools in order to allow it to carry out its functions as required under the terms of the EU timber regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29380/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

John Halligan

102. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in certain incidents where a secondary school pupil has been assessed by a National Educational Psychological Services psychologist and resource hours have been sanctioned by the Special Educational Needs Officer on that basis due to a reduction in funding/available services certain schools have been absorbing these hours into the main school timetable which results in the child in question not having access to their individual resource hours; if his attention has been drawn to this practice; if it is legitimate for the school to absorb these hours; if he will now make a commitment to investigate this practice and prohibit the absorption of these hours into the main school timetable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29553/13]

Wind Energy Guidelines

John Halligan

33. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will set out in detail the process through which a company such as a particular company (details supplied) would establish an offshore wind farm in the foreshore, as is currently proposed for the Kish Bank, including when the licence was granted and the nature of the public consultation process surrounding the granting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28074/13]

Renewable Energy Generation

John Halligan

68. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has considered using the ESB to develop our wind resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27877/13]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

John Halligan

89. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a report on any and all plans to reach the EU targets set for increasing renewable energy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27878/13]

EU Conventions

John Halligan

734. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will make good the commitments made by previous successive Governments and commit to signing the European Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence Against Women and domestic violence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27669/13]

Social Welfare Code Review

John Halligan

15. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection the benefits of the jobseeker's transition payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25870/13]

Child Benefit Rates

John Halligan

29. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has been involved in any discussions regarding the proposal announced by the Minister for Education and Skills on 8 May 2013 to use child benefit funds to pay for preschool education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25869/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

John Halligan

108. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will indicate when a school (details supplied) in County Dublin will get the funds for upgrading and refurbishment for which it has been waiting for for 14 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25473/13]

Industrial Relations

John Halligan

25. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he will deal with the situation whereby the Employment Appeals Tribunal and Labour Court recommendations may be ignored or avoided by employers, in some cases by changing the names of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24469/13]

National Monuments

John Halligan

130. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a full list of national monuments in State care that are closed due to renovations or lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19428/13]

Exports Data

John Halligan

106. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance if he has had any discussions with his Cypriot counterparts on the possible implications for Ireland in terms of exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15570/13]

Missing Persons Hotline

John Halligan

600. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 226 of 24 April 2013, if she will confirm to date the steps that have been taken to advertise the existence of the 116000 hotline here; if she will commit to organising that the relevant informational posters be forwarded to all colleges, schools, crèches and indeed all public buildings with a request that it be prominently displayed therein; further to this as we are co-hosting a debate in June on the issue of missing children, if she will commit to having information about the 116000 hotline made visible on all official websites and any communications relating to same; if she will confirm whether the onus is now on the ISPCC to ensure the 116000 hotline remains operational from this point on; if she is in a position to guarantee that this service will receive annual State funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24247/13]

Property Taxation Collection

John Halligan

99. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance the number of property tax return forms that have been received by the Revenue Commissioners; of those return forms received, the number that have chosen the deferral option; of those return forms received, the number have been left blank with an attackthetax sticker attached; and lastly if he will please confirm the number of the return forms received that have been filed by landlords and local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23465/13]

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company

John Halligan

53. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the proposal to put Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company under the aegis and in co-operation with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, if he will agree to a meeting with representatives of the workforce as they have requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22943/13]

Long Stay Residential Units

John Halligan

110. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will explain his policy regarding the transfer of persons with disabilities living in long term residential homes, such as Cheshire Homes, to local authority housing; the financial rationale for this move; the way he intends to deal with concerns among many residents of these homes and their families that they will not be able to cope in independent living situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22629/13]

Departmental Offices

John Halligan

360. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether she has plans to close the community welfare office in Tramore, County Waterford; if so, how she can justify this closure; her plans to move this office to the Waterford city office; how she proposes people with lack of financial support and no transport make the journey to visit these offices; and her plans to provide more resources to the community welfare office in Waterford city (details supplied) to alleviate delays in the processing of applications. [22779/13]

Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale

John Halligan

199. Deputy John Halligan 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. [21886/13]

Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale

John Halligan

201. Deputy John Halligan 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. [21888/13]

Subsidiary Protection Applications

John Halligan

301. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for subsidiary protection in respect of a person (details supplied). [21524/13]

Asylum Support Services

John Halligan

13. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to replace the direct provision system or put a system in place that would allow asylum seekers the right to work and live independently, which would save the State a considerable amount of money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20697/13]

National Parks Closures

John Halligan

32. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a full list of national parks that are closed due to renovations or lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19428/13]

Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale

John Halligan

40. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he is concerned and if he is being consulted on the possible implications in terms of our national heritage of the sale of public forests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19427/13]

Missing Children

John Halligan

226. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in relation to the European Wide Missing Children's Hotline 116000, if the proposed move of the missing children's hotline from a pilot basis to a full time 24/7 operational basis will take place as planned in May 2013; if her Department has any plans to make funding available for the national promotion and advertisement of this hotline; if she will make a commitment to have this hotline fully operational here before the end of our Presidency of the European Union; and if she will call on all other Member States to follow our example. [19476/13]

Hospital Staff

John Halligan

266. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of whole time equivalent posts currently filled at Waterford Regional Hospital; the number of these whole time equivalent posts filled at Waterford Regional Hospial at the end of 2010, 2011 and 2012; the current approved employment ceiling in Waterford Regional Hospital; if it is due to be increased in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19474/13]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

John Halligan

267. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the reason insulin pumps are not available at Waterford Regional Hospital for children suffering with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19475/13]

Job Initiatives

John Halligan

394. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is monitoring possible job displacement and job losses as part of the Tús and JobsBridge schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18603/13]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

John Halligan

33. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the change to the pupil-teacher ratio and lift the cap on student numbers in colleges of further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17584/13]

Property Taxation Administration

John Halligan

207. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance when a property falls within valuation band number one but in terms of both comfort and cost is well below the standard of the mid-point valuation pertaining to that relevant scale, if he will confirm if it is right that a person with very limited means living in such a property would be compelled to pay the property tax; his views on whether properties which are valued below the €50,000 mid point valuation should be exempt from the charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17227/13]

Hospital Services

John Halligan

1344. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1085 of 16 January 2013, wherein he had indicated that he expected to be in receipt of the report from Professor Higgins regarding the future potential composition of the hospital groups in the South East in the near future if he will confirm if he has received this report; if he has had time to consider the recommendations contained in same; have these recommendations been presented to Government for their consideration; if he is not in receipt of this report could he please clarify when he expects to be in receipt of same and further to this if he will clarify the difficulties that have caused such a delay in view of the significance of this report to the people of the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17705/13]

Human Rights Issues

John Halligan

55. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the limits being imposed on the fishermen of Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15571/13]

Health Services Provision

John Halligan

63. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if there has been any full report in relation to the review of the configuration of services in the Health Service Executive Dublin south-Wicklow area comprising St. Vincent's University Hospital, St. Michael's Hospital and St. Columcille's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14349/13]

Smaller Hospitals Framework

John Halligan

166. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health when the framework on smaller hospitals report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14351/13]

Prescription Charges

John Halligan

525. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider placing an upper limit cap on the amount charged when a patient is in receipt of a number of prescriptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13885/13]

Environmental Regulations

John Halligan

106. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to review regulations in relation to environmental impact assessments in view of the decision of a company (details supplied) to surrender its foreshore licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12836/13]

Environmental Regulations

John Halligan

111. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the discussion that took place between his Department and a company (details supplied) that led to the company surrendering its foreshore licence to drill an exploratory well in Dublin Bay, including details of the elements of the EU, EIA directive that were apparently not transposed correctly into Irish law in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12835/13]

Roads Maintenance

John Halligan

392. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the issue of road maintenance in Waterford city and county (details supplied); and the timeframe for same. [12308/13]

Further Education and Training Programmes Provision

John Halligan

38. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider his plans to increase the student staff-ratio in the further education sector in view of the damaging effect this will have on the sector in terms of job and skill losses, loss of courses and reduction of course places for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11998/13]

Further Education and Training Programmes Provision

John Halligan

49. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the impact that the planned increase in the student-staff ratio in the further education sector will have on course offerings, specialist training skills and course places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12000/13]

IDA Site Visits

John Halligan

256. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Authority site visits made to Waterford in 2011 and 2012; if he will clarify the number of those visits that were to Waterford city and the number to Dungarvan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11289/13]

IDA Portfolio

John Halligan

257. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of vacant properties currently being leased by the Industrial Development Agency in Waterford city; the number being leased in County Waterford; if he will identify the location of each of those properties; if he will further state the timeframe each property has been lying idle; if he will provide details of the outstanding balance payable on each of those leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11290/13]

National Internship Scheme Data

John Halligan

281. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who took to JobBridge placements in Waterford city and county since the programme began; the number of those who completed a JobBridge internship in Waterford who went directly into full-time positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11291/13]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

John Halligan

36. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance the further measures, if any, he proposes to take to force banks in which the Government owns shares to restructure or write down distressed mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10632/13]

Property Taxation Application

John Halligan

42. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance if he has done any analysis on the projected impact on consumer spending and the current mortgage crisis of his plans to introduce the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10633/13]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

John Halligan

14. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of posts that have been filled in the public sector since the beginning of the moratorium on recruitment; if he will provide details by Department and the rationale for the lifting of the moratorium in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10371/13]

Petroleum and Gas Exploration

John Halligan

98. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the recent oil/gas find in Ballyroe, County Kerry and the possible find off the coast of Northern Ireland and the evidence this provides that significant gas and oil deposits exist in Irish waters, if he is considering changes in the licensing and tax regime surrounding gas and oil exploration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9989/13]

Exploration Licences Approvals

John Halligan

142. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the exploration licence granted to a company (details supplied) to prospect off the coast of Dublin complies with the Aarhus Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9991/13]

Food Labelling

John Halligan

548. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to extend the checks for horse DNA to other products which may contain beef products such as inter alia dried soups, gravy granules, dried beef products and powder mixes for casseroles, stews, bolognese and lasagne; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9567/13]

NATO Membership

John Halligan

52. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans regarding to NATO membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8961/13]

Shannon Airport Facilities

John Halligan

64. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the report from the Open Society Justice Initiative titled Globalising Torture: CIA Secret Detention and Extraordinary Rendition (details supplied), and the use of Shannon Airport by the US CIA for flights of extraordinary rendition; his plans, if any, to investigate the matter on foot of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8963/13]

Harbour Authorities Expenditure

John Halligan

143. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 888 of 5 February 2013, and his commitment of taking up the issue of €20,000 payment of a car allowance to the CEO of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, if he will now agree to take up this issue with the acting chairperson instead as it is unclear when a new chairperson will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8646/13]

Harbour Authorities Expenditure

John Halligan

147. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 890 of 5 February 2013, the matter of the overpayment to a board member at the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is the subject of legal action, this means that the board member in question has refused to repay the moneys owing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8647/13]

Departmental Properties

John Halligan

143. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of rent reductions that have been negotiated between tenants in fishery harbour centres and his Department in each of the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6923/13]

Forestry Sector

John Halligan

174. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he can tally the objective of achieving the 30% EU forestry target and realising the known potential for employment in forestry and forestry related industry with his plans to sell off Coillte harvesting rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6956/13]

EU Battle Groups

John Halligan

30. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Defence his plans for Irish military personnel to join any upcoming EU battle groups or military missions to Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6079/13]

Green Paper on Defence

John Halligan

42. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the details of what is contained in the Green Paper on the Future of Ireland's Defence Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6081/13]

Refugee Status Applications

John Halligan

31. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will grant refugee status in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5666/13]

Asylum Applications

John Halligan

53. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will revoke the deportation order in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5663/13]

Property Taxation Application

John Halligan

135. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that local authorities will be liable for property tax with regards to their housing stock, the way he intends local authorities should deal with this; if he will be or has already issued any communication to local authorities in this regard; and his views on whether council tenants should be asked to pay for this. [5483/13]

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]

Building Energy Rating Compliance

John Halligan

572. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he intends to ensure compliance with the legal requirement that all existing buildings let or sold after 1 January 09 have to have a BER rating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4599/13]

Energy Schemes Issues

John Halligan

37. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to roll out a large scale national pay-as-you-save retrofit programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4600/13]

Tax Reliefs Availability

John Halligan

258. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to excise rebate on diesel. [4179/13]

Job Initiatives

John Halligan

371. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamnetary Question No. 228 of 2 October 2012, in which he stated that following on from the setting up of the South East Employment Action Plan all of the key State players are actively pursuing initiatives to facilitate development and job creation in the South East region, if he will now confirm who exactly these key State players are; since his last response in October, 2012, the positive developments that have emerged stemming from the setting up of this Action Plan; if the Industrial Development Agency have any concrete job creation initiatives in the pipeline; if he is currently in negotiation with any national or international companies considering creating jobs in Waterford or its surrounding areas; his views on whether in terms of a comparison with similar sized counties (details supplied) the statistics for Waterford seem to be way below par; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4346/13]

Carer's Allowance Applications

John Halligan

442. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 107 of 7 November 2012, in which she acknowledged processing times for carer's allowance applications were not satisfactory and that appropriate action would be taken which would resolve the situation, how effective the service delivery modernisation project has been; the way the efficiency levels have been improved since completion of the new carer's system in June 2012; and the reason processing times for the historic cases which have been ringfenced do not seem to have improved. [4236/13]

Temporary Release of Prisoners

John Halligan

576. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that the number of prisoners being granted Christmas temporary release has increased from 107 in 2008 to 226 in 2012, if he will clarify of the 226 prisoners granted varying periods of temporary release for the Christmas period December, 2012 under the Criminal Justice Act, 1960 the number of these prisoners serving their sentences in high security institutions; the number of these prisoners convicted of serious crimes such as murder; attempted murder; rape; aggravated sexual assault; assault; armed robbery and so on; if he will further clarify how far into the serving of their sentences were these prisoners; the criteria taken into consideration in determining if a prisoner should qualify for temporary release; whether the victims and the families of the victims of these crimes notified of the temporary release; the cost to the State when these prisoners fail to return after Christmas temporary release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4256/13]

Employment Rights Issues

John Halligan

44. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to deal with situations in which companies go into liquidation and workers, such as those in a company (details supplied) are left without wages or redundancy payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3308/13]

Student Grant Scheme Delays

John Halligan

142. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken to address the issue of students waiting many months for grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2684/13]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

John Halligan

152. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the impact of changes to pupil teacher ratios in terms of classroom numbers and job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2683/13]

Tax Code

John Halligan

17. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance the evidence he has or research he has undertaken to back his assertion that imposing the proposed financial transaction tax here would lead to a significant migration of financial services businesses and related jobs to London or that any such losses would outweigh the benefits of introducing the FTT in terms of increased tax revenue; if he will provide such evidence and research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1985/13]

EU Battlegroups

John Halligan

18. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a new EU military mission will be launched in the coming months; if he will provide details of both the mission and Ireland's involvement in any such mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1683/13]

Hospitals Policy

John Halligan

1085. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he has now received the Higgins Report relating to the future of the South East Hospital Network; if not, when he expects to be in receipt of same; when he will be making the contents of same available to Dáil Éireann; if he has reviewed the report/submission from the South East Hospitals Action Alliance Group; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1619/13]

Departmental Expenditure

John Halligan

21. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the cuts he intends to make to reach the target of €780 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57096/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

John Halligan

31. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 530 of 11 December 2012, if he is satisfied that he has no obligation to ensure detailed consultation and full engagement between the Health Service Executive, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association and the Irish Medical Organisation on issues that impact on their members; if he does have an obligation in this regard if has he fulfilled this obligation with regards to proposed new access protocols for 16 and 17 year olds to mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57097/12]

Harbours and Piers Funding

John Halligan

3. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 521 and 522 of 4 December 2012, when a decision will be made in relation the potential inclusion of Dunmore East Harbour, County Waterford, under the 2013 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Development Programme; if he will confirm where Dunmore East Harbour sits in relation to other competing priorities; if his attention has been drawn to factors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56183/12]

Harbours and Piers Funding

John Halligan

521. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm if Dunmore East Harbour, County Waterford, is to be included on the list of fishing harbours which are to be shortly allocated funding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54312/12]

Harbours and Piers Expenditure

John Halligan

522. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to dredge the harbour at Dunmore East (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54313/12]

Exploration Licences Approvals

John Halligan

12. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the Government's passing of the Aarhus Convention what if any public onsultation processes is he going to put in place around the applications for granting exploration licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53322/12]

Exploration Licences Approvals

John Halligan

168. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the impact that any drilling or seismic surveying might have on the livelihoods of local fishermen in Dublin Bay; if he will request a full environmental impact assessment and public inquiry into the plans of a company (details supplied) to explore just 6kms off the Dublin coast, before the company start their exploration. [48410/12]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Halligan

30. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the number of former semi-State agency executives or employees, on an agency basis, in receipt of pensions in excess of €90,000 per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51616/12]

Expenditure Reviews

John Halligan

32. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if any public service cuts he is considering in budget 2013 will be weighed up against the possible impact on front-line services and on the wider macroeconomic environment; if so, the way he intends to do same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51615/12]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Halligan

69. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the number of former semi-State agency executives or employees, on an agency basis, in receipt of pensions in excess of €90,000 per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52157/12]

Student Support Schemes Issues

John Halligan

71. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an alternative to the Student Assistance Fund which will cease to exist after 2013 and his plan to make further cuts to the maintenance grant. [51671/12]

Third Level Fees

John Halligan

72. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the consequences that come with raising the student contribution charge. [51673/12]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Halligan

95. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the number of former semi-State agency executives or employees, on an agency basis, in receipt of pensions in excess of €90,000 per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52155/12]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Halligan

120. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details of the number of former semi-State agency executives or employees, on an agency basis, in receipt of pensions in excess of €90,000 per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52159/12]

Back to Education Allowance Expenditure

John Halligan

121. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plan to make further cuts to the back to education allowance. [51672/12]