Parliamentary questions

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Michael Creed

245. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18455/15]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Michael Creed

253. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an invalidity pension review in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18571/15]

Departmental Agencies

Michael Creed

301. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline progress made by the agency rationalisation programme; the number of agencies which have been merged or abolished since the Government came into office and the remaining issues to be addressed during the lifetime of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18132/15]

Land Parcel Identification System

Michael Creed

352. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the membership of the land parcel identification system appeals committee; its modus operandi; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18363/15]

Health Care Professionals

Michael Creed

467. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the position regarding Government proposals to regulate the counselling and psychotherapy profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18364/15]

Motor Fuels

Michael Creed

622. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received a submission from the Irish Petrol Retailers Association in connection with the problem of forecourt drive-offs; his views on the content of this submission; the initiatives he proposes in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18131/15]

Basic Payment Scheme Applications

Michael Creed

99. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he can account for the discrepancy between the digital record and the paper record posted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork in connection with an individual plot area in respect of that person's 2015 application under the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18088/15]

Renewable Energy Incentives

Michael Creed

214. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department is considering a shift in public policy to incentivise other renewable energy sources, including solar energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18053/15]

Energy Policy

Michael Creed

215. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the White Paper on Renewable Energy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18085/15]

Carer's Allowance Delays

Michael Creed

71. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in approving a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17201/15]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Michael Creed

449. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on a Student Universal Support Ireland appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17270/15]

Seniors Alert Scheme

Michael Creed

138. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 644 of 21 April 2015 and previous related parliamentary questions, wherein he confirms that community and voluntary groups and An Garda Síochána contributed to the review in 2010 of the community support for older people which was the forerunner to the seniors alert scheme, if he will confirm that no consultations have taken place with community and voluntary groups or An Garda Síochána regarding the changes proposed to the seniors alert scheme by this review; if he will consider, even at this late stage, consulting with those organisations that participated in the 2010 review and who participated in the drafting of the terms of reference for that review, regarding the changes that are now under way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16974/15]

Fuel Allowance Eligibility

Michael Creed

59. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16326/15]

Single Payment Scheme Appeals

Michael Creed

171. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 245 of 15 April 2015, if he will confirm that an appeal has now been received by the independently chaired land parcel identification system appeals committee (details supplied); if he will indicate a timeframe for consideration of this appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16271/15]

Youth Services Funding

Michael Creed

233. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide details of grant aid available from his Department, possibly funded through the national lottery, to youth organisations, including musical organisations and bands, towards the establishment of tuition and running costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16652/15]

Departmental Funding

Michael Creed

508. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide details of grant aid that may be available from her Department, possibly funded through the national lottery, to assist with the establishment and running costs of céilí bands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16651/15]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Michael Creed

289. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an application for invalidity pension refused by her Department will now be appealed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15826/15]

Medical Card Eligibility

Michael Creed

466. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if transplant patients are entitled to either a medical card or to a long-term illness card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15396/15]

Teacher Recruitment

Michael Creed

612. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will issue a statement to all boards of management of primary and secondary schools regarding the practice of employing retired teachers on a short-term basis, when there is a significant problem with the number of unemployed teachers who are unable to secure permanent or long-term contract positions; if she will clarify the situation in connection with the legal role of her Department in these contracts of employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15824/15]

Seniors Alert Scheme

Michael Creed

644. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 176, 178, 179, 180 and 182 of 1 April 2015 in which he stated that his Department undertook to consider new approaches to the senior alert scheme in 2014, decided that the scheme would be managed by Pobal and, in view of the fact that the market for the equipment was well established, decided it was neither necessary nor appropriate to engage in consultations with the market, prior to the tender process, if he will address the broader issue of consultation held in respect of these proposed changes to the senior alert scheme in 2014, rather than the specific issues of Pobal's role or the consultations held on the tendering process; if community or voluntary groups were consulted on the new approaches originally considered in 2014; if An Garda Síochána was consulted regarding them; the feedback received from these organisations regarding the original proposed changes to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15610/15]

Financial Services Regulation

Michael Creed

147. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance the number of distressed mortgages on family homes which are held by financial institutions not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, but which may be subject to regulation in the United Kingdom; which may have held mortgage protection insurance that has not been activated; which are held by retired persons on pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14273/15]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Creed

203. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details in respect of all Government Departments where employees therein have been the beneficiaries of injury warrants under the Superannuation Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14799/15]

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Michael Creed

245. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to explain the reason a person (details supplied) has been the subject of a €1,300 fine under the single farm payment for 2013; if the original notification of alleged over-claim was the subject of a formal appeal by that person's agent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13989/15]

Single Payment Scheme Appeals

Michael Creed

301. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the payments and penalties in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the 2013 single payment scheme, with a view to calculating the correct penalty on that person's application under the agri-environment options scheme [14745/15]

Bovine Disease Controls

Michael Creed

303. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if herdowners with animals that have tested positive for bovine viral diarrhoea are legally obliged to dispose of these animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14752/15]

Single Payment Scheme Appeals

Michael Creed

95. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on an appeal under the 2013-2014 single farm payment scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13625/15]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Michael Creed

163. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 815 of 24 March 2015 if she will acknowledge the anomaly that exists in the classification of illness benefit as a short-term payment which is not included as an eligible payment for the special rate of student grant despite being payable for up to 104 weeks and the inclusion of carer's benefit as an eligible payment despite having a maximum payment duration of 104 weeks; and if consideration will be provided to review a decision on an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [13562/15]

Seniors Alert Scheme

Michael Creed

178. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of consultation that took place in respect of the proposed changes to the senior alert scheme; if he will provide in detail the number of community groups and voluntary organisations that were consulted; if An Garda Síochána was consulted; if he will confirm the views of the organisations consulted with in respect of the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13516/15]

Seniors Alert Scheme

Michael Creed

179. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that the tender documents for the revised senior alert scheme will not lead to a lower standard of equipment than used under the previous regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13518/15]

Seniors Alert Scheme

Michael Creed

180. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of community groups currently registered with his Department in the context of the senior alert scheme that have re-applied as local agents for the revised scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13527/15]

Seniors Alert Scheme

Michael Creed

182. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the rationale for dividing the country into ten regions in the context of the tendering for the revised arrangements under the senior alert scheme; the reason an individual supplier is limited to delivering a service in three regions; the cost implications of this approach for the more isolated rural regions in respect of monitoring fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13537/15]

Mortgage Lending

Michael Creed

278. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance his views on the lack of competition in the Irish mortgage market; his plans to bring variable rate mortgages in line with the eurozone average; the estimated cost to mortgage holders on an annual basis, and the differential between Irish rates and average eurozone rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13241/15]

GLAS Eligibility

Michael Creed

308. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork who has submitted an application under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme will receive approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12702/15]

Dairy Sector

Michael Creed

345. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the detailed independent figures available to his Department regarding investment in the dairy industry, both at farm gate and processor level, in recent years to take account of the ending of the milk quota regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13239/15]

Vaccination Programme

Michael Creed

503. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he is considering the introduction of a meningitis B vaccine into the primary childhood immunisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13240/15]

Animal Breeding Regulations

Michael Creed

90. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given the impact of infertility on profitability in the dairy and beef sectors, his views that where artificial insemination is provided, it should be obligatory to make available the data regarding the fertility rates of the bulls which provide the semen; if his Department, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation or individual providers or artificial insemination hold such data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12264/15]

Single Payment Scheme Administration

Michael Creed

334. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers whose payment under the single payment scheme is €5,000 or less: the number of these farmers whose payment is greater than the average-per-hectare payment nationally; the reason those with gross payments of €5,000 or less have not been exempted from the revised payment arrangements under Common Agricultural Policy reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11282/15]

Single Payment Scheme Administration

Michael Creed

335. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers whose gross payments under the revised single payment scheme, post Common Agricultural Policy reform, exceed €5,000, where the per-hectare payment is less than the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11283/15]

GLAS Eligibility

Michael Creed

336. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if participants in the agri-environment options scheme are allowed to transfer to the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme before the expiry of their agri-envionment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11284/15]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Michael Creed

815. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason illness benefit is not included as a qualifying payment for the special rate of student grant by Student Universal Support Ireland, considering the inclusion of similar type benefit payments such as carers benefit and jobseeker's benefit; her plans to review this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12000/15]

Energy Policy

Michael Creed

928. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to ensure the continuation of effective competition in the liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, market after the closure of the Whitegate refinery in 2016; the manner in which he will ensure continued access to LPG for all providers in the market after the closure of Whitegate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11236/15]

Energy Policy

Michael Creed

934. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the future operation of the Whitegate oil refinery and the implications for competition in the bulk liquified petroleum gas market if Whitegate closes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11235/15]

National Car Test

Michael Creed

959. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proposals he has received from the Road Safety Authority regarding extending the requirement to test all veteran and vintage vehicles over thirty years; if he is aware that the overwhelming majority of these vehicles have no commercial or day to day purpose, other than the hobby interest of their owners; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these vehicles cannot meet the current National Car Test requirements placed on other vehicles; the evidence available to the Authority or his Department regarding accidents and incidents involving these vehicles and impacting on road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11075/15]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Michael Creed

202. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive funding under the nursing home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10875/15]

Transition Year Selection Process

Michael Creed

226. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on using the transition year in post-primary schools for the delivery of FETAC level 5 care of the older person course on an optional basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10757/15]

Social Welfare Code

Michael Creed

164. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department takes to pursue parents not making maintenance payments to claimants of one-parent family allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10035/15]

One-Parent Family Payment Payments

Michael Creed

189. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the impact of the changes to entitlement to the one-parent family payment with children over seven years of age in the context of a lone parent currently working 19.5 hours at minimum wage; the financial impact in these circumstances on loss of take home pay and the reduction in family income supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10571/15]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Michael Creed

502. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills to explain the position regarding a proposed new national school (details supplied) in County Cork; whether all the necessary documentation has been received by her Department to enable it to make a decision; when this project is expected to be put out to tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10568/15]

One-Parent Family Payment Payments

Michael Creed

75. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the one-parent family payment; the number of these in receipt of a court-mandated maintenance payment or other such payment formally recognised by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9868/15]

Public Sector Staff Sick Leave

Michael Creed

236. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will clarify the situation regarding the revised sick leave arrangements for public servants, and the consequences for a person who is on certified sick leave for over 92 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9025/15]