Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Fraud

Alan Farrell

314. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the State agencies that provide information or assistance to her Department in the investigation of social welfare fraud; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13752/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Alan Farrell

315. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline consequences for medical professionals who are found to be providing false information to her Department in relation to disability or illness benefit claims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13753/13]

Social Welfare Code Issues

Alan Farrell

316. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is the requirement for a review of social welfare payments to families who are living in poverty to protect the misuse of payments for drug or alcohol abuse at the expense of children or spouses; if there is a method by which teachers and persons can report suspected misuse of payments to her Department for action to be taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13754/13]

National Internship Scheme Numbers

Alan Farrell

317. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review has taken place of the success of the JobBridge scheme since its introduction; the employment success rate for individuals who have completed their scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13756/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Numbers

Alan Farrell

318. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise of the success of the partial capacity benefit scheme; the number of persons who have accessed the benefit; the number of persons who have returned to the workplace as a result; the savings it has made to the Exchequer since its establishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13757/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Alan Farrell

81. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update in the status of the investment programme application submitted by Fingal County Council in August 2011 regarding Malahide waste water management. [13522/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Alan Farrell

103. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the rent supplement limits in Dublin Fingal for two and three bedroomed houses due to the rise of rent in Dublin, its proximity to Dublin City Council areas which are allowed an extra €100, the lack of availability of premises for families seeking two and three bedroomed accommodation and the distance of up to 28km between the north and south end of the constituency, of which only properties in the most north part of the constituency is a feasible option for accommodation under the rent levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10959/13]

Driver Licences

Alan Farrell

109. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of agent network locations that he is seeking to establish nationwide through SGS Ireland; the locations that have been agreed; if all agencies will be established by September 2013; if there will be any job creation in local areas from this distribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8326/13]

Driver Licence Applications

Alan Farrell

186. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline in tabular form the cost for a person to apply for a plastic card driving licence here compared with other jurisdictions in the EU that have introduced this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8325/13]

Prompt Payments

Alan Farrell

511. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that all local authority bodies achieve 100% compliance to pay outstanding bills and invoices within 15 days in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8428/13]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues

Alan Farrell

562. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline Garda initiatives aimed at curbing criminals who move into an area and target vulnerable persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8426/13]

Child Care Services Provision

Alan Farrell

646. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of parents who have availed of the community child care subvention programme in 2012; the cost of this service to the Exchequer in 2012 and the estimated cost in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8430/13]

Hospital Food

Alan Farrell

712. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he has guidelines in relation to the nutritional value of meals served to overnight hospital patients; his view of the nutritional standard of meals served to persons during their stay in hospital and the importance of providing nutritional meals to recovering persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8427/13]

Prompt Payments

Alan Farrell

713. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his proposals to ensure that Health Service Executive achieves 100% compliance to pay outstanding bills and invoices within 15 days in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8429/13]

HSE Funding

Alan Farrell

714. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the amount of Health Service Executive funding that has been provided to a charity (details supplied) since 2005. [8431/13]

Air Services Provision

Alan Farrell

769. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of his engagement and consultation with the European Union Regulators on the proposed Ryanair bid for Aer Lingus; the influence he will have on its decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8324/13]

Road Traffic Accidents Data

Alan Farrell

782. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a county breakdown of road fatalities from 2002 to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8648/13]

Road Safety Strategy

Alan Farrell

783. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of when the next road safety strategy will be published; the measures he intends to include; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8649/13]

Tourism Promotion

Alan Farrell

784. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline details of the promotion of Ireland, at home and abroad, during the period of the St. Patrick's Day Festival; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8650/13]

Departmental Consultations

Alan Farrell

352. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the increase in calls to the St. Vincent de Paul in 2012; the engagement that she has had with the society in order to pin point opportunities in which her Department may reform supports effectively in order to combat poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6578/13]

Departmental Reports

Alan Farrell

353. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection when the report on the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare, specifically in relation to child benefit, is expected to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6582/13]

Water Charges Introduction

Alan Farrell

441. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to assess water charges until water meters are implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6579/13]

Garda Deployment

Alan Farrell

482. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline in tabular form the number of gardaí in the DMR north region in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6577/13]

Health Insurance Prices

Alan Farrell

623. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his views on the VHI statement that one of the factors that will lead to a 6% increase in premiums is an ineffective risk equalisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6580/13]

Mental Health Services Report

Alan Farrell

624. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in implementing A Vision for Change; the reason there is a priority to review the Mental Health Act 2001 prior to replacing the A Vision for Change implementation expert group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6581/13]

Personal Insolvency Act

Alan Farrell

57. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons expected to seek assistance from the Personal Insolvency Agency in 2013; the expected timeframe in which the agency will deal with individual cases and, therefore, an appropriate waiting time for persons to be dealt with once the process is under way; the order persons will be seen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5656/13]

Pyrite Panel Report Implementation

Alan Farrell

151. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the basis on which the National Standards Authority of Ireland has been asked to report to his Department on the subject of pyrite testing; when this will be published; the consensus amongst stakeholders regarding the funding for testing for pyrite in properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5083/13]

Housing Adaptation Grant Expenditure

Alan Farrell

183. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the budget for housing adaptation grants have been approved for local authorities in 2013; and when this announcement is due to be made. [5406/13]

Further Education and Training Programmes Expenditure

Alan Farrell

304. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average cost to provide a springboard course per person per year; the average cost of a FÁS student per year to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5183/13]

Employment Support Services

Alan Farrell

404. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the proposals to develop a jobseeker's database; if this database will go as far as recording vital details such as education, skill set and past employment history; the length of time this proposal will take to implement; the way this differs from the current database that provides information to her Department for the pathways to work programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5184/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Delays

Alan Farrell

405. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the Free Legal Advice Centre 2012 report Not Fair Enough with regard to the appeals process in her Department, as well as outlining in detail the reforms that have been reported to have taken place to reduce waiting time for appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5185/13]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Alan Farrell

406. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the 2012 figures showing that almost 50% of applicants who were refused disability allowance were awarded the payment on appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5186/13]

EU Directives

Alan Farrell

525. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the EC targets to increase the number of charging points for electric cars here by 2020; his plans in relation to this policy; if he will be engaging in talks with the industry; if there has been a projected cost of this policy to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5180/13]

HSE Staffing

Alan Farrell

772. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his views on the conditions and working hours of junior doctors in the Health Service Executive; his plans to engage with the Irish Medical Organisation to re-examine their working hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5181/13]

Vaccination Programme

Alan Farrell

773. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his policy regarding the addition of the meningitis vaccination to the national vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5182/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Alan Farrell

164. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have left or changed rent supplemented accommodation this year due to the reduction in rent supplement allowable since January 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3924/13]

Action Plan for Jobs

Alan Farrell

20. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans for an action plan for jobs in 2013; when this is due to be published; the number of submissions received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3181/13]

Public Sector Reform Implementation

Alan Farrell

14. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline, as per the current Croke Park agreement, the structures that have been put in place by the Implementation Body for Departments that are underperforming; the penalties in place for such Departments; if the implementation process of the Croke Park agreement will be revisited in the negotiation process for 2014 to enhance the incentive for changes to take place on a more individual Departmental basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2835/13]

Job Creation Issues

Alan Farrell

57. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of jobs that have been created to date as a result of the EU €2 billion stimulus package; the number that will be put in place by end 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2836/13]

Education Standards

Alan Farrell

232. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the recent report carried out by employers groups that shows a concern of writing ability of Irish graduates; if he will be acting on this report to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2423/13]

Job Creation Issues

Alan Farrell

312. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the Social Justice Ireland report that stated Ireland is behind targets agreed with the EU on job creation as agreed as part of Europe strategy 2010, particularly with reference to the method of calculation that was used by the EU in the creation of these targets; the way that Ireland compares to other jurisdictions in the EU in this respect, and if he will pinpoint the difficulties that Ireland is having in its achievement of these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2424/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Alan Farrell

590. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will consider on the possibility of increasing to 21 years the legal age for a person to purchase and use tobacco products due to the increasing number of smokers amongst young women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2422/13]

NAMA Portfolio Issues

Alan Farrell

33. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if there is a liaison facility in place in the National Assets Management Agency for homeowners of properties owned by developers who are under the remit of NAMA in order to resolve ongoing issues of health and safety requirements in these developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1767/13]

Obesity Levels

Alan Farrell

6. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on proposals to reduce the €1.6 billion costs related to obesity to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56885/12]

Food Industry Development

Alan Farrell

49. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the impact that the introduction of a sugar tax or an increase in regulation of the food industry in relation to matters of obesity would have on the food industry here; if there has been stakeholder contact with him since these recommendations have been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55809/12]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues

Alan Farrell

88. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if any consultation process occurred between his Department and the British Government prior to the announcement of the G8 summit in Enniskillen in relation to the requirement for extra security forces; if there will be extra security required in Irish airports and on the border in the run up and during the G8 Summit in 2013; the loations from which resources will be taken in respect of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54352/12]

Pyrite Panel Report Implementation

Alan Farrell

62. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the response he has received from industry stakeholders regarding the repair of homes affected by pyrite; the contact that has been made with all stakeholders named by him for those who have not engaged with his Department to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54229/12]

Nuclear Plants

Alan Farrell

73. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will advise on any possible risk factors that may be brought about by the decommissioning and cleaning up of Sellafield; his role in monitoring this process and protecting the environment and persons in exposed areas of the east coast of Ireland due to the difficulty that has arisen out of what has been regarded as the historical neglect of the plant in recent reports by the UK National Audit Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54230/12]

Proposed Legislation

Alan Farrell

232. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if new proposals being drawn for lobbying legislation and a register of lobbyists will contain information on resources and methods used by lobbying groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54260/12]

Housing Adaptation Grants Expenditure

Alan Farrell

391. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if further funding will be provided to Fingal County Council in order to fund housing adaptations grants that have been approved but unable to complete due to lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54259/12]