Parliamentary questions

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]