Parliamentary questions

Tourism Industry Issues

Arthur Spring

139. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the change in tourist numbers that has been experienced for the years to date in 2012, or alternatively for the first six months of 2012, from the same period in the previous year in Dublin city, the south-west region and in County Kerry. [54651/12]

Air Services Provision

Arthur Spring

140. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total number of passengers between 1 June 2012 and 31 August 2012 into Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport and Kerry Airport. [54652/12]

Air Services Provision

Arthur Spring

141. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average number of passengers per week to date in 2012 for Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport and Kerry Airport. [54653/12]

Air Services Provision

Arthur Spring

142. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the change in the total number of passengers in months June, July and August 2012 from the same tourist season 2011 into Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport and Kerry Airport. [54654/12]

Air Services Provision

Arthur Spring

143. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of extra flights into Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport and Kerry Airport to date in 2012 compared to 2010. [54655/12]

Budget Submissions

Arthur Spring

149. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance the process by which his Department costs pre-budget submissions produced by pressure groups and political parties; and if a submission can be declared to have been costed even when it has only received a brief general opinion from his Department. [53992/12]

Leader Programmes Funding

Arthur Spring

169. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when authority will be transferred to North and East Kerry Partnership and South Kerry Partnership in order that applications for LEADER funding by Kerry companies located in areas in Kerry, which were previously covered by Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta, can be accepted and administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53515/12]

Home Help Service Provision

Arthur Spring

246. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if a full assessment of a person's (details provided) in County Kerry case has been carried out and if all medical evidence has been taken into consideration prior to the reduction in their home help hours; the review process is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53512/12]

Disabled Drivers Grant Eligibility

Arthur Spring

192. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if the disabled drivers medical board of appeal, when dealing with primary medical certificate appeals, should be allowed to permit exceptions for persons who do not meet the strict criteria currently laid down in regulations but endure the same medical restrictions and disabilities as those who do meet the strict criteria as a result of a combination of extraordinary medical conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52588/12]

Tax Code

Arthur Spring

256. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the report on tax injustice by TASC, which found that several corporate entities based here pay no corporation tax here, through mechanisms such as the Dutch sandwich; his views on whether this may reinforce the risk of Ireland gaining a reputation as a tax haven. [52946/12]

Tax Collection Forecasts

Arthur Spring

257. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an estimate for the increase in revenue that would accrue to the Exchequer if all loopholes and reliefs in corporation tax were eliminated, ensuring an effective net corporation tax rate of 12.5% for all corporations carrying out activities here. [52947/12]

Tax Code

Arthur Spring

258. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance the stance that he will be taking on the proposed action plan put forward by the European Commission to clamp down on tax evasion, through the agreement of a stricter definition of tax havens and the implementation of an anti-abuse clause to prevent double non-payment of corporation tax. [52948/12]

Mortgage Arrears Rate

Arthur Spring

260. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance the percentage of tracker mortgages that are in arrears; and the percentage that are in arrears of 90 days or more. [52958/12]

Tax Code

Arthur Spring

263. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the introduction of a carbon tax on solid fuels will have a detrimental effect on the competitiveness of businesses involved in the sale of solid fuels and employment in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53048/12]

Tax Code

Arthur Spring

264. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the introduction of a carbon tax on solid fuels will have a detrimental effect on social welfare recipients who rely on coal or peat briquettes as the only means of heating their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53049/12]

Budget Submissions

Arthur Spring

265. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance his views on the pre-budget submission by the solid fuel trade group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53050/12]

Tax Code

Arthur Spring

266. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the introduction of a carbon tax on solid fuels should be deferred due to the sourcing of coal and peat from Northern Ireland where lower environmental standards apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53051/12]

Regional Aid

Arthur Spring

335. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding Ireland's regional aid discussions and the new 2014-2020 regional aid map with the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53045/12]

Industrial Development

Arthur Spring

346. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the Industrial Development Agency has arranged and undertaken in County Kerry in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53046/12]

Industrial Development

Arthur Spring

347. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the percentage of County Kerry jobs that have come from Industrial Development Agency companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53047/12]

Fuel Allowance Payments

Arthur Spring

435. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on an introduction of a vouched scheme or smart card for redemption of the winter fuel allowance to ensure the purchase of legitimate and tax compliant coal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53052/12]

Property Taxation Collection

Arthur Spring

465. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the proposed property tax will be collected and spent locally by local authorities, or if it will be collected by the central Exchequer and then redistributed to local authorities. [52949/12]

Property Taxation Collection

Arthur Spring

466. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he plans to deal with the inequalities in revenues that will accrue to local authorities from the proposed property tax, in view of large differences in average home values in different local authority areas. [52950/12]

Property Taxation Collection

Arthur Spring

467. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in the context of the proposed property tax which will be the primary source of revenue for local authorities, the extent to which central Government will provide supplementary funding for local authorities whose budgets are in a deficit situation. [52959/12]

Disabled Drivers Grant Eligibility

Arthur Spring

668. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if the qualifying criteria for the motorised transport grant should be amended to include persons with disabilities who need to buy suitable transport in order to permit them to return to full time education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52587/12]

Hospital Facilities

Arthur Spring

703. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if there is an overall policy for car parking charges in public hospitals here [52944/12]

Hospital Facilities

Arthur Spring

704. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list in tabular form of hourly and weekly car parking charges, in descending order, in public hospitals here [52945/12]

Hospital Appointment Status

Arthur Spring

213. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51819/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

68. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50752/12]

Disabled Drivers Grant Eligibility

Arthur Spring

70. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if a review of the qualification criteria for the primary medical certificate is required; and if there is a need to consider the inclusion of further disabilities in the qualifying criteria for the primary medical certificate in order to permit persons, suffering from such disabilities and who are forced to make adaptions to their vehicles as a result of these disabilities, to avail of the tax reliefs provided through the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme [50776/12]

Banks Recapitalisation

Arthur Spring

91. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance the action he has taken at a European level to address the recent revelation that Spanish banks have been securing funds at a lower risk premium than their Irish counterparts. [50741/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

92. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50751/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

121. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50749/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

128. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50756/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

131. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50754/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

139. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of all public consultations her Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50757/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

155. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50745/12]

Telecommunications Services Provision

Arthur Spring

158. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that mobile phone companies appear to be restricting access to Skype to customers on their mobile internet products. [50742/12]

Telecommunications Services Provision

Arthur Spring

159. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the supervision and control exercised either by his Department or by ComReg over the application of roaming charges for mobile Internet products by companies in the Irish telecoms industry in view of the often extortionate level of these charges. [50743/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

160. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50747/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

176. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50750/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

187. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50755/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

198. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50748/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

206. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50744/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

214. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a list of all public consultations her Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50746/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

250. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50753/12]

Departmental Consultations

Arthur Spring

258. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50758/12]

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Arthur Spring

116. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills following the formal establishment of Quality and Qualifications Ireland, when will new applications for training provider registration be processed and if any further guidelines, frameworks and the development of codes need to be establish prior to applications being accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50228/12]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Arthur Spring

238. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the waiting time for patients for a posterior instrumented correction procedure to be carried at Crumlin Hospital, Dublin, and when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be given a confirmed date to have the procedure carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50229/12]

Fuel Allowance Applications

Arthur Spring

378. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the fuel allowance payment should be restructured to allow for a sliding scale rather than a flat cut-off point, to prevent situations arising whereby a person who receives an income which is even less than €1 over the threshold misses out on the whole of the €520 payment. [49812/12]