Parliamentary questions

Programme for Government Implementation

Seamus Kirk

87. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that he is honouring the commitments to older persons as set out in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30431/13]

Irish Music Promotion

Seamus Kirk

384. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the current strategy in the protection and promotion of national Irish music; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30526/13]

Marine Safety

Seamus Kirk

647. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if in view of the recent tragedies in the fishing industry, he is considering making it compulsory for an alert system to be worn, if a fisherman goes overboard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30669/13]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Seamus Kirk

662. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current guidelines in relation to haulage licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30527/13]

Shared Services

Seamus Kirk

30. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timetable for the implementation of the PeoplePoint shared services initiative; the scope of the project; the processes there will be to prevent disruption to existing service delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29663/13]

Food Safety Standards Regulation

Seamus Kirk

18. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the same standards do not apply to the import of horse meat for human consumption into the EU from the US as apply to the slaughter of horse meat for human consumption in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29374/13]

Rural Environment Protection Scheme Applications

Seamus Kirk

20. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers due a rural environment protection 4 payment or an agri-environment option scheme payment for the year 2012; the number that had penalties imposed on them; the number who had a 100% penalty imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29351/13]

Garda Deployment

Seamus Kirk

157. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is prepared to review the Garda manning levels in County Louth in view of the disturbing crime figures in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29472/13]

Medical Card Eligibility

Seamus Kirk

204. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if under the medical card scheme, in family situations where both spouses are suffering from cancer related illnesses, he will increase significantly income guidelines threshold, to take into account high medical costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29473/13]

Unemployment Statistics

Seamus Kirk

49. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Taoiseach the number of people who are unemployed in County Louth; if he will provide a breakdown of long term unemployed, seasonal unemployment and short term unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29262/13]

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Seamus Kirk

75. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has staff vacancies for transfer from other Departments in the Passport Office in Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, or Balbriggan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29259/13]

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Seamus Kirk

76. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his Department have received transfer applications for the Passport Offices in either Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, or Balbriggan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29260/13]

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Seamus Kirk

77. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has an active waiting list of civil servants requesting transfers into his Department; if so, the number on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29261/13]

Potato Sector

Seamus Kirk

456. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on potato variety development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29163/13]

Long-term Residential Care

Seamus Kirk

553. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if he will establish a forum on long term residential care here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29164/13]

Tourism Promotion

Seamus Kirk

594. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his tourism strategy in promoting County Louth as a tourist destination both nationally and internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29263/13]

Garda Deployment

Seamus Kirk

6. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of Garda serving in the traffic corps in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28283/13]

Wastewater Treatment

Seamus Kirk

10. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of waste water treatment inspectors appointed to date; the total number of inspectors expected to be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27996/13]

RAPID Programme

Seamus Kirk

57. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the names of the chairs of the RAPID area implementation teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28049/13]

Planning Issues

Seamus Kirk

483. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties with houses on which there are preservation orders, where household income will not allow remedial work to be carried out without grant aid; if he is considering reintroducing a grant scheme to help cover cost of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27920/13]

Housing Issues

Seamus Kirk

630. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is considering legislation to provide greater powers to local authorities in dealing with anti-social behaviour problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27752/13]

Tax Code

Seamus Kirk

783. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the targets set out in Harvest 2020, his plans for an initiative to tackle the issue of fragmented farm holdings particularly in dairy production areas; if he is contemplating a land exchange initiative to facilitate up-scaling of dairy farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27273/13]

Mobility Allowance Decision

Seamus Kirk

1036. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if he is planning a replacement scheme for the mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27895/13]

Commemorative Events

Seamus Kirk

18. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific preparations that have been made to commemorate the centenary anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26147/13]

Teachers' Remuneration

Seamus Kirk

64. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the position of 17 teachers who are employed by the International School of Martyrs, Tripoli, Libya, at which students sit the Irish leaving certificate examination and where staff are owed an estimated €200,000 from school management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25990/13]

Teachers' Remuneration

Seamus Kirk

93. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the positions of 17 teachers who are employed by the International School of Martyrs, Tripoli, Libya, a school at which students sit the Irish leaving certificate, and who are owed an estimated €200,000 from the school management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25989/13]

Broadband Service Provision

Seamus Kirk

154. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the plans he has for the type of broadband for the Tullyallen area, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26006/13]

School Staffing

Seamus Kirk

55. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of requests his Department has had from secondary schools for additional career guidance allocations; the number of such requests granted by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25507/13]

Summer Works Scheme

Seamus Kirk

105. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be a summer works scheme this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25490/13]

e-Government and ICT

Seamus Kirk

7. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role envisaged for the Public Service Chief Information Officer Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24659/13]

Skills Shortages

Seamus Kirk

32. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a shortage of appropriately skilled workers is causing vacancies to be remain unfilled in the informational technology sector; the way he believes this can be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24410/13]

Property Tax Exemptions

Seamus Kirk

65. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing a means test in respect of the local property tax demand for families dependant on single parent family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24767/13]

EU Directives

Seamus Kirk

75. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure deposits are protected in any revised Eurozone bank resolution mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23924/13]

Cross-Border Projects

Seamus Kirk

16. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals, if any, he has to have further discussions with Members of the Northern Ireland Executive or with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State in relation to the need to finalise the funding provision for construction of the Narrow Water Bridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23200/13]

Cross-Border Projects

Seamus Kirk

44. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or Members of the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the need to progress to construction stage the Narrow Water Bridge project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23199/13]

Public Transport Provision

Seamus Kirk

75. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the role Transport for Ireland has played in progressing the public transport service; the progress the body has made to date on real time information for public transport services; the costs of establishing this real time service; the further steps that will be taken by that body in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22983/13]

Suicide Prevention

Seamus Kirk

108. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health the measures he is putting in place to tackle suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22597/13]

Pensions Reform

Seamus Kirk

308. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, having regard to the proposed increase in retirement age for workers in the private sector, he will advise the regulation changes that are necessary to facilitate their continued employment until they reach the new retirement age threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22358/13]

Fodder Crisis

Seamus Kirk

547. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if in view of the fodder crisis and the fact that farmers are forced to graze land normally set aside for silage harvesting, he will examine the nitrates directive, to allow farmers to use additional fertiliser to boost silage volumes for the coming winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22726/13]

Children in Care

Seamus Kirk

10. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in residential general care who now have a written care plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21850/13]

Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale

Seamus Kirk

35. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the up-to date position in relation to the proposed sale of the forest crop of Coillte Teoranta; the studies that have been carried out to date in relation to this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21491/13]

Departmental Reports

Seamus Kirk

14. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Justice Quirke report on the operation of the Magdalen laundries redress fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20777/13]

RAPID Programme

Seamus Kirk

19. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of RAPID AITs that have full-time co-ordinators in view of the importance of this programme and the importance of their having full-time co-ordinators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20465/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Seamus Kirk

98. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made to date with the national broadband plan launched in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20222/13]

Retail Sector

Seamus Kirk

102. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has had any recent meetings with RGDATA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18669/13]

Proposed Legislation

Seamus Kirk

14. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the establishment of a register of lobbyists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17856/13]

Public Procurement Regulations

Seamus Kirk

28. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the efforts he has made to ensure that schools will continue to be able to purchase stationery supplies from small local businesses if they can offer similar or better value to that available from the national suppliers designated under new procurement guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17539/13]

Third Level Admissions Entry Requirements

Seamus Kirk

44. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for reform of the points system for third level entry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17540/13]

Child Care Services Provision

Seamus Kirk

116. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has had any discussions with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on exempting from commercial rates community child care services which operate on a not-for-profit basis. [17302/13]

Departmental Reports

Seamus Kirk

551. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on a report entitled Feasibility Study for Making Ireland a World Centre for Managing and Trading in Intellectual Property; when this report will be published; the main conclusions and actionable recommendations of said report; when these recommendations will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16514/13]

North-South Ministerial Council

Seamus Kirk

61. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions, if any, he has had at North-South Ministerial Council level in relation to the need to progress, without further delay, the Narrow Water bridge proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15572/13]

Proposed Legislation

Seamus Kirk

114. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance the timeframe for the publication and the enactment of the legislation promised to establish the investment arm of the National Treasury Management Agency on a statutory basis, including the shareholder executive and reorienting the National Pensions Reserve Fund into a strategic investment fund; if he will outline the progress he has made with the proposed legislation; the areas which will be targeted for investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15652/13]

Dairy Sector

Seamus Kirk

130. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in view of the milking cycle of farming, he has asked the EU to agree to abolish dairy quotas from 1 January 2013 rather than 1 April 2015, thus avoiding super levy charges for the year to April 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14652/13]

Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations

Seamus Kirk

133. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current position regarding the Common Agricultural Policy negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14644/13]

Credit Unions Restructuring

Seamus Kirk

18. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance when the restructuring of the credit union sector will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14032/13]

Cancer Screening Programme

Seamus Kirk

18. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health when BreastCheck will be extended to women over 65 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13860/13]

National Cancer Strategy Publication

Seamus Kirk

129. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if he has commenced work on a new national cancer strategy; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13843/13]

Defence Forces Operations

Seamus Kirk

11. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the Irish Defence Forces EUTM for Somalia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13263/13]

Leader Programmes Funding

Seamus Kirk

82. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of Leader projects of proposed grant level in excess of €150,000 awaiting approval in his Department broken down on a monthly basis of lodging with his Department; the reason for the delay in approving these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12700/13]

Local Government Reform

Seamus Kirk

84. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe for the implementation of Putting People First; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12682/13]

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Seamus Kirk

17. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will remove the cap on the number of resource and learning support teachers working with special needs students in order to ensure that the hours allocated to existing students are not cut each time a new student is allocated hours; if he will ensure that the expected increase of 10,000 additional students entering the primary school system in September 2013 does not lead to an across the board reduction in students teaching support hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11981/13]

Criminal Legal Aid

Seamus Kirk

6. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans, if any, for the reform of the free legal aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11672/13]

European Stability Programmes

Seamus Kirk

24. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance the implications for the budgetary process here following the agreement between the EU's Council of Ministers and the European Parliament in respect of the two pack regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10609/13]

Croke Park Agreement Issues

Seamus Kirk

49. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the latest date by which he expects the Croke Park talks to be concluded with the outcome approved by all sides; when implementation of the agreement will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10392/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Seamus Kirk

96. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the speed of broadband services available nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10080/13]

Broadcasting Legislation

Seamus Kirk

143. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will bring forward new broadcasting legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10089/13]

Child Benefit Eligibility

Seamus Kirk

345. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Social Protection if child benefit is paid in respect of children of asylum seekers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9959/13]

Grocery Industry Competition

Seamus Kirk

8. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the recent assessment of the Consumer Association of Ireland that there is not genuine competition in the supermarket sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9090/13]

Unemployment Levels

Seamus Kirk

43. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the next action plan on jobs will place a particular emphasis on targeting unemployment black spots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9102/13]

Nuclear Proliferation

Seamus Kirk

6. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the sanctions that will be imposed on North Korea following the latest nuclear weapons tests. [8920/13]

Languages Programme

Seamus Kirk

110. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements being contemplated to meet the language skills gap for recently announced enterprise projects for Dundalk, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9132/13]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Seamus Kirk

257. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be a sports capital programme for 2013; if so, when application forms will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9204/13]

Road Network

Seamus Kirk

260. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the funding arrangements for the Narrow Water Bridge project have been finalised and if he will outline the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9131/13]

Black Economy

Seamus Kirk

286. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance if he has noted the decision of the elected members of councils (details supplied) who have passed motions calling on the Government to focus on tackling the black market and illicit trade which is estimated to cost the taxpayer €861 million each year; the action he will take; if he has issued a response to the elected members in each of Councils in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8790/13]

Energy Conservation

Seamus Kirk

475. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline the details of the voluntary agreements between the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and nine energy suppliers, announced in March 2012 relating to energy saving targets for energy suppliers; his views on whether enough is being done by the energy suppliers to tackle energy reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8782/13]

Energy Conservation

Seamus Kirk

476. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline by individual energy supplier, the specific energy reduction targets achieved per quarter to date, under the energy saving targets for energy suppliers scheme; his views on whether the overall targets will be achieved by the end of the three year cycle in 2013; the penalties that will apply per energy supplier if the targets are not met based on current targets achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8783/13]

Energy Conservation

Seamus Kirk

477. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline by individual energy supplier, the specific energy reduction targets achieved solely in the residential sector per quarter to date under the energy saving targets for energy suppliers scheme; his views on whether the overall targets will be achieved by the end of the three year cycle in 2013; the penalties that will apply per energy supplier, based on current targets achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8784/13]

Energy Conservation

Seamus Kirk

478. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the ending of grants from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, if he has met with the energy suppliers, to discuss legally binding targets for energy reduction measures for the residential sector; his views on the progress from the energy suppliers in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8785/13]

Energy Conservation

Seamus Kirk

479. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the better energy programme, specifically with regard to formal targets on energy suppliers to reduce their customer's household emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8786/13]

Energy Conservation

Seamus Kirk

480. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline in tabular form the approved Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland measures for residential properties to help achieve Ireland’s carbon reduction targets; if he will include, in tabular form, the cost per kWh for energy suppliers to achieve his targets, using the following measures, solar panels, external wall insulation, internal wall insulation, heating control upgrade, roof insulation, cavity wall insulation, remote control heating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8787/13]

Energy Conservation

Seamus Kirk

481. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the date on which he proposes to introduce legislation that requires energy suppliers to offer homeowners energy saving products as part of European Union targets; if the legislation will contain penalties for failure to comply with this; what those penalties will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8788/13]

Graduate Nursing Scheme

Seamus Kirk

35. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if he will discontinue the graduate nurse recruitment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7507/13]

Hospitals Funding

Seamus Kirk

98. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health the reason funding for two Dublin children’s hospitals has been cut in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7492/13]

Youth Unemployment Measures

Seamus Kirk

12. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she is taking to support youth employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7334/13]

Departmental Staff Retirements

Seamus Kirk

96. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if applicants from the Department of Social Protection early retirement scheme will be considered under the next retirement package programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7708/13]

Hospital Staff

Seamus Kirk

234. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health in view of the increase in medical students-graduates, if the shortage of medical intern placement has been bought to his attention, which will have serious implications for medical graduates in the immediate years going forward; if he will have the matter examined to increasing the number of places available for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7709/13]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications

Seamus Kirk

144. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends increasing the number of places on the agri-environment option 3 scheme to cover all eligible applicants; when applicants will be notified as to whether they have been accepted into the scheme; when their contracts will commence and if farmers without land in designated areas will be accepted into the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6983/13]

Horse Racing Industry Funding

Seamus Kirk

167. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated by his Department in each of the last two years to each of the following, Horse Sport Ireland, Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon; the relative contribution of each of these sectors to the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6967/13]

Garda Stations Closures

Seamus Kirk

27. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total savings to the State of the 139 Garda stations closed since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6042/13]

Environmental Regulations

Seamus Kirk

181. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he has taken to clamp down on illegal environmental crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5574/13]

Environmental Issues

Seamus Kirk

577. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of rainfall that has fallen here on a county basis over the past 12 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5625/13]

Hospital Services

Seamus Kirk

839. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health when the redeveloped epilepsy monitoring unit at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, and the new epilepsy monitoring unit at Cork University Hospital, both completed last October but remain unopened, will be made functional; when he expects the personnel necessary for the units to be recruited; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are no functioning epilepsy monitoring units in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5624/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Seamus Kirk

38. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether society here is digitally complacent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4750/13]

Social Welfare Code

Seamus Kirk

141. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Social Protection the average social transfer in 2012 for the top 10% of income earners and the bottom 10% of income earners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4102/13]

Retail Sector

Seamus Kirk

268. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance if he has received notification of motions passed by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, Leitrim County Council, Longford County Council and Offaly County Council, supporting the findings in the recent Retail Ireland black market report which outlines proposals to tackle the activity of criminal gangs in the laundering of fuel, smuggling of cigarettes and sale of other counterfeit goods, which is estimated to cost the taxpayer €861 million each year, as set out in Retail Ireland report Tackling the Black Market and Retail Crime; his views on the concerns as expressed by the elected members of these local authorities; the action he proposes to take to address the illicit trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4233/13]

Retail Sector Issues

Seamus Kirk

8. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will consider establishing a retail strategy group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3326/13]

State Agencies

Seamus Kirk

8. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date on which he will publish an updated list of State agencies and organisations that will be rationalised or amalgamated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2813/13]

Farm Assist Scheme Appeals

Seamus Kirk

139. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application for farm assist was refused in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3168/13]

Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility

Seamus Kirk

140. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the farm assist programme; the persons who are eligible for this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3169/13]

Public Private Partnerships Expenditure

Seamus Kirk

241. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if he or the Health Service Executive are involved in, or have any plans for involvement in, talks with potential investors regarding a public private partnership arrangement for the building of a new regional hospital for the north east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3378/13]