Parliamentary questions

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

Patrick Nulty

443. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for rent supplement will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8871/13]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Bernard Durkan

446. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No 432 of the 5 of February 2013, if she will re-examine the case of an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8974/13]

Carer's Allowance Applications

John O'Mahony

448. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on their application for carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8980/13]

Pension Provisions

Willie O'Dea

449. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are alternative arrangements in place for those persons who can no longer avail of the transition pension; if she intends to implement an alternative scheme for those nearing retirement age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8983/13]

Planning Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

450. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he intends to continue considering a consent application made under a planning application that has been amended and altered and is, by the applicant's own admission, now subject to further planning approval. [9241/13]

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

451. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of all appointments made by him to all State agencies, commercial bodies and all other appointments made by him since taking office, including the State owned banks and the judiciary. [8113/13]

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

452. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the qualifications of all the appointees made by him to all State agencies, commercial bodies and all other appointments made by him since taking office including the State owned banks and judiciary for the appointments they have accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8131/13]

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

453. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of appointees and the percentage of appointments made by him to all State agencies, commercial bodies and all other appointments made by him since taking office including the State owned banks and the Judiciary that were subject to a public applications process. [8149/13]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme

Paul Connaughton

454. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if it is possible for a person who is in receipt of turf cutting compensation to bequeath that income to another person in the event of their death before the full term of compensation is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8185/13]

Shooting Rights

Patrick O'Donovan

455. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a club (details supplied) in County Mayo can obtain maps of the areas which are included in the shooting rights that it has leased for the past 32 years; if he will provide maps of the actual rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8216/13]

Departmental Bodies

Mary Lou McDonald

456. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 7 February 2013, if any of the board members of the four bodies under the aegis of his Department gift their annual fee back to the State. [8272/13]

Planning Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

457. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the fact that he has undertaken to preserve the national monument Moore St., Dublin, under preservation order No.1 of 2007, if he will explain the basis upon which he can consider an application that seeks his consent to retain only the monument's buildings, that is, 40% of its protected area; the basis upon which the application, in seeking Ministerial consent, can simply ignore the protection afforded to the national monument as a protected structure and a national monument, by redrawing its boundary to facilitate the demolition of protected structures and outbuildings directly linked to the 1916 Rising and build on, over and under it.. [8641/13]

Fisheries Protection

Brendan Griffin

458. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he plans to increase the number of wild salmon available for high value angling in lakes and rivers; and his views on whether netting in rivers is a problem in this regard. [8061/13]

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

459. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the details of all appointments made by him to all State agencies, commercial bodies and all other appointments made by him since taking office, including the State owned banks and the judiciary. [8115/13]

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

460. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the details of the qualifications of all the appointees made by him to all State agencies, commercial bodies and all other appointments made by him since taking office including the State owned banks and judiciary for the appointments they have accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8133/13]

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

461. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of appointees and the percentage of appointments made by him to all State agencies, commercial bodies and all other appointments made by him since taking office including the State owned banks and the Judiciary that were subject to a public applications process. [8151/13]

Electricity Generation

Michelle Mulherin

462. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the British Government for the support of electricity generated by wind energy from the State, the plans in place to attract wind turbine manufacturing companies to Ireland to set up new operations; the progress that has been made regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8214/13]

Exploration Licences Approvals

Finian McGrath

463. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the moneys that have been received to date for each year since 2010, 2011, 2012 from each of the companies that took up an onshore licensing option, with reference to applications made under sections 10 and 11 of the Onshore Petroleum Licensing Notice over the northwest carboniferous basin and the Clare basin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8298/13]

Exploration Licences Approvals

Finian McGrath

464. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an itemised breakdown of payments received from each company for their onshore licensing option; including, dates and amounts of application fees paid for each onshore licensing option; if he will provide further the annual rental fees paid for the areas covered by each onshore licensing option, including a statement and map reference for the designated areas in square kilometres for each option. [8299/13]

Exploration Licences Approvals

Finian McGrath

465. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an itemised breakdown of payments for each company for their petroleum prospecting licence, if any granted, in respect of each onshore licensing option, including dates and amounts of application fees paid for each petroleum prospecting licence required by the conditions of the onshore licensing options and dates and amounts of annual rental fees paid for each petroleum prospecting licence. [8300/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

466. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will report on the Irish fibre-to-the-building broadband sector; his views on whether there is sufficient choice available for Irish broadband users in the MDU sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8319/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

467. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Eircom have plans to upgrade an exchange located in Cloghan, County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8344/13]

Telecommunications Services Provision

Jack Wall

468. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a submission regarding telephone rental (details supplied); the actions planned as a result of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8509/13]

Radio Spectrum Management

Michael Moynihan

469. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of moneys raised by last November's multi-band spectrum auction that have been paid into the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8512/13]

Renewable Energy Generation Issues

Catherine Murphy

470. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures which will be promoted during the Irish Presidency of the European Union to encourage positive discrimination towards renewable energy as the favoured means of energy production with the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8590/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Michael Moynihan

471. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the cut of €7 billion from the €9.2 billion earmarked by the EU to meet the digital agenda goals of 100Mbps for half of Europe will have any impact on the Government's national broadband plan, especially in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8632/13]

Exploration Licences Approvals

Michael McNamara

472. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the Environmental Protection Agency's final report on fracking will be published; if he will entertain applications for exploratory licences in advance of the report's publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8643/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Michael Moynihan

473. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, with regard to the delivery of the national broadband plan, his Department has completed its engagement with the commercial service providers to identify those parts of the country which the commercial market will serve; if not, when he expects such engagement to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8715/13]

Energy Prices

Michael Creed

474. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to a request by Bord Gáis Networks to the Commission for Energy Regulation for an increase in tariffs; his plans to resist such a proposal bearing in mind the fragile nature of the domestic and non-domestic market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8731/13]

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]

Telecommunications Services Provision

Terence Flanagan

482. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on correspondence regarding fixed line charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8798/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Sean Fleming

483. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when internet and high speed broadband will be available in all areas in County Laois; the minimum quality of service that will apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8826/13]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Michelle Mulherin

484. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the restrictions that exist in locating wind turbines in areas or habitats in which red grouse live; the scientific basis for the restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8049/13]

Library Projects

Robert Troy

485. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will sanction the application for funding by Longford County Council in respect of a new library for Granard, County Longford. [8051/13]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Robert Troy

486. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a new tenant purchase scheme will be introduced to enable local authority tenants purchase their homes and to ensure that any new scheme will not actively discriminate against persons on social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8054/13]

Water Charges Administration

Robert Troy

487. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he intends to deal with the water metering of multiple units in a block; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8059/13]

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

488. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of all appointments made by him to all State agencies, commercial bodies and all other appointments made by him since taking office, including the State owned banks and the judiciary. [8118/13]

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

489. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of the qualifications of all the appointees made by him to all State agencies, commercial bodies and all other appointments made by him since taking office including the State owned banks and judiciary for the appointments they have accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8136/13]

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

490. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of appointees and the percentage of appointments made by him to all State agencies, commercial bodies and all other appointments made by him since taking office including the State owned banks and the Judiciary that were subject to a public applications process. [8154/13]

Capital Assistance Scheme Funding

Jim Daly

491. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is any funding available from his Department to assist a community group (details supplied) with the construction of a settlement of eight housing units for elderly persons to live independently. [8173/13]

Rental Accommodation Scheme Criteria

Sandra McLellan

492. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will have inspectors, independent of local authorities, inspect local authority houses to investigate the number that are up to the 2008 housing regulations and that a grant be made available to upgrade all stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8176/13]

Septic Tank Grants

Paul Connaughton

493. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if schools who have registered their septic tank or waste water treatment plant will receive a grant if their system requires an upgrade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8186/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure

Robert Troy

494. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will be giving county councils any money this year to purchase homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8200/13]

Water Charges Administration

Jerry Buttimer

495. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures he has taken to ensure that the application of water charges to those living in apartment blocks reflects their usage of water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8221/13]