Parliamentary questions

Public Service Contracts

Éamon Ó Cuív

360. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there is only one approved supplier of cattle tags where there are 13 approved suppliers of sheep tags; his views that a multiplicity of approved suppliers would ensure competition in the marketplace for price and quality service; if the next time this contract comes up for tender it is intended to do it on an approved supplier basis; when the contract is due to be retendered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28259/14]

Rural Development Programme Projects

Mattie McGrath

361. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposed entry criteria for upland farmers in relation to the GLAS scheme in the rural development programme; the justification for same and his response to those farmers who recently protested against the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28306/14]

Rural Development Programme Projects

Gabrielle McFadden

362. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the details of the GLAS scheme; and when it will be rolled out. [28448/14]

Departmental Correspondence

John McGuinness

363. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will issue a comprehensive response to each of the issues raised by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 14 in correspondence to him dated 22 October 2012; if he will make the full file on this case available for examination; if he will appoint a senior official to engage directly with the person with a view to bringing closure to the matter. [28469/14]

Departmental Correspondence

John McGuinness

364. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and a senior official in his Department will meet persons (details supplied) in County Donegal in an effort to resolve the issues raised by the persons; his views on each of the issues raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28470/14]

Live Exports

Seamus Kirk

365. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiative he is taking with his counterpart in Northern Ireland to develop the live export of cattle in Northern Ireland and the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28483/14]

Veterinary Regimes Harmonisation

Seamus Kirk

366. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that is being made on the harmonisation of the veterinary regimes on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28484/14]

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Martin Ferris

367. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to draw down payment under the common agricultural policy on these two areas, farmland afforested prior to 2009; and farmland afforested in 2009 or after. [28497/14]

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Martin Ferris

368. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmland afforested prior to 2009 is not eligible for consideration as part of the calculation of a farmer's direct payments and his-her basic payment in particular; the other sources of European Union funding available with regard to this afforested land. [28498/14]

Direct Provision Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

369. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of child protection teams in direct provision centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28293/14]

Community Alert Programme

Jim Daly

370. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if additional funding has been awarded to neighbourhood watch and community alert groups in recent times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28310/14]

Legislative Process

Brendan Griffin

371. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the children and family relationships Bill will be enacted in full by the end of 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28322/14]

Marriage Equality Referendum

Brendan Griffin

372. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a date will be set for the referendum on marriage equality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28323/14]

Equality Issues

Brendan Griffin

373. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if section 37.1 of the Employment Equality Act will be deleted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28324/14]

Garda Station Refurbishment

John McGuinness

374. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans regarding the ongoing maintenance of the Garda station at Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny; if the property is to be sold; if any community organisation has expressed an interest in the property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28468/14]

Drugs Seizures

Clare Daly

375. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which cannabis seized by the Garda and customs officers is dealt with; if there is a protocol in place for the disposal of confiscated cannabis; if she will outline this procedure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27859/14]

Anti-Social Behaviour

Finian McGrath

376. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action apartment residents can take against noisy and disruptive neighbours. [27863/14]

Garda Investigations

Anne Ferris

377. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the most appropriate method of satisfying the public interest requirement for an investigation into the case of a person (details supplied) who died in tragic circumstances during February 2002 in Clara, County Offaly in view of the decision by GSOC, due to legislative constraints, not to proceed with an investigation into a complaint relating to this case and in view of the existence of independent pathologist reports obtained privately by the person's family that contradict certain findings of a report by a former State Pathologist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27874/14]

Garda Investigations

Anne Ferris

378. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will release to the family of a person (details supplied) a full unredacted copy of letter referenced P.S. 343/03; if for some reason this is not considered possible, the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27875/14]

Garda Investigations

Anne Ferris

379. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will release to the family of a person (details supplied) the full report of State Pathologist into their review of the post mortem findings of her predecessor and the independent opinions of two other pathologists engaged privately by the person's family, carried out by the State Pathologist as part of a second Garda investigation into the case commenced in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27876/14]

Departmental Investigations

Clare Daly

380. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will meet with the family of Fr. Niall Molloy in advance of the publication of the McGinn report, in view of the serious reservations that have been expressed by the family in relation to the terms of reference which have not been heard. [27880/14]

Prisoner Transfers

Clare Daly

381. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the conditions and criteria for transferring a prisoner from a closed prison to an open facility. [27890/14]

Garda Career Breaks

Clare Daly

382. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason applications for incentivised career breaks in An Garda Síochána as per the Haddington Road agreement are being refused to applicants who meet the criteria. [27892/14]

Naturalisation Applications

Seán Crowe

383. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of outstanding cases there are; the number of persons that have paid the certification fee for naturalisation but have not received their citizenship; and the average waiting time for citizenship once the certification fee has been paid. [27910/14]

Firearms Licences

Colm Keaveney

384. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gun licence applications processed by An Garda Síochána in the Tuam district of the Galway division in each year from 2011 to 2013 inclusive; the number granted, refused or withdrawn in each year; the most common reason for refusal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27919/14]

Road Traffic Offences

Thomas P. Broughan

385. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of offenders’ driving licences from which details were recorded by the Courts Service in cases involving road traffic offences and sent to the NVDF in the years 2013 and to date in 2014; and the number of times the Courts Service recorded incidents of offenders not producing their driver licences in court in those years. [27944/14]

Magdalen Laundries

Dara Murphy

386. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when payment will be made from the Magdalen laundries compensation fund in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27948/14]

Crime Data

Shane Ross

387. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of burglaries in the Stepaside, County Dublin area since the closure of the Garda station; the number of prosecutions following these burglaries; and the number of convictions. [27949/14]

Prisoner Numbers

Thomas P. Broughan

388. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of children aged under 18 years of age who are on remand and are currently detained in St. Patrick’s Institution. [27961/14]

Visa Applications

Charlie McConalogue

389. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an appeal for a visa to remain here in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27970/14]

Garda Recruitment

Alan Farrell

390. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the plans being put in place for further recruitment to An Garda Síochána in the coming years, in view of the fact that current recruitment levels will not be sufficient to keep pace with the numbers leaving the force; the projected number of recruits needed to maintain a force of more than 13,000 officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27983/14]

Crime Prevention

Alan Farrell

391. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action being taken, or that will be taken, to roll out a text alert system in local communities in north Dublin to provide an increased sense of safety to those who feel vulnerable in their own homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27984/14]

Garda Transport Provision

Alan Farrell

392. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the preparations that will be put in place to replenish the fleet of vehicles of An Garda Síochána as the fleet ages and vehicles reach their 300,000 km threshold; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27985/14]

Garda Transport Provision

Alan Farrell

393. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and projected cost of maintaining the fleet of vehicles used by An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27986/14]

Garda Districts

Alan Farrell

394. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 696 of 27 May 2014, the number of Garda personnel, Garda vehicles and Garda reserves for the DMR north district and sub-districts from 2008, broken down by station and year in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27987/14]

Mutual Legal Assistance

Alan Farrell

395. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of requests for mutual legal assistance made by the State to, and from, other EU member states and non-EU member states; if she will push for the development of an electronic system through which requests can be made at EU Council level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27988/14]

Visa Applications

Finian McGrath

396. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an immigration application in respect of a family (details supplied) in Dublin 3. [28003/14]

Road Traffic Legislation

Finian McGrath

397. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding cyclists cycling on footpaths (details supplied) in Dublin. [28004/14]

Legal Services Regulation

Sandra McLellan

398. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the recourse a client has when a solicitor fails to act on his or her behalf (details supplied); if the Law Society of Ireland can be held accountable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28028/14]

Subsidiary Protection Applications

Bernard Durkan

399. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an application for subsidiary protection in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28030/14]

Road Safety

Billy Timmins

400. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a Go Safe mobile speed and safety camera on the N11 outside a garden centre which was operating in an area not listed as a safety zone (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28036/14]

UN Conventions Ratification

Finian McGrath

401. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if progress has been made regarding the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; the timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28043/14]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Derek Nolan

402. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will change the period for Garda clearance from one to two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28058/14]

Garda Oversight

Michael McCarthy

403. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the process by which civilians will be recruited to the new independent Garda authority; if she will provide a provisional timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28104/14]

Asylum Applications

Michael McCarthy

404. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [28105/14]

Asylum Applications

Róisín Shortall

405. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the target processing times for applications for asylum; the number of staff tasked with processing applications and the performance against those target processing times. [28107/14]

Direct Provision Data

Róisín Shortall

406. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a breakdown of the number of persons since 2000 who have been and are currently in direct provision centres; the number of applications for asylum processed each year to date; and if she will provide a breakdown, by number of years, of the time spent by residents in direct provision centres before their applications are processed. [28108/14]

Asylum Applications

Róisín Shortall

407. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the plan in place to expedite the processing of applications for asylum in view of the clear negative impact of long-term stays on residents in direct provision centres. [28110/14]

Direct Provision Data

Róisín Shortall

408. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the serious child protection concerns which have arisen in direct provision centres; and the steps that are being taken to address these concerns. [28113/14]

Direct Provision Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

409. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total cost of the direct provision service nationally; and the annual cost of contracts with private providers in accommodating residents, broken down per adult and child. [28114/14]

Direct Provision System

Róisín Shortall

410. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the plans in place to improve access to higher education and training for young persons in direct provision centres. [28115/14]

Direct Provision System

Róisín Shortall

411. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action that has been taken to address the increasing numbers of residents in the direct provision system who are presenting with mental health issues due to stress. [28116/14]

Departmental Consultations

Kevin Humphreys

412. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason no elected members of local government were invited to the consultation seminar on justice reform recently held in Farmleigh; if her attention has been drawn to the important role councillors play in justice matters through the joint policing committee system; and if her attention has been drawn to the role of local government in other countries in local justice systems; if she will ensure local authority members are consulted for their views; if she will provide a list of those who were invited to the seminar; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28135/14]

Visa Numbers

Micheál Martin

413. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form the number of Irish visas applied for by Chinese nationals in 2013 through the Beijing visa office and the Shanghai consulate and all other offices in 2013; the number of refusals arising from these applications; the reason for these refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28145/14]

Visa Applications

Micheál Martin

414. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the policy and procedure in place when considering applications for visas by Chinese nationals; if she will outline those policies and procedures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28146/14]

Visa Applications

Micheál Martin

415. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to any complaints made against Irish officials in their handling of applications from Chinese officials; the quality checks made on officials dealing with these applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28147/14]

Visa Applications

Micheál Martin

416. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that the procedures by which Chinese nationals apply for visas are as user-friendly as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28148/14]

Garda Deployment

Seán Kenny

417. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will request the acting Garda Commissioner to ensure additional Garda personnel are deployed to an area (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28149/14]

Garda Transport Provision

Seán Kenny

418. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide the necessary funding to provide additional marked cars for the Garda armed support unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28150/14]

Garda Recruitment

Gerald Nash

419. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current position in the recent Garda recruitment drive; if a panel has been formed from which candidates will be drawn for consideration to be Garda recruits; the number of gardaí that will be recruited; when the first batch will be in training in Templemore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28153/14]

Asylum Applications

Denis Naughten

420. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of asylum applicants awaiting a decision at first instance and on appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28177/14]

Garda Investigations

Denis Naughten

421. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda investigations into alleged human trafficking in 2013 and to date in 2014; the number of alleged victims; the number who are children; the number of these investigations that have been completed; the number of alleged victims who have been granted a recovery and reflection period since its introduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28178/14]

Direct Provision Data

Denis Naughten

422. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in the direct provision system for less than six months; between six and 12 months; in excess of one, two, three, four, five, six and seven years, respectively; the corresponding figures for children; the specific steps being taken to address the delays in processing immigration applications involving persons in direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28179/14]

Sex Offenders Notification Requirements

Denis Naughten

423. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons currently supervised in the community under a post-release supervision order under Part 5 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001; the number of persons currently in breach of conditions under this part of the Act; if he will provide a regional breakdown of these figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28180/14]

Sex Offenders Notification Requirements

Denis Naughten

424. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who must currently comply with Garda registration under Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001; the number of persons currently in breach of conditions under this part of the Act; the corresponding figures for 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28181/14]

Sex Offenders Notification Requirements

Denis Naughten

425. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who breached conditions under Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001; the number of recorded incidents, prosecutions and convictions that have taken place in 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28182/14]

Sex Offenders Notification Requirements

Denis Naughten

426. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of sex offenders who entered the State from abroad in each of the past five years and notified the Garda under the Sex Offenders Act 2001 within the specified seven days; the number who breached this notification procedure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28183/14]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Micheál Martin

427. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she and her Department have been made aware that phone calls and e-mails of the lead researcher in the Boston College project have been intercepted and the person's recent conversations and e-mails with the United States Government have been monitored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28229/14]

Garda Investigations

Denis Naughten

428. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she is taking to address the backlog of cases that are with the computer crime investigation unit; the number of cases currently with the unit and the longest period of time that a case is with this unit awaiting the recovery of evidence; the present delay in recovering evidence from equipment submitted since October 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28231/14]

Crime Data

Colm Keaveney

429. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form details of the recorded and detected rates for each of the following offences, for each year from 2009 to 2013, inclusive, for the Tuam district of the Galway division of An Garda Síochána, homicide offences, sexual offences, attempts or threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences, dangerous or negligent acts, kidnapping and related offences, robbery, extortion and hijacking offences, burglary and related offences, theft and related offences, fraud, deception and related offences, controlled drug offences, weapons and explosives offences, damage to property and to the environment, public order and other social code offences, road and traffic offences, offences against Government, justice procedures and organisation of crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28278/14]

Direct Provision Data

Thomas Pringle

430. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in direct provision who are currently awaiting decisions on either subsidiary protection or leave to remain; the way she proposes to address this backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28317/14]

Upward Only Rent Reviews

Dominic Hannigan

431. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to review the possibility of introducing legalisation to tackle the issue of upward only rent reviews; if she is not able to do this, will she look at the possibility of holding a referendum to tackle such reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28428/14]

Legislative Process

Mary Lou McDonald

432. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the forthcoming redress for women who were in certain institutions Bill will fully comply with Mr. Justice Quirke's recommendation that each woman who spent time in a Magdalen laundry should receive health services directly equivalent to those provided under the HAA card for persons infected with hepatitis C. [28449/14]

Legislative Process

Mary Lou McDonald

433. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the forthcoming redress for women who were in certain institutions Bill, the scheme of which was agreed on 24 June 2014, will provide that the State will pay for health insurance for applicants to the restorative justice scheme who are survivors of the Magdalen laundries who are living outside of the State; if not, the reason; if so, when those applicants will be informed of the relevant process, and the date on which it is anticipated that it will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28450/14]

Magdalen Laundries

Mary Lou McDonald

434. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when she will establish in her Department a permanent unit dedicated to administer the supports to Magdalen laundries' survivors as specified in the Quirke report; and the way she plans to ensure the Department provides easily accessible support and advice to applicants, as recommended by Mr. Justice Quirke. [28451/14]

Residency Permits

John McGuinness

435. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application to remain in the State in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [28456/14]

Direct Provision Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

436. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the supports that will be made available to the 1,791 children currently in direct provision in view of the Children First Bill 2014 being implemented in the foreseeable future; if she will ensure that the current health and welfare concerns in direct provision do not escalate to the level experienced in previous institutions such as the mother and baby homes or Magdalen laundries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27895/14]

Drugs Payment Scheme Threshold

Michael Healy-Rae

437. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to reduce the ceiling of the drug scheme refund level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28163/14]

Health Insurance Levy

Michael Healy-Rae

438. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to reverse the exorbitant levy on private health insurers for use of private beds in public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28165/14]

General Register Office

Robert Troy

439. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the rationale for downgrading the Mullingar office for the registration of births, deaths and marriages from a full-time office to a part-time one; if he will consider reversing this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28316/14]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Michael Healy-Rae

440. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will extend BreastCheck, the national free breast screening programme, to women aged between 65 and 69 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28657/14]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Róisín Shortall

441. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plan to extend BreastCheck screening to women aged between 65 and 69, as outlined in the 2011 programme for Government. [28680/14]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Anthony Lawlor

442. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health when the BreastCheck free screening service for women aged between 65 and 69 years will be rolled out; if he will confirm whether the extension to this age group will be included in the Health Service Executive's national services plan for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28683/14]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Terence Flanagan

443. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the age for free mammograms through the BreastCheck screening programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28561/14]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Noel Harrington

444. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Health when he will extend the BreastCheck scheme to women aged between 65 and 69 years in line with the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28588/14]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Thomas Pringle

445. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will provide for the extension of BreastCheck to women aged between 65 and 69, as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28604/14]

Recycling Policy

David Stanton

446. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health his policy regarding the recycling and re-use of aids and equipment such as specialised beds, crutches, walking aids, stair lifts and so on; the recovery for 2011, 2012 and 2013, of such equipment for which use is no longer required by the patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27825/14]

Blood Transfusion Service

Billy Kelleher

447. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason there has been no progress on the development of a new blood transfusion centre in Cork, despite the fact that the then Government made an allocation of €17 million in December 2008; to date the money earmarked has remained unused and endless discussions between the parties concerned appear inconclusive; the reason delivery on this project has not occurred; the reason for the delay; if he will provide a current status report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27826/14]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Dan Neville

448. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the fair deal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if same be put in place as soon as possible. [27833/14]

Respite Care Services

Seamus Kirk

449. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health the number of respite beds here; if he will provide a breakdown by county of the different type of respite-bed and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27835/14]

Medicinal Products Availability

Billy Kelleher

450. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when persons here who suffer from spasticity symptoms associated with MS will be able to access cannabis-based medicinal products to improve their quality of life; when will the draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations to amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988 be approved by Government; and when will the draft regulations be notified to the European Commission, if required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27836/14]

Misuse of Drugs

Billy Kelleher

451. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the long delay in publishing draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations, which will amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988, is due to legal action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27837/14]

Misuse of Drugs

Billy Kelleher

452. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if perceived cost implications have delayed the finalisation and publication of draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations, which will amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27838/14]

Misuse of Drugs

Billy Kelleher

453. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason he intends to notify the European Commission of the draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations when other EU members enacted similar amending regulations without notifying the EC, as it believed such regulations were exempt under the technical standards directive and-or the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, as amended by 1972 protocol; if he will stipulate the provisions of the technical standards directive and-or the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961 that requires Ireland to submit the draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations to the EC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27839/14]

Misuse of Drugs

Billy Kelleher

454. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the written submissions that his Department received in response to his Department’s consultation on draft misuse of drugs (amendment) regulations, amending the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988, which was announced in August 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27840/14]

Medical Card Applications

Colm Keaveney

455. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a family (details supplied) in County Galway may expect to receive a decision on a medical card application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27854/14]

Health Services

Jerry Buttimer

456. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health regarding the ophthalmic referral system in County Cork, where public health nurses refer school children in need of glasses, which has a waiting list, the measures being taken to reduce the delays in referrals and the resources being allocated to ensure that children receive the necessary eye care that they require; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27877/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

457. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if, in the interest of fairness, persons on long-term dialysis, some of whom are experiencing extreme financial difficulty, will be added to the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27885/14]

Hospital Services

Pearse Doherty

458. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reasons the Down's syndrome clinic in Letterkenny General Hospital has been cancelled since 1 May 2014; if there are plans to reinstate this service and the timeframe for doing so; the number of patients who were registered at this clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27886/14]

Health Services

Pearse Doherty

459. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reasons a child (details supplied) in County Donegal is still awaiting an appointment since being referred in August 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27887/14]