Parliamentary questions

Hospital Consultant Recruitment

Thomas P. Broughan

481. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if a full-time bone marrow transplant consultant will be appointed to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9. [4898/15]

Mental Health Services Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

482. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of mental health posts that were approved in 2013 and still remain unfilled. [4899/15]

Patient Transport Provision

John McGuinness

483. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if transport to and from hospitals in Dublin will be provided or paid for by his Department or the Health Service Executive in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4925/15]

Nursing Home Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

484. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding St. Joseph's Hospital, Ardee, County Louth; the outcome of the proposed spend of the budget of €750,000; in view of the planning application of 23 December by the Health Service Executive lodged to Louth County Council, if the plan has the Health Information and Quality Authority guaranteed approval; the actual budget provided; if there is any truth in reports that agreements have been made between the HSE and HIQA to postpone 2015 standards, in public facilities, for a period of three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4928/15]

Health Services Data

Pádraig MacLochlainn

485. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Donegal with high medical needs, that is, complex disabilities, life limiting diseases and terminal illnesses. [4930/15]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Denis Naughten

486. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the introduction of BreastCheck for women aged 65 to 69; when the first cohort of women aged 65 will be called; when the first cohort of women aged 66 will be called; when the first cohort of women aged 67 will be called; when the first cohort of women aged 68 will be called; when the first cohort of women aged 69 will be called; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4940/15]

Health Services Data

Seán Kyne

487. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with heart failure here; the estimated cost of treating the condition on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4945/15]

Residential Institutions

Seán Kyne

488. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the way he will address the disturbing revelations of the unacceptable and poor standards of care at certain parts of Áras Attracta, County Mayo. [4947/15]

Residential Institutions

Seán Kyne

489. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the measures that are in place to ensure the highest standards of care at residential facilities for persons with a disability; and the method and frequency of inspections to ensure continued observations of such standards. [4948/15]

HSE Complaints Procedures

Brendan Griffin

490. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the levels of accountability in the Health Service Executive nationally when members of the public write to express concern or complain about a subject; if each letter or e-mail is responded to; if all such items of correspondence are logged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4953/15]

Hospital Appointments Status

John McGuinness

491. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an immediate appointment will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [4960/15]

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Seán Fleming

492. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive urgently needed hearing aids; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4990/15]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

Seán Fleming

493. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all bonus payments to chief executives of commercial semi-State agencies paid in each year from 2011 to 2014 under the remit of his Department; if bonuses were withheld by commercial semi-State companies during the period; the reasons for withholding of bonuses; the current policy regarding the payment of bonuses in the commercial semi-State sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5202/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Patrick O'Donovan

494. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, for the years 2007 to 2010 the total photography costs in his Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and a breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4494/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Patrick O'Donovan

495. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, for the years 1997 to 2007 the total photography costs in his Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and a breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4510/15]

National Flag

Seán Crowe

496. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the flag over his Department's building was flown at half mast on 23 January 2015 to mark the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia; and if his Department requested that other Department buildings do the same. [4518/15]

Public Relations Contracts Data

Patrick O'Donovan

497. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of all external public relations firms hired by his Department and associated costs incurred from 2007 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4544/15]

International Relations

Seán Kenny

498. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to invite his Spanish counterpart to Dublin to discuss strengthening ties between the two countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4558/15]

National Flag

Ruth Coppinger

499. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he approved the lowering of the national flag over his Department's building on St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, on 23 January 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4569/15]

Military Aircraft Landings

Clare Daly

500. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 618 of 27 January 2015, if he is responsible for authorising the transiting of foreign military personnel through Irish territory on civil aircraft, and, if so, under what legislation. [4844/15]

Passport Services

John McGuinness

501. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the arrangements his Department has in place to identify Irish citizens living in Taiwan should the circumstances arise; the arrangements in place for the same citizens to renew their Irish passports or to obtain Irish passports for their children within Taiwan; the contact details for officials within Taiwan dealing with these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4918/15]

Qualifications Recognition

Maureen O'Sullivan

502. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if prior recognition is accepted by Bord Fáilte for chefs with apprenticeships combined with continual service and references, in place of certificates in hotel operations or certificates through culinary institutions or through FETAC qualifications for chefs who served apprenticeships before certification was available or widely in use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4424/15]

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Expenditure

Michael McGrath

503. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the reinstatement of the training allowance paid to persons in SOLAS-funded training programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4436/15]

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Provision

John McGuinness

504. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to continue the overseas graduate programme which was operated by FÁS; if any analysis of the programme was undertaken; if so, if the outcomes were published; if graduates who availed of the scheme have been contacted to assess their view of value to them of the scheme; the reason it was discontinued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4951/15]

Education and Training Boards

Charlie McConalogue

505. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the situation facing education and training boards, following the 2014 local elections, who have not reconstituted their school boards of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4381/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Seán Fleming

506. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when funding will be provided for a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4401/15]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Seán Fleming

507. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person in receipt of the back to education allowance will qualify for a Student Universal Support Ireland grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4405/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Bernard Durkan

508. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to replace the 30-year temporary accommodation for a special national school (details supplied) in County Dublin with a new building; if she will confirm its new location in addition to when the building works will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4448/15]

Primary Online Database

Stephen Donnelly

509. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department plans to defund the education of any children whose parents object to their information going on the primary online database, POD; if so, the statutory basis for that action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4471/15]

Data Protection

Stephen Donnelly

510. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the primary online database and the Data Protection Commissioner, following her statement that the Data Protection Commissioner had approved retaining children's data until they were at least 30 years, and following the Data Protection Commissioner’s statement that it seems to be the case that there is an inadequate explanation of the reasons it needs this data or needs to hold it for as long as it is being held; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4472/15]

Data Protection

Stephen Donnelly

511. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the Data Protection Commissioner's statement on the primary online database that there is an inadequate explanation as to why it needs it and why it needs to hold it for as long as it is holding it, if she or her Department alerted schools that compliance with the POD database plan may be a breach of their duties as data controllers under the Data Protection Acts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4473/15]

Primary Online Database

Stephen Donnelly

512. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount that has been spent on the primary online database project since its inception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4474/15]

Primary Online Database

Stephen Donnelly

513. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department hired or engaged any external expertise to advise on data protection or data governance in relation to the primary online database; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4475/15]

Primary Online Database

Stephen Donnelly

514. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff in her Department who have been designated with administrator rights in the primary online database; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4476/15]

Primary Online Database

Stephen Donnelly

515. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the primary online database plan will allow for data to be automatically synchronised with commercial databases used by schools; the details or control that her Department holds relating to the encryption, storage and access rights over data in those commercial databases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4477/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Patrick O'Donovan

516. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, for the years 2007 to 2010 the total photography costs in her Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4491/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Patrick O'Donovan

517. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide. in tabular form. for the years 1997 to 2007 the total photography costs in her Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4507/15]

Public Relations Contracts Data

Patrick O'Donovan

518. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, a list of all external public relations firms hired by her Department and associated costs incurred from 2007 to 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4541/15]

School Funding

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

519. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide additional funding in respect of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 20 to allow it to carry out a dyslexia assessment on one of their students. [4554/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Seán Fleming

520. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a unit will be approved in a school (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4559/15]

Teachers' Remuneration

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

521. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to address the anomaly which has deprived 30 or so teachers of just over €3,000 annually since the teaching qualification allowances were discontinued in 2012 (details supplied). [4584/15]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Dominic Hannigan

522. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding her Department has spent on new school building projects in County Meath since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4597/15]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Dominic Hannigan

523. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding her Department has spent on additional accommodation in County Meath since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4598/15]

School Accommodation Provision

Dominic Hannigan

524. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding her Department has spent on emergency works in County Meath since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4599/15]

School Accommodation Provision

Dominic Hannigan

525. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding her Department has spent on prefab replacement in County Meath since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4600/15]

Teaching Qualifications

Charlie McConalogue

526. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a degree course will be recognised by the Teaching Council of Ireland for the purpose of teaching at second level (details supplied). [4617/15]

School Placement

Jonathan O'Brien

527. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 21 January 2015, the manner in which this issue is being examined; the persons responsible for examining it; and if she has set a date for receiving a report on the matter. [4719/15]

Departmental Agencies Staff Data

Dara Calleary

528. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form the details of agency staff costs incurred by her Department or its aegis in 2012, 2013 and 2014, including the breakdown of the staff roles involved and the area within her Department's aegis where they are contracted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4743/15]

Clare Daly

529. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a recent form issued by her Department to be completed by primary school students seeking information on their ethnic background contains the terms white Irish and black background when these terms do not identify ethnicity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4748/15]

State Examinations

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

530. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will be provided with access to a scribe for the leaving certificate examination in view of the fact they have a condition called dysgraphia. [4768/15]