Parliamentary questions

Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure

Bernard Durkan

142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress caused to applicants for local authority housing who are forced to rely on rent support in respect of private housing and are subject to a maximum rent which is applicable throughout County Kildare notwithstanding the market variations for such rent and in view of the fact that in certain parts of the county rent levels vary dramatically arising from the demand; if she accepts the existence of such variations and the need to adjust the levels of rent support in accordance with the actual market situations wherein some cases rent levels are higher than in many parts of Dublin city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49859/12]

Employment Support Services

Martin Ferris

143. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will develop a clear strategy to increase awareness of the employment supports available to persons with disabilities; and her plans for further steps regarding same. [49850/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Issues

Sandra McLellan

144. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the findings of the FLAC report, Not Fair Enough, making the case for reform of the social welfare appeals system; if she has discussed the findings with the social welfare appeals office; her response to the findings and the steps she will take on foot of the report. [49841/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

145. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason she does not introduce rent controls and legal penalties on landlords who discriminate against tenants in receipt of rent allowance in view of (details supplied); if she will achieve her stated aim of reducing rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49918/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Jonathan O'Brien

146. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will direct that deciding officers that are considering turning down an application for social welfare should make a telephone call to the applicant before finalising their decision during which basic things such as the absence of documentation or misunderstandings would come to light and these could be rectified in advance of the decision with a view to reducing the number of cases that go forward to the costly and time consuming appeals process. [49853/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Dessie Ellis

147. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will direct that all unsuccessful applicants for social welfare payments be given their complete file, including comments of deciding officers automatically, to aid in their appeals, thereby avoiding the expense and inconvenience of having to go through the freedom of information procedure. [49854/12]

Disability Allowance Applications

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

148. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider making a liaison or support person available to those who need assistance making applications and appeals with respect to disability-related payments as recommended by Inclusion Ireland. [49845/12]

Child Care Services Provision

Mick Wallace

149. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made to date on the development of her plan for a Scandinavian style child care system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49915/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

150. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason she does not introduce rent controls and legal penalties on landlords who discriminate against tenants in receipt of rent allowance in view of (details supplied); if she will achieve her stated aim of reducing rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49919/12]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Gerry Adams

151. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will commence a review of income supports for family carers as recommended by the Carer's Association. [49833/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Martin Ferris

152. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to shorten the time period that it takes to implement decisions of appeals officers. [49851/12]

Departmental Functions

Kevin Humphreys

153. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the delays being experienced within her Department due to the failure to transfer files for appeals quickly when decisions in the negative for entitlements to payments are appealed by a citizen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49989/12]

Departmental Schemes

Kevin Humphreys

154. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing delays of over six months in the processing of disability, invalidity and carer's allowance applications and the difficulties it is causing for members of the public who have to live with the uncertainty of the status of their entitlements for up to a year in some cases; the action being taken to address the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49990/12]

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Joe McHugh

155. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on developments arising from the joint statement on the future relationship between Ireland and Britain made by him and the British Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, at Downing Street on 12 March 2012. [49391/12]

State Agencies

Niall Collins

156. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the list of quasi-governmental organisations and agencies under his remit; if he will provide a list of quasi-governmental organisations and agencies under his remit that have been abolished since March 2011 or are scheduled to be abolished and the date on which they are due to be abolished; the date on which the body was created; the name of the body; the 2012 budget for the body; the number of employees of the body in 2012; the names of outside consultants hired by the organisation since march 2011; and his future plans for the body. [49392/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Sean Fleming

157. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the gross and net additional expenditure savings that his Department is seeking to achieve in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49393/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Billy Kelleher

158. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the amount currently being spent on, or budgeted for by State agencies under his remit for spending, on the areas of communication, public relations, consultancy, advertising and human resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49659/12]

Public Sector Staff Increment Payments

Mary Lou McDonald

159. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in a tabular form the number of public servants in receipt of annual gross public sector pensions of between €0 to €10,000, €10,001 to €20,000, €20,001 to €30,000, €30,001 to €40,000, €40,001 to €50,000, €50,001 to €60,000, €60,001 to €70,000, €70,001 to €80,000, €80,000 to €90,000, €90,000 to €100,000, €100,001 to €110,000, €110,001 to €120,000, €120,001 to €130,000, €130,001 to €140,000, €140,001 to €150,000, €150,001 to €160,000, €160,001 and above; and if these figures include local authorities, vocational educational committees, commercial semi-State companies, non-commercial State agencies and bodies public sector retirees. [49861/12]

Public Sector Reform Review

Seán Kyne

160. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the opportunities that persons in lower grades of the public service have been afforded in contributing to the reforms of the public service as sought in the public service agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50648/12]

Human Rights Issues

John Paul Phelan

161. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the Chinese Government the issue of alleged human rights violations in China, with particular reference to allegations of organ harvesting and persecution of Falun Gong worshippers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49419/12]

State Agencies

Billy Kelleher

162. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the amount currently being spent on, or budgeted for by State agencies under his remit for spending, on the areas of communication, public relations, consultancy, advertising and human resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49653/12]

International Relations

Maureen O'Sullivan

163. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider placing an Irish presence in Sarajevo for the EU heads of mission meetings as Ireland enters the EU Presidency to facilitate and monitor the peace process in Bosnia and prevent further disintegration of stability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49678/12]

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Finian McGrath

164. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of officials by grade in his Department that will be working solely on the Presidency for the remainder of 2012; if redeployment or promotion has occurred; if they will be paid any additional allowances or pay; the way these officials were selected; if the selection procedure gave rise to any complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50025/12]

Election Monitoring Missions

Finian McGrath

165. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 22 March 2012, if this review of the working of the election roster has been completed; the outcomes of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50037/12]

Election Monitoring Missions

Finian McGrath

166. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the individual cost of each trip taken by persons as part of Ireland's international election monitoring since the beginning of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50038/12]

Irish Communities Abroad

Joe McHugh

167. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with reference to the assertion in Fresh perspective: A Needs Analysis of the Irish Community in London, October 2012 that 25.8% of the London Irish community suffer poor health and that isolation may contribute to this poor health, the work his Department is undertaking to address causes and results of isolation within the Irish community in London; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50054/12]

Irish Communities Abroad

Joe McHugh

168. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with reference to the assertion in Fresh Perspectives: A Needs Analysis of the Irish Community in London, October 2012 that 94.7% of recent Irish migrants to London report poor or moderate levels of perceived social suppor,; the work his Department is undertaking to engage supports for recent migrants. [50063/12]

Irish Communities Abroad

Joe McHugh

169. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagement by his Department with the British social services in respect of vulnerable elderly Irish citizens who live in the greater London area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50065/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

170. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the issues of the continued imprisonment of Marian Price McGlinchey and Martin Corey with the British Prime Minister when next they meet. [45663/12]

EU Presidency Expenditure

Gerry Adams

171. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his role with regard to Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. [45664/12]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Gerry Adams

172. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the work his Department has done in relation to identifying further areas for North-South co-operation. [47230/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

173. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised the continued imprisonment of Marian Price McGlinchey and Martin Corey with the British Prime Minister in any of their recent engagements. [47411/12]

Scottish Referendum

Micheál Martin

174. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed the agreement on Scotland holding a referendum in 2014 with Prime Minister Cameron or Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46065/12]

Scottish Referendum

Micheál Martin

175. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the Scottish referendum in 2014 has any implications for the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46066/12]

Scottish Referendum

Micheál Martin

176. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Scottish referendum has been discussed at the recent EU Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46067/12]

Trade Missions Numbers

Micheál Martin

177. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is planning to take part in any forthcoming trade missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45672/12]

Foreign Conflicts

Micheál Martin

178. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the EU Council's actions to be taken and Ireland's contribution following the discussion on Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47589/12]

Trade Missions Numbers

Micheál Martin

179. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to partake in a trade mission in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48011/12]

Public Sector Reform Review

Seán Kyne

180. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the opportunities that persons in lower grades of the public service have been afforded to contributing to the reforms of the public service as sought in the public service agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50643/12]

NewERA Establishment

Gerry Adams

181. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce legislation to place NewERA on a statutory footing. [49418/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Mary Lou McDonald

182. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Finance if public servant pension abatement rules are being applied to public interest directors appointed by the Government to the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, Permanent TSB, Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks; and, if not, if he will confirm the annual pensions paid to these same public interest directors. [49557/12]

Credit Availability

Terence Flanagan

183. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the support available for Irish small businesses from the banks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49578/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Olivia Mitchell

184. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the action that can be taken to curtail pensions paid to some of the former top managers in the covered banks; the way these pensions are funded; if he will assure taxpayers that recapitalisation moneys do not and will not underpin these pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49404/12]

Pension Provisions

Olivia Mitchell

185. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 16 October 2012, if legislation or new procedures are in place to ensure adequate monitoring and early action by the Central Bank of Ireland to prevent in the future the losses which occurred in the case of Custom House Capital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49405/12]

Financial Services Regulation

Olivia Mitchell

186. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if following media coverage (details supplied) of the activities of debt management companies, legislation to control same or bring such companies under Central Bank regulation is being considered,; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49406/12]

Pension Provisions

Gerry Adams

187. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons in receipt of pensions from the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation which are in excess of €100,000; the names of those who are in receipt of the pensions and the sums they receive on an annual basis. [49416/12]

Mortgage Interest Relief Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

188. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the extra cost to the Exchequer in income forgone of granting 30% and 35% mortgage interest relief TRS to all householders who purchased house between 1 January 2000 and 1 January 2012, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49424/12]

Negative Equity Mortgages Numbers

Maureen O'Sullivan

189. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to promote the incentive involving negative equity mortgages offered by Bank of Ireland and other banks whereby a home owner could sell their house and move to a more suitable house, adding their savings to the purchase price and taking the mortgage with them at its existing level; the reason this incentive is not being rolled out on a greater scale to help curb problems with the mortgage arrears crisis here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49458/12]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

Richard Boyd Barrett

190. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the reason Permanent TSB are not offering the mortgage arrears solutions set out in the Government's personal insolvency initiative, that is, mortgage to rent scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49463/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

191. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of Allied Irish Bank, if he will provide a listing of the public interest directors appointed to that bank since 2008; the total remuneration paid to each such director and the date on which their appointments expire. [49474/12]