Parliamentary questions

Fuel Rebate Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

101. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if permission has or will have to be sought from the EU for the essential users rebate for road haulage operators; the reason that was given for excluding vehicle for the carriage of passengers; if it is now intended to include M2 and M3 category passenger vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57741/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Tom Fleming

102. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when will a student grant issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57365/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Charlie McConalogue

103. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on a Student Universal Support Ireland grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57368/12]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Catherine Murphy

104. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale for altering the pupil-teacher ratio for further education colleges; the likely effect this will have on youth unemployment and for the long term unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57369/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Sean Fleming

105. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a third level education grant will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57370/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brendan Smith

106. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposal to provide a new school (details supplied) in County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the timescale for construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57412/12]

Schools Refurbishment

Brendan Smith

107. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for refurbishment of a school (details supplied); the length of time the request has been with his Department; the steps taken in processing the application to date; the reason it has not yet been approved; the estimated cost of the project and the options regarding funding schemes available; if a summary of the technical report on the school will be given; if he has particular departmental policy on the funding of these small minority schools; if approval will now be given for approval and the processing stages which need to be gone through before approval to go to contract is given. [57428/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

John McGuinness

108. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for grant assistance made through Student Universal Support Ireland in respect of a person (details supplied) will be approved. [57429/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Dara Calleary

109. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo may expect to have their higher education grant application processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57433/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brendan Smith

110. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update in relation to the possibility of having a proposed building project restored to his Department's school building programme (details supplied) in County Cavan; if this project will be prioritised in view of the over-reliance on temporary accommodation at this school where enrolment has grown rapidly over the past number of years and where the long-term permanent accommodation needs of the school have been accepted for some time by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57463/12]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Brendan Smith

111. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date in having a proposed building project for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan restored to his Department's school building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57464/12]

School Staffing

Brendan Griffin

112. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a teaching post (details supplied) in County Kerry will be retained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57478/12]

School Accommodation

Brendan Griffin

113. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school accommodation (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57479/12]

Student Grant Scheme Delays

James Bannon

114. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57566/12]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Willie Penrose

116. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the eligibility criteria and the circumstances in which a person who has made an application for a higher education grant may secure the top-up grant; if in this context, where the person's parent is in receipt of one-parent family payment and also works earning approximately €10,620 per annum and is in receipt of maintenance of cost to €10,000, if such a person may obtain the top-up grant; if maintenance is classified as income for the purpose of assessment of the top-up grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57603/12]

Teachers' Remuneration

Denis Naughten

117. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a qualified teacher (details supplied) in County Roscommon, registered with theTeaching Council is paid the unqualified rate for substitute teaching; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57627/12]

Value for Money Reviews

Brendan Griffin

118. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in publishing the value for money report into two teacher schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57635/12]

School Transport Eligibility

Brendan Griffin

119. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if communities for whom reforms to school transport policy have proven particularly problematic will be afforded an opportunity to propose and implement localised solutions to the problem with the assistance of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57641/12]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Willie Penrose

120. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the tardiness of payments by the new structure, Student Universal Support Ireland, in respect of determining a person's eligibility for higher education grants, if persons could be paid at least half of the sum due under the said grant, as these grants will not be paid until December/January in respect of moneys, to which they are entitled in November; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57686/12]

Clár Tógála Scoileanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

121. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le cóiríocht bhuan a chur ar fáil do Ghaelscoil de hÍde ar an Órán Mór, Co. na Gaillimhe, cad é údar na moille leis an togra seo le bliain anuas; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [57708/12]

Clár Tógála Scoileanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

122. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cé mhéad scoil a bhfuil céim 2B den phróiseas tógála críochnaithe acu, idir scoileanna céad leibhéil agus dara leibhéal, agus nach bhfuil san áireamh i bplean tógála cúig bliana na Roinne, cad iad ainmneacha agus cad í uimhir rolla gach scoile acu; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [57710/12]

Clár Tógála Scoileanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

123. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cé mhéad scoil atá ar chéim 2B den phróiseas tógála, idir scoileanna céad leibhéil agus dara leibhéal, agus nach bhfuil san áireamh i bplean tógála na Roinne, cad iad ainmneacha agus cad í uimhir rolla gach scoile acu; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [57711/12]

Clár Tógála Scoileanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

124. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cad é an staid reatha maidir leis an iarratas ó Scoil Shailearna ar airgead le síneadh a chur leis an scoil; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [57712/12]

National Procurement Service Framework Agreements

Éamon Ó Cuív

125. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has any concerns regarding the effect on local small indigenous businesses as a result of circulars issuing from his Department in relation to the purchase of consumables such as stationary which state that from April 2013 it will be mandatory to purchase these from one named supplier thus depriving local businesses of a very important source of business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57726/12]

Teachers' Remuneration

Éamon Ó Cuív

126. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the new payment scale for new primary school teachers agreed with the social partners of €30,702 will come into effect; the reason for the delay in implementing this arrangement; whether arrears are now owing to teachers who will benefit from this pay scale and if so when will these arrears be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57748/12]

EU Programmes

Brendan Smith

127. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made to date in relation to the establishment of a successor programme to the Peace III Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57599/12]

Health Services Reform

Pearse Doherty

128. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the underlying workings in support of the €70 million reduced professional fees in the Department of Health 2013 budget; and if he will set out the way such savings estimates were validated by his Department. [57393/12]

Capital Programme Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

129. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the consideration that will be paid to employment when the capital budget for 2013 is profiled by month; if he will consider measures to accelerate capital spending when appropriate in order to promote and prioritise employment. [57394/12]

Departmental Appointments

Richard Boyd Barrett

130. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the process involved in the appointment of a person (details supplied) as legal adviser to the Government reform unit and statute law revision programme director of his Department; the nature of the financial arrangement with this adviser, including costs per hour or per day; if he will provide in tabular form, the amounts invoiced by this advisor in 2011 and to date in 2012, and the topic or issues covered in the advice provided for each invoice; if a procurement process took place, and if so, the criteria used; the weightings that were attached to these criteria; the number of tenders, proposals or quotations that were received; the number of tenders, proposals or quotations that were scored and the range of prices or costs quoted by tenderers. [57532/12]

Public Sector Pay

Michael McGrath

131. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to show separately, the amount of money that would be saved if all increments across the public service were suspended in 2013; if all increments in respect of persons earning a basic salary of over €60,000 per annum were suspended in 2013; if all increments in respect of persons earning a basic salary of over €75,000 per annum were suspended in 2013; if all increments in respect of persons earning a basic salary of over €90,000 per annum were suspended in 2013; if all increments in respect of persons earning a basic salary of over €100,000 per annum were suspended in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57612/12]

Social Welfare Code Issues

Brendan Griffin

132. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has considered the merits of a central State means testing body to facilitate the efficient implementation of fair and progressive social protection, education and health care policy, amongst others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57694/12]

Public Sector Allowances Review

Éamon Ó Cuív

133. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of all allowances to public and civil servants that were abolished this year including details of the estimated savings in 2013 of the elimination of such allowances in each case; whether they apply to existing staff or to new employees only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57727/12]

Public Sector Staff Increment Payments

Éamon Ó Cuív

134. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he consulted with the Equality Authority as to whether paying new entrants to the public and Civil Service lower wages, salaries and allowances was contrary to employment equality and general equality legislation; if he did, its response to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57728/12]

Rural Social Scheme Applications

Éamon Ó Cuív

135. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he instructed the Department of Social Protection to carry out a review of the rural social scheme; the result of such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57734/12]

Departmental Functions

Dara Calleary

136. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the management structure of his Department; the specific responsibilities of the Secretary General, of each assistant secretary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57525/12]

Trade Agreements

Brendan Smith

137. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions he has had to date with the EU Trade Commissioner de Gucht in relation to the EU-Canadian trade negotiations; if he has outlined the need to protect the European beef market in view of the importance of the beef sector to the economy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57703/12]

National Internship Scheme Numbers

Sean Fleming

138. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the internship programme for current participants from nine months to 18 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57576/12]

Social Insurance Payments

Michael McGrath

139. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of workers here who will be affected in 2013 by the removal of the weekly PRSI allowance from full rate and modified rate PRSI contributions. [57620/12]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Dan Neville

142. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick [57402/12]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Pearse Doherty

143. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a file in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was requested by the appeals office in August 2012 regarding an appeal for disability allowance has still not been sent from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57417/12]

Money Advice and Budgeting Service Issues

Tom Fleming

144. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will urgently proceed with opening the proposed Money Advice and Budgeting Service office in Killarney to provide reasonable access on a geographical basis to all of County Kerry to facilitate the growing demand for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service in County Kerry, which currently is being serviced by Tralee Money Advice and Budgeting Service office which is inundated with increased numbers availing of the essential services and assistance it provides. [57456/12]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Sean Fleming

145. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the review of an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57468/12]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Ciaran Lynch

146. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Social Protection when a determination will be made in regard to an appeal for an invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57470/12]

Disability Allowance Applications

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

147. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57472/12]

Jobseeker's Benefit Applications

Brendan Griffin

148. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if her reform plans would make allowances for a situation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57494/12]

Social Welfare Code Review

Pat Deering

150. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection the problems that would be encountered in means testing all social welfare payments; the steps she is taking to overcome these problems and when we may expect a means tested system of payments. [57519/12]

Child Benefit Payments

Brendan Griffin

151. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address the anomaly whereby both parents who have legal joint custody of children are not entitled to an equal proportion of child related benefits and that the means testing process, which sees maintenance payments considered an income for the recipient, would consider it an outgoing for the provider; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57550/12]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

James Bannon

152. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57565/12]

Family Income Supplement Application Numbers

Sean Fleming

153. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for family income supplement that were received by her Department before 5 November 2012 that are not yet processed; the timescale for concluding these cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57595/12]

National Internship Scheme Numbers

Willie Penrose

155. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath was classified as an adult dependant, but who in fact could have afforded a social welfare payment in their own right is not allowed to participate under the jobbridge initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57604/12]