Parliamentary questions

Education Standards

Bernard Durkan

152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which his Department continues to interact with industry with a view to ensuring that the educational sector remains adequately focused to ensure that pupils and students emerging from primary, second and third level education are adequately equipped to meet the challenges at every level in the modern workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2314/14]

Education and Training Provision

Charlie McConalogue

153. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the budget 2014 decision to impose a new training fee on apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2343/14]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Clare Daly

154. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that all schools are treated equitably with regard to book rental schemes; and that those schools which proactively introduced schemes will not find themselves disadvantaged by not being awarded the financial support being made available to those setting up schemes. [2322/14]

Education Policy

Jonathan O'Brien

155. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that is ring fenced to ensure schools have the capacity to deliver the new junior certificate reforms. [2341/14]

Skills Shortages

Bernard Durkan

156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which his Department has become alert to a shortage of skills in certain areas with particular reference to those sectors previously provided for by way of apprenticeships; if any dialogue has taken place with industry with a view to identifying how best to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2315/14]

Special Education Review

Clare Daly

157. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the National Council for Special Education literature review will not be published until 2015 in view of the fact that those tendering for the project were informed that it should be completed by January 2014; the reason he is not requesting a systematic review; the reason, given professional criticisms of the 2001 task force report, tendering parties were told they would not be allowed to re-evaluate evidence presented in that review. [2320/14]

Unemployment Data

Peadar Tóibín

158. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach when accurate figures reflecting actual jobless figures can be expected, including those persons on training, back to work schemes and other jobs initiatives; the percentage of the labour force available for work; and the percentage that is working more than 15 hours a week. [2655/14]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Michael McGrath

159. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach the dates of meetings held to date by the Cabinet sub Committee on Mortgage Arrears since its establishment in March 2012. [54553/13]

Household Debt Statistics

Thomas Pringle

160. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach when he expects the Household Finance and Consumption Survey to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1559/14]

Emigration Data

Gerry Adams

161. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the numbers of persons who have emigrated from Ireland since he took office in 2011. [55218/13]

JobBridge Scheme

Mary Lou McDonald

162. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form year on year the number of JobBridge interns taken on in his Department in 2013. [2244/14]

State Bodies

Mary Lou McDonald

163. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form year on year the number of commercial and non-commercial State agency board positions, under the aegis of his Department, that have been filled since March 2011 to December 2013; the number of these positions that were publically advertised; and the number of female appointments. [2245/14]

Public Sector Staff

Mary Lou McDonald

164. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach to provide in tabular form year on year the occasions on which he has signed off on the awarding of added years to public sector workers between March 2011 and December 2013; the grade of the persons awarded; the added years; and the number of added years awarded in each instance. [2246/14]

Public Relations Contracts Data

Niall Collins

165. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming to office; the list of uses of the external public relations firms; his internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2249/14]

EU Programmes

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

166. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if the Government will be reviewing its processes and timescale for consultation and engagement with civil society regarding the development of the 2014 EU National Reform Programme following the exit from the bailout programme and given that Ireland is now subject to the full EU semester process and in view of the call from the EU Commission in their communication on the Annual Growth Survey on 13 November 2013 last for greater involvement of national parliaments, social partners and civil partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2253/14]

Departmental Expenditure

Niall Collins

167. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the total photography costs for his Department since coming to office, inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2254/14]

Departmental Agencies

Simon Harris

168. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Taoiseach the number of quangos, State agencies or organisations under the remit of his Department that have been merged, reformed or abolished since 2011; the details of each of these measures in tabular form; the cost saving or service delivery improvement which has resulted; how many more he expects to be merged, reformed or abolished and the timeline for same; if he will provide a full list of all agencies and organisations under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2255/14]

Charities and Voluntary Organisations

John Deasy

169. Deputy John Deasy asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of each allocation from his Department’s expenditure budget to registered charities in each of the past three years. [2257/14]

Departmental Contracts Data

Patrick Nulty

170. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 5 November 2013, if he will list the manufacturers of the State gifts listed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2258/14]

Ministerial Advisers Remuneration

Billy Kelleher

171. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Taoiseach the names and amount by which each programme manager-special adviser has exceeded the relevant pay guidelines as laid down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2259/14]

Freedom of Information Requests

Seán Fleming

172. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the number of Freedom of Information requests received by his Department in 2012 and 2013; the number of requests for which a search and retrieval fee was sought; the maximum fee sought by his Department in respect of a request received and the number of requests not proceeded following the non-payment of the search and retrieval fee sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2261/14]

Departmental Bodies

Lucinda Creighton

173. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the total number of Irish quasi-autonomous NGOs that his Department either created or fall under his Department’s responsibility and were in existence when he became Taoiseach and continue to exist to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2262/14]

Departmental Agencies Board Appointments

Lucinda Creighton

174. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the total number of chairpersons of State boards, agencies and regulators which fall under his Department’s responsibility who were chairpersons when he became Taoiseach and continue to be chairpersons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2263/14]

Oireachtas Reform Agenda

Lucinda Creighton

175. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach if a new structure for the Oireachtas committee system will be established as envisaged for a Dáil under a unicameral system notwithstanding the decision by the Irish people to retain a bicameral system; if legislation is required or if changes to standing orders are expected to be published to give effect to these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2264/14]

Legislative Programme

Lucinda Creighton

176. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the total number of Bills that have been published by his Department since he was appointed Taoiseach; the number and title of those Bills which included a regulatory impact assessment in advance of publication; which regulatory impact assessments were published; the total number of promised Bills for publication; if he will list the bills which will include a regulatory impact assessment and which regulatory impact assessments will be published before publication of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2266/14]

Electoral Reform

Gerry Adams

177. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach when he will bring forward and implement proposals for Northern Ireland representation in Dáil Éireann. [2269/14]

Departmental Staff Data

Bernard Durkan

178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the extent to which agency staff have been used in his Department in each of the past five years to date for the purpose of answering and transferring calls on the switchdesk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2271/14]

Departmental Reports

Barry Cowen

179. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department including payments from ministerial allowances, broken down by report; if he will provide the details of any consultants employed; the names of each report and their status as published or ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2368/14]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Clare Daly

180. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach the amount his Department spends on an annual basis in payments to consultancy firms (details supplied). [2484/14]

North-South Implementation Bodies

Joe McHugh

181. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will list all formal North-South meetings through the North-South Ministerial Council; formal engagements between him and formal engagement by him on North-South issues and bilateral meetings on an east-west basis for the years 2009 to 2013 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2248/14]

Human Rights Issues

Finian McGrath

182. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the issue of British systematic abuse of prisoners in Iraq at European Union and United Nation level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2302/14]

Departmental Reports

Barry Cowen

183. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department including payments from ministerial allowances, broken down by report; if he will provide the details of any consultants employed; the names of each report and their status as published or ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2362/14]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Clare Daly

184. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount his Department spends on an annual basis in payments to consultancy firms (details supplied). [2478/14]

Humanitarian Aid

Finian McGrath

186. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support humanitarian aid to the 30,000 Palestinians currently resident in Yarmouk refugee camp outside Damascus in Syria. [2637/14]

Human Rights Issues

Thomas P. Broughan

187. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2660/14]

Departmental Strategies

Andrew Doyle

188. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has drawn up a digital strategy document, similar to that operated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2880/14]

Trade Relations

Dominic Hannigan

189. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are any plans to establish a trade czar to work with our embassies in the promotion of Ireland as a trading partner and as a place for businesses to set up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2884/14]

Financial Services Regulation

Martin Ferris

190. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance in view of the latest revelations regarding a sub-prime mortgage lender (details supplied), if he will take urgent steps to introduce legislation to prevent persons with criminal convictions in other jurisdictions from being granted money lending or mortgage lending licences here. [2288/14]

Home Renovation Incentive Scheme Administration

Brendan Griffin

191. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if the tax relief provided in the home renovation initiative can be provided over a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2296/14]

Departmental Reports

Barry Cowen

192. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department including payments from ministerial allowances, broken down by report; if he will provide the details of any consultant employed; the names of each report and their status as published or ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2361/14]

Financial Services Regulation

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

193. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the way a convicted fraudster, who dodged long-standing creditors in another jurisdiction, received regulatory approval as a licensed lender from the Central Bank of Ireland when a key requirement is that firms must be of the highest financial and personal probity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2370/14]

Financial Services Regulation

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

194. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the establishment of an inquiry within the Central Bank of Ireland to establish the facts as to how a retail credit licence was granted to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2392/14]

Tax Code

Terence Flanagan

195. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if the delay in following through on his commitment to have local property tax as an allowable expense against private rental income is fair and reasonable in view of the unique taxes already imposed on the private rental sector, such as restricting mortgage interest to 75%, continuing to categorise private rental income as unearned, and the follow on from this of effectively being required to pay tax on a loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2398/14]

Mortgage Data

Michael McGrath

196. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of residential mortgages here that are classified as sub-prime; the number of sub-prime lenders currently operating in the market; the total value of sub-prime mortgages outstanding; the rate of arrears on these mortgages; the actions specific to the sub-prime sector which are being taken to address arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2423/14]

NAMA Operations

Michael McGrath

197. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance when the review of National Asset Management Agency operations will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2424/14]

Mortgage Schemes

Denis Naughten

198. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered the possibility of intergenerational mortgages; if legislative or Central Bank authorisation would be needed if such a product were to be offered; if such products are authorised in any other member State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2441/14]

Tax Code

Mattie McGrath

199. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that all registered VAT agri-contractors and FCI members will be entitled to claim back the carbon tax against their income tax as this tax is double taxation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2456/14]

Tax Code

Mattie McGrath

200. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that all invoices carry a VAT number or PPS number for moneys claimed against income tax and that if a sole trader does not have this then that payment should go down to personal drawings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2457/14]

Tax Collection

Michael McGrath

201. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will set out the latest estimate available to the Revenue Commissioners for the tax years 2011 and 2012 of the total number of taxpayers in each of the following bands, the latest estimate of the total income for each of these bands, the latest estimate of the total income tax, universal social charge and PRSI paid for each of the following income bands, that is, those earning less than €5,000, between €5,001 and €10,000, between €10,001 and €20,000, between €20,001 and €30,000, between €30,001 and €40,000, between €40,001 and €50,000, between €50,001 and €60,000, between €60,001 and €70,000, between €70,001 and €80,000, between €80,001 and €90,000, between €90,001 and €100,000, between €100,001 and €125,000, between €125,001 and €150,000, between €150,001 and €175,000, between €175,001 and €200,000, between €200,001 and €250,000, between €250,001 and €1,000,000, between €1,000,001 and €2,000,000, and €2,000,000 and over. [2459/14]

Property Tax Assessments

Michael McGrath

202. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of properties valued at greater than €1 million for purposes of the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2460/14]