Parliamentary questions

Heritage Week

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

95. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for heritage week, particularly for involving the disadvantaged, Travellers, and new Irish communities over the week 23 to 31 August 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4433/14]

Architectural Heritage

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

98. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will investigate the possibility of preserving the Legion Hall in Killester in view of the anniversary of the commencement of the Great War this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4468/14]

VAT Exemptions

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

195. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered reducing the rate of VAT for children's tennis lessons to make them more accessible for struggling parents and encourage an active lifestyle amongst children in view of the rising rates of obesity here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3743/14]

School Enrolments Data

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

255. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils who entered the primary education system in 2013; and if he will provide the information for each county. [3732/14]

School Enrolments Data

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

256. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils that will be leaving the primary school system in 2014 nationwide; and if he will provide the information for each county. [3733/14]

School Enrolments Data

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

257. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school pupils currently in senior infants, first class, second class, third class, fourth class and fifth class; and if he will provide the information for each county. [3734/14]

Water Supply Leakages

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

506. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the help available to homeowners who moved into homes with leaks on their side of the property boundary in view of the imminent introduction of water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3685/14]

Obesity Strategy

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

658. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has explored the health consequences of the below-cost selling of sugary food and drinks to children; if she has considered developing a strategy to deal with the consequences of such a policy in view of the rising rates of obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3746/14]

Rail Services

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

676. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there are periods during rush hour where there are fewer DART carriages running than in other time slots; the reasons behind the 50 cent fare increase in December 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2419/14]

Health Services Provision

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

752. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if permission has been granted to allow for emergency helicopter landings in the Beaumont Woods estate; and if such permission has been granted, in the interest of transparency, if he will disclose the full criteria and details. [55300/13]

Services for People with Disabilities

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

875. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the curtailment in Beechpark services, including occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, which is having a serious affect on the ability of north Dublin schools to provide a proper service for the children under their care. [1427/14]

Child Poverty

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

89. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the area based childhood programmes that have been rolled out; her plans for further roll-out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53714/13]

Early Years Strategy Implementation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

99. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an overview of the key recommendations in the right from the start early years strategy; the time-line for their implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53715/13]

Traveller Community

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

177. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department currently collects information on the attainment, transfer, attendance, suspension and expulsion rates of Traveller students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53664/13]

Traveller Community

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

178. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way his Department intends to monitor the impact of recent cuts to Traveller specific education supports on the educational outcomes of Traveller students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53665/13]

Traveller Community

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

179. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 19 November 2013, the amount of funding previously allocated to Traveller specific education provision that has been redeployed; the mainstream programmes on which it is being spent; and the the way Travellers are benefiting from this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53666/13]

Legislative Process

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

541. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health when he will enact the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53663/13]

Early Years Strategy Publication

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

163. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a draft of the national early years strategy will be ready; if she plans to carry out a public consultation on the strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53261/13]

EU Presidency Agenda

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

295. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the efforts made by his Department during the EU Presidency in working towards tackling racism and xenophobia across the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51610/13]

Immigration Policy

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

112. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department has considered putting in place an earned regularisation scheme for undocumented workers as outlined by the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51128/13]

Services for People with Disabilities

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

717. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the cutbacks in State funding that have been made to an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 7 over the past three budgets; and if the service is at risk of closure. [49566/13]

VAT Rate Reductions

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

105. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered lowering the VAT rate on dog grooming to bring it in line with vets' practices; if not, if he will do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48198/13]

Noise Pollution Legislation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

331. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the powers of the gardaí in dealing with excessive noise from house parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48199/13]

Child Care Services Regulation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

983. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a numerical figure for the number of children cared for by child minders; the percentage of these child minders that are subject to inspections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45711/13]

Child Care Services Regulation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

984. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she could provide, in tabular form, the yearly breakdown of the number of childminders who have taken the quality awareness programmes since it was launched in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45712/13]

Health Services Staff Data

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

1149. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form, the numbers of doctors employed in each hospital nationally; if he well provide this figure broken down by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46403/13]

Mental Health Services Provision

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

218. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if public health nursing and the child and adolescent mental health services will be included in the functions of the Child and Family Agency Bill 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45440/13]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

136. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance the reason patients of sleep apnea cannot claim relief on electricity, in a similar way to patients on dialysis, for the use of their respirator which is a nightly requirement for those suffering from said illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44193/13]

Child and Family Support Agency Establishment

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

379. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the current budget for the establishment of the Child and Family Support Agency in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43552/13]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

89. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of posts that will be filled by the recent competition for administrative officers in the Civil Service. [42806/13]

Institutes of Technology Issues

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

155. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the significant contribution of money that has been paid by the Roman Catholic Church to the Dublin Institute of Technology Foundation for the maintenance of an active church, as distinct from a multi-faith centre, on the new DIT Grangegorman site and, if so, if he will detail all of the conditions attached to this donation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41320/13]

Referendum Expenditure

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

207. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way temporary staff were hired to work as polling tellers and clerks for the upcoming Seanad and court of appeal referendums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41330/13]

Parking Charges

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

212. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that the proposal to introduce paid parking in Howth Harbour has now been withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40195/13]

Employment Rights

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

514. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will clarify the legality of zero contracts under Irish employment law; whether or not they are permissible; if so, if he will further detail the protections in place for workers who are asked to work under such contractual arrangements in terms of working hours, advance roster availability and annual leave entitlements. [37636/13]

Water Meters

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

888. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made to date in determining the pricing scheme for the water meters currently being installed; if there will be a free allowance; if the allowance will be calculated on a per person or per household basis; and the details available currently to households. [37393/13]

Medical Card Applications

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

1431. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 was refused a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37806/13]

Garda Resources

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

865. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a report on the Garda resources for an area (details supplied) in north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34375/13]

Garda Resources

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

866. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a report on the Garda resources for an area (details supplied) in north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34376/13]

Garda Resources

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

867. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a report on the Garda resources for an area (details supplied) in north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34377/13]

Garda Resources

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

868. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a report on the Garda resources for an area (details supplied) in north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34378/13]

Garda Resources

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

869. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a report on the Garda resources for an area (details supplied) in north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34379/13]

Garda Resources

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

870. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a report on the Garda resources for an area (details supplied) in north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34380/13]

Garda Resources

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

871. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a report on the Garda resources for an area (details supplied) in north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34381/13]

Garda Resources

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

872. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a report on the Garda resources for an area (details supplied) in north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34382/13]

Garda Resources

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

873. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a report on the Garda resources for an area (details supplied) in north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34383/13]

Rights of the Child

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

1014. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on the progress of the State ratifying optional protocols 2 and 3 to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34394/13]

Tax Collection

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

80. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance in July 2011, in response to a parliamentary question, in which he stated that the profits earned from the provision of stallion stud services in the income tax and corporation tax returns for 2009 were €500,000 for income tax and €4 million for corporation tax, if he will supply the corresponding profit figures for 2010, 2011 and 2012. [34162/13]

Tax Collection

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

81. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance in July 2011, in response to a parliamentary question, in which he stated that the profits earned from the provision of stallion stud services in the income tax and corporation tax returns for 2009 were €500,000 for income tax and €4 million for corporation tax, if he will quantify the amount of tax paid to the Exchequer on these profits. [34163/13]

Tax Collection

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

82. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance if he will quantify the income tax paid on the profits earned from the provision of stallion stud services in the years 2010, 2011 and 2012. [34164/13]

Tax Collection

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

83. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance the amount of tax generated by the Exchequer from stallion fees for each of the years, 2008 to 2012 inclusive, since the introduction of the current scheme for taxation of stallion profits and gains on 1 August 2008. [34165/13]

Tax Collection

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

84. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance if he will identify the amount of tax revenue to the Exchequer foregone as a result of the current scheme for the taxation of stallion profits and gains introduced on 1 August 2008. [34166/13]

Tax Collection

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

85. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Revenue Commissioners do not specifically identify tax collected under the current scheme for the taxation of stallion profits and gains introduced on 1 August 2008, which has enabled many stallion owners to shelter tax and, as a result, pay no tax or very little tax to the Exchequer. [34167/13]

Tax Collection

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

86. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance the reason he has no visibility of the amount of tax collected and foregone under the current scheme for the taxation of stallion profits or gains introduced on 1 August 2008. [34168/13]

Tax Collection

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

87. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance if he will request the Revenue Commissioners to provide a report with an analysis of the tax paid by corporate and individual stallion owners for the duration of the current scheme for the taxation of stallion profits or gains introduced on 1 August 2008. [34169/13]

Tax Collection

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

88. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance the reason he has no visibility whatsoever of the contribution of revenues to the Exchequer as a result of taxation legislation covering stallion profits and gains, particularly in view of the scale of the horse breeding sector here. [34170/13]

Child Care Services Provision

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

19. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on the actions her Department is taking in terms of child care provision, inspections, rules and regulations following on from the RTE "Breach of Trust" programme. [32350/13]

Missing Persons Hotline

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

47. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will detail the way the new 116000 missing children helpline will be advertised and promoted so that its presence will be widely known among children and their parents. [32351/13]

Organ Donation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

211. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the programme for Government commitment to allow for an opt out system for organ donation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32326/13]

Organ Donation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

212. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health in view of the MSM blood ban, if sexually active gay men are also prevented from being organ donors; and if so, if he or his Department have considered removing such a ban [32327/13]

VAT Payments

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

90. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance if a retailer is entitled to recoup the VAT portion of a loss in its VAT return when it chooses to sell alcohol at a price below the cost of purchase; if the reintroduction of the groceries order on alcohol would prevent this from happening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31017/13]

Copyright Legislation Review

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

338. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the Copyright Review Committee will make its recommendations as per its terms of reference established in May 2011. [30483/13]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

103. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered an amendment to the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 to return to the situation whereby patients are allowed to claim reimbursement for physiotherapy expenses when they self refer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29402/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Numbers

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

228. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of old age pensioners drawing the living alone allowance. [28906/13]

Anti-Social Behaviour

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

376. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide Dáil Éireann with a report of the incidents of anti-social behaviour in Howth, County Dublin, last weekend; and the remedies he plans to use to address this. [28910/13]

Crime Investigation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

386. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a report on the number of break-ins and disturbances in an area (details supplied) Dublin 9; and if he will review the current resource allocation for the area. [29015/13]

Preschool Services

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

484. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline her current position on the provision of a second free preschool year. [29025/13]

Child Detention Centres

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

485. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the construction of additional accommodation at the children detention school in an area (details supplied) in County Dublin is on target; if the project is still on schedule to be completed by mid 2014; and if she will provide a timeline for the Children (Amendment) Bill and the amalgamation of the three children detention schools. [29026/13]

Dublin Bus Services

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

581. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, noting the high level of unemployment for under 25 year olds and the fall in part time work available to those in full time education within the 16 to 25 age bracket, the reason school going children aged 16 or over are required to pay adult fare on Dublin Bus. [28913/13]

Fire Service Issues

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

149. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if an adequate risk assessment has been done for the Keeping Communities Safe document; the reason local fire authorities are not being merged into one overseeing body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28319/13]

Human Rights Issues

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

127. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he or his Department have taken during the Irish Presidency to specifically address the 78 countries internationally which still regard homosexuality as a criminal offence; and the contact that has been made with embassies of countries with whom Ireland has diplomatic links asking them whether they intend to comply with the international covenant on civil and political rights in this area. [27769/13]

Deportation Orders

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

750. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the length of time that persons must remain outside of the Republic of Ireland once a deportation order has been served and enforced; whether or not deportation prevents the person from entering any other EEA country; if so, for what extent of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28004/13]

Immigration Policy

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

751. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality on what grounds was the year 2004 chosen as the cut-off point for arrival when devising the 2004 student probationary scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28005/13]

Sports Capital Programme Expenditure

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

1107. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the National Sports Grant for 2013, the amount of money that is available; and how it will be allocated. [27763/13]

Drugs Payment Scheme Expenditure

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

222. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the cost of the high-tech drugs scheme in 2012. [26003/13]

Alcohol Pricing

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

611. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his plans to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol; and on the measures, if any, he plans to take to tackle alcohol abuse. [22315/13]

Integrated Ticketing

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

734. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has considered the introduction of a zoned system for Leap cards in Dublin similar to the one used by Transport for London in the UK; and if not, the reason for same. [22439/13]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

503. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will confirm the latest update with regard to the negotiation of a bilateral agreement with relevant authorities in Russia; and if a trip to Dublin is scheduled for April 2013 as previously advised. [20097/13]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

504. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will advise on the current situation with regard to the registration by the Adoption Authority of Ireland of adoptions from Russia. [20098/13]

Care of the Elderly Provision

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

661. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the closure of a centre for the elderly (details supplied) in Dublin 3; if he will indicate if a new location has been found; the timeframe for same; and when the service will recommence [19088/13]

Medicinal Products Availability

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

238. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the reason National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics has refused to fund the drug Pirfenidone on financial grounds in view of the fact that Pirfenidone is the only drug available to treat patients with idiopathic lung fibrosis, a progressive terminal lung disease of no known origin, and is therefore a vital life giving medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18006/13]

Preschool Services

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

138. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide Dáil Éireann with details regarding the extension of the free preschool year; if a cost analysis of such a proposal has been completed, if she will provide this to Dáil Éireann on the record; if not, if she will commit that such an analysis will take place; if she will provide a timeline to Dáil Éireann on the length of time it would take to roll out such an additional free preschool year; and her plans for same. [16015/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

376. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there has been a removal of resource teaching hours for schoolgoing children suffering from Down's syndrome who are classed as mild even though they suffer from a variety of other problems including difficulties with their speech; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16048/13]

Urban Trees and Hedges

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

802. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are laws on the size and height of trees and hedges in urban areas; and if there is a complaints process for citizens who feel their light and stability of walled structures are threatened by trees owned by neighbours. [16766/13]

Penalty Points System

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

917. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is a specific legal statutory or regulatory basis that allows Garda Superintendents to cancel penalty points after fixed penalty notices have issued to members of the public; his views on whether such a practice has a legal basis; if he will cite the section of an Act of the Oireachtas or Statutory Instrument which provides for same; if this is a legitimate approach for members of the public to take when they are served with fixed penalty notices; the reason there is no mention of it on the websites of statutory bodies such as the Road Safety Authority (details supplied); if this practice of writing to Superintendents to request cancellation has a legal basis; if the advice on the RSA website will be updated to include this third option open to motorists and ensure that all members of the public are aware of same instead of a select few; and if this practice has a legal basis, where and how members of the public have been made aware of it to date. [17013/13]

Foreign Adoptions

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

442. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will clarify the situation whereby couples who commenced their international adoption of children prior to the ratification of the Hague Convention by Ireland cannot register their children with the Adoption Authority of Ireland despite being the de facto parent and legal guardian to said child; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are 20 such couples in this situation and that the Adoption Authority of Ireland was originally meant to bring High Court action on this issue to have it resolved but has now decided not so. [13622/13]

School Curriculum

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

238. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to the social, personal and health education programme currently run in second level schools as a compulsory part of the curriculum, his plans to maintain this as a mandatory subject; and if he has any plans to reform the said programme. [12931/13]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

243. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the reason six trainee medical scientists in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, who are close to the completion of their five month clinical placement which is a compulsory part of their training, have yet to receive their monthly trainee allowance of €903.98 despite the Health Service Executive memo dated 6 February 2013 outlining that all trainees were entitled to such an allowance; and if he will give an assurance that this allowance will be paid prior to the completion of these trainees' placements [12086/13]

Third Level Staff Remuneration

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

105. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a cost analysis has been carried out on the decision to amend the Trinity tutorial allowance preventing payment to new applicants for providing the service, under direction of his Department, in view of the fact that such a move is feared to lead to the abolition of the service which is instrumental in the provision of student welfare; and if not, if such an analysis will be completed to highlight the savings and or costs of amending this scheme while also keeping in mind student welfare and provision for such. [11915/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

510. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on the average waiting time to see a consultant ophthalmologist in Beaumont Hospital and if he will provide an update on the position on a waiting list in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 who has been on the list since September 2012. [11218/13]

Visa Applications

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

228. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the application for a partnership visa in respect of a person (details supplied); the average timeframe for a review to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10668/13]

Exchequer Revenue

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

266. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance the potential earnings for the Exchequer of the introduction of a 1% income tax increase for all earners over €100,000. [8408/13]

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

698. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of recorded cases of the eleven sexually transmitted infections that are currently legally notifiable here; ano-genital warts, chancroid, chlamydia trachomatis, genital herpes simplex, gonorrhoea, granuloma inguinale, infectious hepatitis B, lymphogranuloma venereum, non-specific urethritis, syphilis and trichomoniasis from 2002 to date in 2013; and if he will provide a breakdown based on age, gender and location. [8331/13]

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

699. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full list, in tabular form, of all locations nationwide which provide screenings for sexually transmitted infections; and if he will list the criteria for screening in each location based on gender and sexual orientation, that is, the number of screening centres for men, women and gay men and so on. [8332/13]

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

700. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if we are in compliance with all EU Directives on sexual health in terms of provision of publicly funded treatment and testing centres for sexually transmitted infections. [8333/13]

Irish Blood Transfusion Service

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

701. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if his Department has issued an instruction to the Irish Blood Transfusion service to conduct a review of its MSM Blood Ban, which bars sexually active gay men from donating blood; and, if not, if he has any intention to review this practice in view of ongoing blood stock depletion. [8334/13]

Hospital Staff

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

702. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to the increased number of medical school graduates this year it is anticipated that there will be a shortage of intern places for the graduating classes and that completing the internship is a legal requirement to practise medicine; and if his Department is putting in place the necessary structures to ensure that all qualifying students are facilitated with an internship year. [8335/13]

Railway Stations Upgrade

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

774. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the issue of the lack of availability of electronic ramps in Irish rail stations can be addressed; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty it is causing for persons with disabilities particularly in the DART stations in Clontarf and Killester which are in the vicinity of the Central Remedial Clinic which accommodates a significant number of wheelchair users who require public transport. [8409/13]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

269. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures that are taken by the Reception and Integration Agency to ensure that staff in accommodation centres for asylum seekers are Garda vetted and trained to work with children and vulnerable adults in view of the fact that this is not included on the standard form employed by the contracted inspectors (details supplied). [7814/13]

Prison Accommodation Provision

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

20. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason there are only nine detoxification beds in a 4,500 bed prison system in view of the fact that 80% of persons there suffer from some form of drug problem and need services to help them detox and rehabilitate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5651/13]

Hospital Services

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

214. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the list of centres-hospitals where publicly-funded screening for sexually transmitted infections is available; if he will also provide numerical data for the number of persons who used the service per year since 2006 to date in 2013, or the year on which the most recent statistics are available; and the number of screenings per year that each centre-hospital is capable of administering. [6145/13]