Parliamentary questions

Special Educational Needs Data

Colm Keaveney

222. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, information for 2011, 2012 and 2013 and for each county within the State on the total number of whole-time equivalent special needs assistants; the total number of hours allocated to that national complement of whole-time equivalent positions; the total number of children allocated a special needs assistant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17338/14]

Pension Provisions

Colm Keaveney

256. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of any pension entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied). [17821/14]

Departmental Bodies

Colm Keaveney

633. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in reference to recommendation 20.5 of A Vision for Change, the identity of the current chair and members of the monitoring group; the date of their last submitted report; the details of his response to that report; the actions taken to address any issues identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17830/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

634. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the way he will address the issues identified in recent media reports (details supplied) regarding delays in admitting suicidal patients and patients experiencing severe psychotic episodes; to the concerns expressed by psychiatrists about other such patients being discharged earlier than medically prudent and reports that mental health services in north Dublin are in crisis mode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17832/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Colm Keaveney

5. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve special needs education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16464/14]

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Colm Keaveney

33. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants at both primary and post-primary levels in WTE terms in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14; the number of hours allocated in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16463/14]

Special Educational Needs Data

Colm Keaveney

195. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, information on the following for each year, 2011, 2012, and 2013, the total number of whole time equivalent special needs assistants, the total number of hours allocated to that national complement of whole time equivalent positions, the total number of children allocated a special needs assistant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16253/14]

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Colm Keaveney

581. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a county breakdown for January 2014 of the number of children awaiting an initial assessment for speech and language therapies; and the numbers on open waiting lists in the following timeframes; 0 to four months; four to eight months; eight to 12 months; 12 to 18 months, 18 to 24 months; more than 24 months [16058/14]

Children in Care

Colm Keaveney

99. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health his response to the criticisms of child and adolescent mental health services in the recent report by the Ombudsman for Children entitled A Meta-Analysis of Repetitive Root Cause Issues Regarding the Provision of Services for Children in Care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15122/14]

Gaelscoil Issues

Colm Keaveney

203. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has identified a location and construction date for the provision of a Gaelscoil in Loughrea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14942/14]

Diabetes Strategy

Colm Keaveney

499. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if the model for the provision of insulin pumps recommended by the paediatric diabetes working group has been fully established; the numbers of children under five and under 16 who are waiting for these pumps; the resource allocation made in the 2012, 2013 and 2014 service plans to fund this objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14723/14]

Diabetes Strategy

Colm Keaveney

500. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health to set out the progress that has been made in meeting the key objectives of the paediatric diabetes working group, that is: to provide continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, CSII, therapy to children under five, where appropriate; to ensure that diabetes services and staffing levels are equitable in the five centres nationwide based in Cork, Crumlin, Limerick-Galway, Tallaght and Temple Street; if not already met, then what are the expected dates upon which they will be complete; the resource allocation in the service plans in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 to fund the achievement of these objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14724/14]

Hospital Staff Data

Colm Keaveney

545. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the number of posts for 2014 that the working group on paediatric diabetes requests or recommends for University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Galway; the number that were provided for in the service plan for 2014; the number of posts currently in place in both hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15018/14]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Colm Keaveney

546. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of insulin pumps the Health Service Executive purchased in 2013; the number, broken down by HSE area, given out to children under the age of 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15022/14]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Colm Keaveney

38. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the number of seizures of illicit cigarettes or other tobacco products that have been made by the agencies of the State in each calendar year from 2011 to 2013, broken down by both the numbers of seizures and the quantities seized; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14225/14]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Colm Keaveney

39. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the specific measures he has taken to combat the trade in illicit cigarettes or other illicit tobacco products since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14226/14]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Colm Keaveney

40. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the size of the trade in illicit cigarettes or other illicit tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14227/14]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Colm Keaveney

41. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the specific measures he has taken to combat the trade in illicit cigarettes or other illicit tobacco products since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14228/14]

Tax Yield

Colm Keaveney

42. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the VAT and excise return from tobacco sales in each calendar year from 2011 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14230/14]

Economic Data

Colm Keaveney

50. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance his Department's most recent estimate for the size of the economy's output gap; the implications of this for the Government’s taxation and spending plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14308/14]

IDA Jobs Data

Colm Keaveney

97. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of potential employers IDA Ireland has brought to Loughrea, County Galway, in terms of encouraging those business to locate there, in each calendar year since 2011; the number of jobs that have been created through the assistance of IDA Ireland in Loughrea in each calendar year since 2011; the measures he has taken to encourage the creation of jobs specifically in the area of Loughrea since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14224/14]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Colm Keaveney

163. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) may expect to receive their agri-environment option scheme grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14319/14]

Tobacco Control Measures

Colm Keaveney

190. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in reference to his intention to introduce plain packaging of tobacco products, the studies from the Australian experience, following their introduction of this measure, he has considered; his estimate, broken down into its individual elements, of the cost of implementing this measure in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14229/14]

Health Care Infrastructure

Colm Keaveney

197. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if the building used by the public health nurse in Portumna, County Galway, is accessible to wheelchair users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14304/14]

Health Care Infrastructure

Colm Keaveney

198. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will open a new public health centre in Portumna; if so, when it is scheduled to be opened; if any contracts have been signed for the purchase or construction of any building; the name of the other party or parties to the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14305/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

199. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the services provided by the mental health services in Portumna, County Galway; the location of such services; the staffing arrangements for such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14306/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

200. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the services that are or were being provided as of March 2013 by the mental health services in Portumna, County Galway; the location of such services; the staffing arrangements for such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14307/14]

State Debt

Colm Keaveney

190. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance in the period from April 2016 to May 2021 the total amount of Government debt that will need to be rolled-over by new borrowing; the estimate of the yearly cost of interest payments will be on Government debt in each year from 2014 to 2021, including details of what assumptions were used in arriving at estimate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12798/14]

Financial Institutions Support Scheme

Colm Keaveney

191. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the total cost to the State of the bank guarantee introduced on 29 September 2008; the total amount received from the various banks in fees relating to this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12800/14]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Colm Keaveney

573. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of recipients of working age on income supports and the total number of recipients of working age on employment supports, resident in the town of Loughrea, County Galway, for January of each year from 2012 to 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14217/14]

Health Services

Colm Keaveney

1015. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Galway may expect to receive rehabilitative treatment as it is critical they receive treatment in the next four to six weeks to aid their recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13066/14]

Special Educational Needs Data

Colm Keaveney

70. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of pupils currently within Gaelscoileanna; the total number of special needs assistants working in Gaelscoileanna; the total number of pupils and SNAs currently within the primary sector as a whole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12534/14]

Health Services Staff Data

Colm Keaveney

192. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of therapists employed in psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language for children with disabilities in each of the four Health Service Executive regions for each year from 2007 to 2014; the waiting times for each service by region for each year from 2007 to 2014; the number of children on the waiting list for each service by region for each year from 2007 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12257/14]

Primary Care Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

196. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide further details on the Health Service Executive initiative of providing speech, language and psychology interventions in group workshops to parents of children with special needs rather than providing these supports directly to the children; the savings generated through this initiative in each of the four HSE areas; the number of parents who have been removed from the waiting list for these therapies as a result of their being unable to attend a group workshop in each of the four HSE areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12261/14]

Primary Care Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

197. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form of the number of children aged under 18 years who are on the waiting list for psychology services, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy for between one and two years, two and three years, three and four years and over four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12264/14]

Primary Care Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

198. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide further detail on the criteria used to assign priority status to children with disabilities in relation to psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12265/14]

Primary Care Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

199. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of children discharged from the HSE's books each week in relation to psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language supports; the number of children assigned an inactive status due to inadequate resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12266/14]

Primary Care Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

200. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form, and by therapy, the total budget to provide the speech and language, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology services in each of the four Health Service Executive areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12267/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Colm Keaveney

147. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the funding for a school (details supplied) in County Galway will be released; the details of the location of the school; the start and completion dates for the construction of the school; any factors that may be causing a delay in the commencement of construction of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11921/14]

Unemployment Data

Colm Keaveney

268. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the numbers of persons on the live register, on any job activation scheme, or on a disability or invalidity payment, in January of 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12038/14]

Road Improvement Schemes

Colm Keaveney

282. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will release funding, through the National Roads Authority or otherwise, to Galway County Council to put in place a footpath leading to St. Michael’s Cemetery on Tynagh Road, Portumna and to widen the road for parking and to allow emergency vehicles get through while funerals are taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11387/14]

VAT Rate Application

Colm Keaveney

53. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance in view of the confusion that has arisen between various wholesalers and which has now become a point of concern for consumers if he will clarify the VAT treatment of herbal or fruit-based teas, in particular where such teas do not contain tea leaves derived from tea plants; if such herbal and fruit-based teas are liable for VAT over 0%, if he will consider altering the VAT treatment to make these zero rated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11068/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Colm Keaveney

123. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will enact in full the provisions of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10982/14]

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Colm Keaveney

135. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reasons that the Office of Public Works has not taken immediate action to alleviate regular flooding at a location (details supplied) in County Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that his Department has full knowledge of this situation for the last decade; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that up to six families cannot access their homes by road and that farmers and animals are also affected; the action he proposes to take; when will works commence; the amount of money being allocated for this project; if he will allocate the necessary funds to Galway County Council for these urgent and critical works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10806/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

493. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health his response to the latest Children's Rights Alliance report card, which for a second year running downgrades the Government's performance on mental health and is now awarding an E grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10967/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

494. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if an investigation has been held into the circumstances leading to the admission of 68 children into adult psychiatric wards in 2013; if those circumstances have been addressed and in what manner; if this practice will finally be discontinued in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10970/14]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Colm Keaveney

9. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the plans to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9493/14]

Victim Support Services

Colm Keaveney

28. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he agrees with the assertion in a recent Irish Council for Civil Liberties study (details supplied) that persons with disabilities who are victims of crime remain largely invisible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9727/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Colm Keaveney

126. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that children with dyslexia are receiving the help they require in school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8969/14]

Third Level Participation

Colm Keaveney

149. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to ensure a greater participation by persons with disabilities in third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8968/14]

Commencement of Legislation

Colm Keaveney

633. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the aspects of the Disability Act 2005 that are yet to be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9494/14]

Medical Card Applications

Colm Keaveney

694. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway is likely to receive their medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9488/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Colm Keaveney

243. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions that are being made to provide a special needs assistant for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who is due to start primary school in September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7511/14]

Services for People with Disabilities

Colm Keaveney

4. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the way he will address the deficit of early intervention teams for children in many parts of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7187/14]

Services for People with Disabilities

Colm Keaveney

56. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the way he will address the absence of early intervention teams for children in many areas of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6927/14]

Mental Health Services Funding

Colm Keaveney

64. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the reason funding has been withdrawn from the National Service Users Executive in 2014; if this action is compatible with the implementation of A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6928/14]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Applications

Colm Keaveney

156. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the plans, either now or in the future, to compensate a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the cessation of the turf cutting compensation scheme as this person was awarded compensation at the beginning of the scheme and has now been told that they no longer qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7371/14]

Vaccine Damage Compensation Scheme

Colm Keaveney

213. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in reference to his reply on 23 January 2014 on children and adults with narcolepsy, where he referred to his discussion with the Chief Medical Officer about a no-fault compensation scheme, if he will explain the stage these discussions are at; what the proposal contains; the way he proposes to compensate children and adults with narcolepsy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7069/14]

Vaccine Damage Compensation Scheme

Colm Keaveney

214. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in reference to his reply on 23 January 2014 in respect of children and adults with narcolepsy, the basis on which the prognosis is better than previously indicated; the timeframe for this improved prognosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7070/14]

Vaccine Damage Compensation Scheme

Colm Keaveney

215. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in reference to his reply on 23 January 2014 in respect of children and adults with narcolepsy, if he will accept an invitation from Sufferers of Unique Narcolepsy Disorder to meet affected families and not just the committee members of that organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7071/14]

Speech and Language Therapy

Colm Keaveney

578. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a county breakdown of the number of children currently on waiting lists for speech and language therapies; the numbers waiting six months or less; the numbers waiting six months to 12 months; the numbers waiting 12 months to 24 months; and the numbers waiting more than 24 months. [6287/14]

Services for People with Disabilities

Colm Keaveney

21. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his priorities for the disability sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5292/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

186. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to an independent report commissioned into the relative merits of retaining acute psychiatric beds in St Brigid’s Ballinasloe or Roscommon Hospital, when that report was commissioned; when was it delivered to his office; the way the template for the scoring was devised; if it was based on a template for comparisons between other respective hospital sites, if so which one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5847/14]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Colm Keaveney

191. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that with regard to the practices used by the Health Service Executive in the employment of psychologists that only those with the specific title of clinical psychologist are allowed to apply for the vast majority of positions; if counselling or educational psychologists are excluded from being appointed; if such a practice would be compatible with international best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5877/14]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Colm Keaveney

192. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of counselling psychologists that have successfully completed Health Service Executive interview processes since the start of 2011; the number that have been placed on employment panels that are still active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5878/14]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Colm Keaveney

193. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has contacted postgraduate clinical psychology training programmes in the UK to invite applications for HSE posts rather than make use of psychologists who have trained here, have been successful at interview and remain on HSE employment panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5879/14]

Housing Adaptation Grant Data

Colm Keaveney

102. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a county breakdown of the total number of housing adaptation grants distributed in 2010 to 2013, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5020/14]

Respite Care Grant Payments

Colm Keaveney

110. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has carried out any analysis of the impact of the respite grant cut in the 2013 budget on the lives of persons with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3678/14]

Disability Support Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

126. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection the activation measures she has in place for 2014 to help persons with a disability to find employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3677/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Colm Keaveney

241. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been a change in Government policy in respect of the treatment of self-employed workers' income with respect to third level grants, as per Student Universal Support Ireland's response, dated 15 January 2014, to an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3484/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Colm Keaveney

318. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to rectify flooding at a location (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3846/14]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Colm Keaveney

715. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the building designated to be used as a public health centre in Portumna is now infested with vermin and is unfit for the purpose for which it was provided; the action that has been taken to rectify same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3812/14]

Action Plan for Jobs

Colm Keaveney

9. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 will be published; if it will contain measures to help persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2925/14]

Action Plan for Jobs

Colm Keaveney

30. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way his Department's measures were undertaken in the Action Plan for Jobs 2013 to help persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2926/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Colm Keaveney

77. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, for the purposes of allocation of special needs resources, he will examine the case for adding Down syndrome to the list of complex, low incidence disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2352/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Colm Keaveney

78. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he will take to improve the educational experience of children with Down syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2353/14]

Hospital Appointment Status

Colm Keaveney

201. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect to receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2998/14]

Mental Health Act Review

Colm Keaveney

629. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the review of the Mental Health Act 2001, which was committed to in the 2011 programme for Government, and which has been under consideration by the expert group since August 2012; the date on which the review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2644/14]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Colm Keaveney

335. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the regional breakdown of the community mental health positions appointed following the budget 2012 €35 million allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2078/14]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Colm Keaveney

336. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the regional breakdown of the community mental health positions appointed following the budget 2013 €35 million allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2079/14]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Colm Keaveney

337. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the proposed regional breakdown of the community mental health positions appointed following the budget 2013 €20 million allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2080/14]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Colm Keaveney

668. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) may expect to receive a headage payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1271/14]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Appeals

Colm Keaveney

670. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect a decision on an appeal for an AEOS 3 grant. [1287/14]

Services for People with Disabilities

Colm Keaveney

900. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of early intervention teams for children in each local health area; the total number on each team; the numbers of children in each area waiting for an appointment with a team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1691/14]

Mental Health Services Funding

Colm Keaveney

11. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the reason the programme for Government commitment on ringfenced funding of €35 million for community mental health posts is not being honoured in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54108/13]

Mental Health Services Funding

Colm Keaveney

21. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the way mental health services will be developed in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54109/13]

Flood Prevention Measures

Colm Keaveney

267. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the actions the Office of Public Works has taken to rectify and relieve flooding that has occurred in the village of Pollaturick, Tuam, County Galway, following works carried out by the OPW and by Galway County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53949/13]

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Colm Keaveney

311. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect a decision regarding a jobseeker's appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53972/13]

Work Placement Programmes

Colm Keaveney

73. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider making the Gateway scheme accessible to those on a disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53164/13]

Childcare Education and Training Scheme Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

158. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for the process adopted that resulted in Early Childhood Ireland and Border Counties Childcare Network being awarded €900,000 to train 630 people working in the child care sector; if the process adopted an open tendering process and, if not, the reason for same; if the payment structure was agreed-outcome based, and, if not, the payment structure agreed and the timeframe for payment; the way the figure of €900,000 was arrived at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53173/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Colm Keaveney

173. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect to receive an appointment for her awaited medical procedure, considering she was placed on a waiting list in April 2012. [53169/13]

National Treasury Management Agency Deposits

Colm Keaveney

48. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the annual cost of carrying on the existing cash balances held by the National Treasury Management Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51166/13]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Colm Keaveney

142. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding the recruitment of junior diplomats to his Department, the criteria that were applied in the selection of the type of psychometric tests used at stage one of the recruitment process; if the decision to depart from traditional testing methods, that is, verbal, numeral reasoning and job simulation, in favour of verbal and abstract reasoning was made by his Department or by the Public Appointments Service; in view of the nature of the role, his views on whether personality and-or job simulation would be a key selection method at stage one; if administrating stage one of the process online has resulted in any potential candidates being disadvantaged, in particular those with special requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50544/13]

Departmental Functions

Colm Keaveney

486. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the contingency plans his Department has to continue to deliver essential services in the event of a local authority becoming insolvent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50718/13]

Tax Code

Colm Keaveney

166. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that when printed matter is purchased and downloaded via the Internet it is considered to be a service within the meaning of electronically supplied services in the Fourth Schedule to the VAT Act, 1972 (as amended); in view of the fact that this has the effect of discouraging the use of e-books by schools in place of printed books, if he will consider altering the aforementioned Schedule so that e-books would no longer be considered a service and instead be zero rated as with printed material; if he will consider a derogation for education ebooks in this manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48889/13]

Weight of Schoolbags

Colm Keaveney

225. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the issue of the weight of children's schoolbags; the risk they may pose to the health of children; the action he is taking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48887/13]

Weight of Schoolbags

Colm Keaveney

231. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the responsibility his Department has for addressing the issue of the weight of children's schoolbags and the potential risk to their health; the actions his Department has taken to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48888/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Colm Keaveney

627. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) may expect to receive an appointment for surgery in Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48799/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Colm Keaveney

85. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection the numbers of persons broken down by payment and by year, in September of each year from 2008 to 2013, inclusive, in receipt in each of the following payments, illness benefit, disability allowance, the blind pension, injury benefit, disablement benefit, invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48586/13]

Flood Prevention Measures

Colm Keaveney

155. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following works carried out by the Office of Public Works to a bridge near a person's land (details supplied) in County Galway, his plans to rectify the drainage issues causing flooding to this person's property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47920/13]