Parliamentary questions

Medical Card Eligibility

Denis Naughten

733. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive continues to refuse medical card applications for those in receipt of the maximum rate of social welfare possible for their age when this is under €164 per week despite agreement between the Ombudsman and the Health Service Executive in 2012 that a person is to be considered financially independent when he or she is in receipt of income equivalent to or greater than the current standard rate of supplementary welfare allowance applicable to his or her age; the reason the guidelines have not been updated to reflect the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3916/14]

Driver Licence Applications

Denis Naughten

805. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the difficulties facing drivers who are awaiting renewal of their driver's licence and not in possession of a licence if stopped by gardaí and also if hiring a vehicle; his plans to allow a person to retain his or her driver licence pending the issuing of a new licence to address this situation; his plans to address the delays in processing renewals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3844/14]

Job Creation

Denis Naughten

15. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he is taking to secure jobs at the MBNA site in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2894/14]

Skills Shortages

Denis Naughten

21. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the initiatives he is taking in view of the report by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation regarding serious skills shortages in the ICT sector here; if he will establish an Irish technology visa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2895/14]

Flood Risk Assessments

Denis Naughten

19. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps being taken to address flood risks within the Shannon basin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2577/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Denis Naughten

30. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he is taking to implement the recommendations in the joint committee on the environment report on Shannon flooding published in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2578/14]

Value for Money Reviews

Denis Naughten

143. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date in addressing the specific issues of rural schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2279/14]

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]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Review

Denis Naughten

364. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection when the review group report on domiciliary care allowance will be published; the recommendations and implementation plan on foot of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2663/14]

Health Services

Denis Naughten

589. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the investigation that is currently taking place into the recent death and assaults at Roscommon acute psychiatric unit in May 2013; the terms of reference; when the investigation will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2372/14]

Health Services Staff Data

Denis Naughten

615. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed in the following capacity within the Health Service Executive: managers, administrators including clerical staff, doctors, nurses and other staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2512/14]

Health Services Staff Data

Denis Naughten

616. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors and nurses employed by the Health Service Executive per 1,000 population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2513/14]

Health Services Staff Data

Denis Naughten

617. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of frontline staff, the number of managers and the number of administrators including clerical staff who left the Health Service Executive following the introduction of the recruitment embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2514/14]

Health Services Staff Data

Denis Naughten

618. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed within the Health Service Executive in a managerial capacity in the years 2009; 2010; 2011; 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2515/14]

Stock Markets Regulation

Denis Naughten

20. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the steps being taken to regulate food securities trading on the stock market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1607/14]

Fuel Laundering

Denis Naughten

25. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the estimated loss to the Exchequer as a result of fuel laundering; the steps taken to curb this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1606/14]

Teacher Redeployment

Denis Naughten

95. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is possible for a permanent teacher to transfer from one Education Board to another; the mechanism to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1880/14]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Eligibility

Denis Naughten

179. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 598 of 5 November 2013, if he will provide an update on the position of those who have applied for compensation but do not appear to fulfil the qualifying criteria of the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for a variety of reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1925/14]

Diplomatic Representation

Denis Naughten

78. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions his Department is taking in assisting a person (details supplied) following the granting of a retrial by the Florida Supreme Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1609/14]

Property Tax Assessments

Denis Naughten

154. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if there is a mechanism for an older person to revise the value of their property under the local property tax where they inadvertently accepted the Revenue Commissioners' figure which is significantly higher than the actual value of their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1611/14]

Third Level Admissions Entry Requirements

Denis Naughten

233. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a mechanism available to a mature student to recommence a course at degree level, if they already have a masters qualification, to improve their employment prospects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1258/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Denis Naughten

281. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht report on Shannon flooding published in 2012; if he will outline the detail of the responses to date to the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1595/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Denis Naughten

282. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 14 of 21 November 2013, if the data from the water flow analysis have been collated; if he will outline any conclusion reached on foot of this analysis; if this data will now be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1597/14]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Applications

Denis Naughten

423. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the sale of a bog (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55516/13]

Flood Risk Assessments

Denis Naughten

433. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he is taking to implement the recommendations by the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht report on Shannon flooding published in 2012; if he will outline the detail of the responses to date to the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1596/14]

Housing Grant Payments

Denis Naughten

523. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of grants approved and drawn down, respectively, for each local authority in each of the past three years under the housing aid grant for older persons; the corresponding figure for such grants under €8,000 and over this figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1610/14]

Legislative Measures

Denis Naughten

598. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm that the provisions of the Criminal Law (Incest) (Amendment) Bill 2012 are incorporated into the approved heads of the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1717/14]

Mobility Allowance Review

Denis Naughten

790. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when he will make a decision on a new scheme to re-establish the mobility allowance scheme and the motorised transport grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55549/13]

Dental Services Provision

Denis Naughten

850. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to the Topical Issue debate of 18 December 2013, if he has received a response from the Health Service Executive; if he will now hold an independent investigation into all of the circumstances surrounding this case and its handling by HSE management; the steps taken to trace patients of both the public and private dental clinics involved; if he can reassure patients that there is no infection risk as a result of this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1257/14]

Ambulance Service Provision

Denis Naughten

887. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the actions that have been taken to date by the National Ambulance Service on foot of a report on a series of incidents in Health Service Executive west presented to ambulance management by SIPTU; if he will confirm that such incidents are not presently happening with the service; the further steps to be taken on foot of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1560/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Denis Naughten

892. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will undertake an independent review of the mental health services in counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1602/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Denis Naughten

893. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will review the policy whereby access to an acute mental health facility is determined by address; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1603/14]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Denis Naughten

6. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will implement the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to introduce a point to point licence for oversized HGVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54131/13]

International Agreements

Denis Naughten

24. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to develop a system of US preclearance for freight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54132/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Denis Naughten

130. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number and location of severe and profound special classes that are located in mainstream primary schools; the corresponding schools at second level; the steps which are being taken to improve the main streaming of such classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54860/13]

Farm Inspections

Denis Naughten

292. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 23 of 12 December 2013, if he will furnish a breakdown on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54859/13]

Agriculture Schemes Payments

Denis Naughten

293. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers on a county basis awaiting the first instalment of their single farm payments and disadvantaged areas payments, respectively; if he will ensure that a partial payment is made to all farmers while outstanding issues are being resolved in view of the serious financial hardship as a result of borrowings and credit for fodder earlier this year; the corresponding number awaiting the final instalment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54861/13]

Ambulance Service Provision

Denis Naughten

354. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 495 of 12 November 2013, if the national ambulance service has received a report regarding serious incidents in the region during the period in question; the response by the service to such a report; the steps which have been taken to address these concerns; the corresponding figures for dropped shifts in the month of November; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54862/13]

Ambulance Service Provision

Denis Naughten

355. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance-AP shifts that have been dropped at each ambulance base nationwide in each of the past four months; the implications of these dropped shifts on response times and patient outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54863/13]

Orthodontic Service Provision

Denis Naughten

366. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 164 of 28 November 2013, if he has received a response from the Health Service Executive; if he will now have an independent investigation into all of the circumstances surrounding this case and its handling by HSE management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54924/13]

Ambulance Service Response Times

Denis Naughten

6. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in the Health Service Executive west region since the introduction of standardised ambulance response times; the steps being taken to improve ambulance response times in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53981/13]

National Stroke Programme

Denis Naughten

22. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to increase thrombolysis rates for stroke patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53982/13]

National Educational Welfare Board Remit

Denis Naughten

74. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she is taking to expand the role of the National Educational Welfare Board by liaising with other Departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53713/13]

Child Care Services Provision

Denis Naughten

102. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take to address the availability and affordability of regulated child care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53712/13]

Live Exports

Denis Naughten

8. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to develop the live export trade to the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52931/13]

Farm Inspections

Denis Naughten

23. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish the inspection penalty rate for randomised on-farm inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52932/13]

Pension Provisions

Denis Naughten

97. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that pensioners are given a right of audience with pension scheme trustees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53448/13]

Air Ambulance Service Provision

Denis Naughten

22. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence his plans to expand the role of the emergency aeromedical support service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52681/13]

Air Ambulance Service Provision

Denis Naughten

27. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence the number of missions performed by the emergency aeromedical support service to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52682/13]

Tax Code

Denis Naughten

45. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the provisions within the taxation code which provide preferential tax treatment to non-residents over Irish residents; the reason for any such provision and the cost to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53282/13]