Parliamentary questions

Free Travel Scheme Administration

Dessie Ellis

301. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to work with her counterparts in the Stormont Assembly to have free travel passes recognised on a cross-Border basis in view of the fact that currently a person eligible for free travel going to Belfast from Dublin would need to buy a ticket crossing the Border and vice versa for someone travelling from Belfast. [52667/12]

Unfinished Housing Developments

Dessie Ellis

385. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the money for works to be carried out on an estate (details supplied) in County Longford are earmarked for particular works on the site; what those works are; and the way these decisions were made. [54049/12]

Judicial Pay

Dessie Ellis

456. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount a person (details supplied) was being paid in sick leave since June 2011 until their recent resignation [54092/12]

Judicial Pay

Dessie Ellis

457. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount a person (details supplied) may expect as a lump sum and annual pension payment following their recent retirement. [54093/12]

Departmental Agencies Board Remuneration

Dessie Ellis

673. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form all payments made to board members of the National Transport Authority including payments, salaries, expenses, mileage, and other allowances and so on since the 1 of January 2012. [53705/12]

Departmental Agencies Board Remuneration

Dessie Ellis

674. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if board members of the National Transport Authority are required to provide receipts when claiming expenses; the number of board members of the National Transport Authority who make regular use of public transport such as Dublin Bus, Luas and/or DART; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53706/12]

Road Network

Dessie Ellis

691. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding plans to build a bridge across the rail line at a location (details supplied) in Dublin 7. [54393/12]

Rail Network

Dessie Ellis

692. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of manually operated railway crossings here and his plans to update same. [54394/12]

Land Acquisition

Dessie Ellis

15. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has had any discussions with a company (details supplied) regarding land purchases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53330/12]

Household Charge Collection

Dessie Ellis

162. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a household which had not paid the household charge went into probate, would those who take ownership of the home after the process has been completed be liable for late fines or interest on the charge [53408/12]

Household Charge Collection

Dessie Ellis

163. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the person who is liable for the payment of the household charge in a situation where a person is only in control of a portion of their home having entered into an agreement with a company (details supplied). [53409/12]

Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga

Dessie Ellis

45. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas faoin gcónascadh atá beartaithe idir Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga agus Oifig an Ombudsman, cé na himpleachtaí a bheidh ag an gcinneadh seo d’fhostaithe Oifig an Choimisinéara, agus cé na haistrithe atá beartaithe sna míonna atá le teacht de bharr an chinnidh seo. [52980/12]

National Cultural Institutions

Dessie Ellis

47. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he has put in place for the National Museum and the National Library to share services such as communications, procurement, security and marketing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53059/12]

Air Services Provision

Dessie Ellis

146. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on progress made in improving safety regulations for pilots across the EU but especially in Ireland where some work conditions are not conducive to ensuring that pilots are at their best when flying in particular flight time limitations; if he is concerned that current proposals are not sufficiently in line with what research has found to be best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52660/12]

Taxi Regulations

Dessie Ellis

157. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the development of a Taxi Regulation Bill; when he hopes it will be before Dáil Eireann and if he has a time line planned for the following stages and enactment. [52661/12]

Foras na Gaeilge

Dessie Ellis

439. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén maoiniú atá curtha ar fáil don áisíneacht trasteorann, Foras na Gaeilge, don bhliain 2012 [52299/12]

Foras na Gaeilge

Dessie Ellis

440. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén céatadán de mhaoiniú Fhoras na Gaeilge a caitheadh ar thuarastail gach bliain ó 2008 [52300/12]

Foras na Gaeilge

Dessie Ellis

441. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil fostaithe Fhoras na Gaeilge atá lonnaithe ó dheas ag feidhmiú faoi ráta tuarastail atá bunaithe ar an gciorclán is déanaí de chuid na Státseirbhíse, Ciorclán 28/2009 [52301/12]

Foras na Gaeilge

Dessie Ellis

442. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ar íocadh incrimintí le foireann Fhoras na Gaeilge ó 2008 [52302/12]

Foras na Gaeilge

Dessie Ellis

443. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén céatadán de mhaoiniú Fhoras na Gaeilge a caitheadh ar phinsin iarfhostaithe gach bliain ó 2008 [52303/12]

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Dessie Ellis

479. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form, the number of staff in their Department, or in bodies which fall under the remit of the Department, whose annual remuneration including salary, pension and benefits at 31 December 2011 fell into bands of €400,000 and above, between €300,000 to €399,999, between €200,000 to €299,999 and between €150,000 to €199,000; if he will provide a breakdown of the positions held by the staff in the relevant pay brackets [52554/12]

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Dessie Ellis

480. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has made any contacts requesting staff whose annual salary is in excess of €200,000 in their Department or in any body under the remit of their Department, to waive 15% of their salary or such amount in excess of €200,000 whichever is the lesser; if he has, the date on which he/she first made this contact; the number of staff whose annual salaries were in excess of €200,000 at that date; the number of staff who acquiesced to the request for the waiver; the number of staff who refused the request for the waiver and the number of staff who have not responded to the request for the waiver. [52555/12]

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Dessie Ellis

718. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form, the number of staff in hi Department, or in bodies which fall under the remit of his Department, whose annual remuneration including salary, pension and benefits at 31 December 2011 fell into bands of €400,000 and above, between €300,000 to €399,999, between €200,000 to €299,999 and between €150,000 to €199,000; and if he will provide a breakdown of the positions held by the staff in the relevant pay brackets. [52564/12]

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Dessie Ellis

719. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has made any contacts requesting staff whose annual salary is in excess of €200,000 in his Department or in any body under the remit of his Department, to waive 15% of their salary or such amount in excess of €200,000 whichever is the lesser; if he has, the date on which he first made this contact; the number of staff whose annual salaries were in excess of €200,000 at that date; the number of staff who acquiesced to the request for the waiver; the number of staff who refused the request for the waiver and the number of staff who have not responded to the request for the waiver. [52565/12]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Dessie Ellis

8. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to safeguard and promote jobs within the faltering indigenous small and medium enterprises retail sector in the State. [51895/12]

Action Plan for Jobs

Dessie Ellis

17. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the initiatives that his Department is taking to address the structural nature of long term unemployment through job creation. [51896/12]

Narcolepsy Issues

Dessie Ellis

630. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he will make a commitment to provide supports for children who contracted narcolepsy associated with the Pandemrix vaccine after they turned 18 years, particularly those who are in continuing education. [51484/12]

Taxi Regulations

Dessie Ellis

664. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has any knowledge of plans to remove the taxi rank on the island of O'Connell Street, Dublin, outside a hotel (details supplied). [51405/12]

State Investments

Dessie Ellis

42. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Finance the value of cash reserves and all other investments held by the National Treasury Management Agency and the National Pensions Reserve Fund at the end of September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50245/12]

UN Resolutions

Dessie Ellis

43. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the upcoming UN resolution on observer state status for Palestine, which is likely to occur this month; and if he has discussed this resolution with other EU States. [50106/12]

Social Welfare Code Issues

Dessie Ellis

135. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on any progress made and the nature of negotiations that she has had with energy and other suppliers with a view to receiving greater value under the household benefits package without cutting the scheme. [49855/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Dessie Ellis

147. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will direct that all unsuccessful applicants for social welfare payments be given their complete file, including comments of deciding officers automatically, to aid in their appeals, thereby avoiding the expense and inconvenience of having to go through the freedom of information procedure. [49854/12]

Social Welfare Benefits Applications

Dessie Ellis

349. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she will take to resolve the issue where taxi drivers who are unable to work due to an injury for an extended period are asked to give up their car insurance, and so lose their licence, to meet the requirements to be considered unable to work, even if they present their meter printouts which prove they are not operating the taxi on which they depend for their livelihood. [49544/12]

Health Services Provision

Dessie Ellis

624. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health his plans for a health centre (details supplied) in Dublin 9 which has had a reduction in services recently causing many residents to fear there might be plans to close it [49726/12]

Vaccination Programme

Dessie Ellis

15. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if and when the signalled package of supports for children who contracted narcolepsy associated with the Pandemrix vaccine will be made available; the other measures that will be undertaken in this regard;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48963/12]

Services for People with Disabilities

Dessie Ellis

34. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he has carried out an audit of the cumulative effects of cuts to funding for disability services in recent years; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such cuts are now threatening the very existence of basic services; and if he will ensure that no further cuts to funding of services for persons with disabilities will be imposed in the forthcoming budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48962/12]

Áisíneachtaí Tras-Teorann

Dessie Ellis

178. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den an Tánaiste agus Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála cén maoiniú atá curtha ar fáil do na háisíneachtaí trasteorann don bhliain 2012; cén céatadán den mhaoiniú a caitheadh ar thuarastail gach bliain ó 2008; an bhfuil fostaithe na n-áisíneachtaí atá lonnaithe ó dheas ag feidhmiú faoi ráta tuarastail atá bunaithe ar an gciorclán is déanaí de chuid na Státseirbhíse, Ciorclán 28/2009; ar íocadh incrimintí le foireann na n-áisíneachtaí sin ó 2008; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [48605/12]

Housing for People with Disabilities

Dessie Ellis

688. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he will take to assist the emerging generation of children with disabilities and their parents living in apartments, who through negative equity or being tied into affordable housing conditions cannot adapt their accommodation through housing adaption grants or council assistance and are as a result living in inaccessible, unadaptable accommodation that poses a severe health and safety risk to the whole family. [47749/12]

Garda Investigations

Dessie Ellis

790. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the forensic files relating to the attempted bombing of the Widow Scallan's pub and the murder of person (details supplied) will be released for scrutiny to his family. [47946/12]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Dessie Ellis

244. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has designated an estate (details supplied) in County Longford as unsafe; and if this has any effect on the safety of the neighbouring primary care unit [46696/12]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Dessie Ellis

245. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the way the decision was made to place a primary care unit in County Longford on a flood plain with no sufficient transport links [46697/12]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Dessie Ellis

246. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the person who owns the land rented for the site of the primary care unit in County Longford [46698/12]

Regeneration Projects Expenditure

Dessie Ellis

404. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated cost of the construction of a road from Woodhazel Terrace to Ballymun via Coultry Road, Dublin 9; and the estimated penalty costs if the contract is cancelled. [45880/12]

National Car Test

Dessie Ellis

709. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the concerns about the reliability of NCT testing due to the considerable pressure put on inspectors to carry out examinations of vehicles in a shorter time than is possible under normal circumstances; and the measures he intends to take to ensure that all procedures required for proper testing of vehicles are abided by. [45901/12]

Public Transport Provision

Dessie Ellis

2. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the provision of public transport and smarter travel options across the State while at the same time reducing the public transport subvention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45456/12]

Sports Funding

Dessie Ellis

5. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the increase in homelessness and the recent success of the Irish team at the Homeless World Cup, if he will provide funding for this initiative; if he will meet with representatives from the homeless street leagues to discuss the way the various State agencies at national and local level can best support this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45455/12]

Taxi Regulations

Dessie Ellis

25. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the implementation of uniform decals for taxis. [45129/12]

Human Rights Issues

Dessie Ellis

7. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the ongoing threats to trade unionists, civil society leaders, and human rights and defence lawyers, his views regarding the recent 50% cut in the petrol allowance that is given by the Colombian Government in order that trade union and civil society leaders can use protective vehicles. [44811/12]

International Relations

Dessie Ellis

55. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by the families of Cuban 5, Miami 5 in accessing visas to visit loved ones incarcerated in jail, that some of the families have never been able to have visit them; and his views on this matter. [44823/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

Dessie Ellis

155. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) has not been paid to them. [44986/12]