Parliamentary questions

Public Transport

Jim Daly

279. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of public service vehicles, including buses, directly operated or contracted by the State that are not fitted with safety belts; his views on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36183/14]

Work Placement Programmes

Jim Daly

71. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the up-to-date figures relating to the number of persons participating on the Gateway scheme by council and the number of persons whom have had their payments discontinued for a period following a call-up for the Gateway scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35232/14]

Work Placement Programmes

Jim Daly

72. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the number of persons who have voluntarily left the live register as a result of being called up to participate on the Gateway scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35233/14]

Hospital Services

Jim Daly

386. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to any technical difficulties with the blood testing laboratory at Cork University Hospital; and if he will confirm that the laboratory is in full functioning order. [35779/14]

Student Assistance Fund

Jim Daly

428. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills while recognising the supports currently available under the student assistance fund, her plans to allow recipients of the BETA access to maintenance payments under the SUSI scheme as allowed for by recipients of the one-parent family payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35259/14]

Rental Accommodation Scheme Administration

Jim Daly

512. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options available to rental accommodation scheme housing tenants whose agreement will not be renewed by the receiver of the property, noting the persons have resided in the property for 15 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35793/14]

Pension Provisions

Jim Daly

196. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider amending legislation to allow persons who are financially struggling to survive to draw down early all or a portion of a retirement pension fund which was set aside in better times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33133/14]

Mortgage Data

Jim Daly

236. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will request the Central Bank of Ireland to publish the number of mortgages held in covered institutions that have been converted from a tracker rate to a variable rate in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33588/14]

Fodder Crisis

Jim Daly

455. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the imported fodder transport scheme will issue in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33820/14]

Tobacco Control Measures

Jim Daly

768. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the introduction of a law to make it illegal for persons to smoke who were born after the year 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32905/14]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Jim Daly

1640. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if areas (details supplied) in County Cork are included in the indicative list of locations for fibre build-out as part of the State intervention under the national broadband plan; if his attention has been drawn to the unacceptable levels of service available in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33847/14]

Energy Conservation

Jim Daly

232. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all publicly funded schools here will be able to monitor and report on their energy usage and reductions from January 2015 as legally required in accordance with Statutory Instrument 542 of 2009; the savings in energy use and in spending on energy as a percentage of capitation funding her Department has targeted from all schools for 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32411/14]

Energy Usage

Jim Daly

435. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the data for public sector energy use in 2011, 2012 and 2013 will be published; the reason for the delay in releasing this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32412/14]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Jim Daly

183. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31709/14]

Tax Code

Jim Daly

178. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will request the Revenue Commissioners to arrange an oral hearing of an appeal for a voluntary organisation (details supplied) in County Cork which has been refused a VRT repayment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31030/14]

Tax Reliefs Eligibility

Jim Daly

261. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance the exceptions to the rules governing the tax relief for vehicles purchased for use by persons with disabilities where the sole carer is not a family member and the person being cared for is not a ward of court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31472/14]

Work Placement Programmes

Jim Daly

363. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have chosen to forego their social welfare payment rather that than take up a position on the Gateway scheme after being called for interview; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30753/14]

Property Tax Data

Jim Daly

191. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance the total number of local property tax returns filed under bands 1 and 2, that is, property value of €150,000 or less; the number of these returns that relate to principle private residences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29496/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Jim Daly

295. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the proposed start and completion dates in relation to the pending re-development of a college (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29860/14]

Social Welfare Appeals

Jim Daly

422. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied with a social welfare appeal being furnished to an appeals officer in early February of this year in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29778/14]

Departmental Correspondence

Jim Daly

448. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update in relation to correspondence submitted to his office on 8 May 2014 (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29559/14]

Health Services Provision

Jim Daly

686. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health the action he will take to address the current seven-week waiting time for adult ophthalmic services as confirmed by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29128/14]

Medical Card Data

Jim Daly

743. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of valid non-discretionary medical cards currently held [29495/14]

Health Services Access

Jim Daly

755. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to cases where social workers for organisations such as Enable Ireland and citizen's information are advising persons that they cannot avail of services such as personal care assistants, assisted living scheme and public health nurse visits unless they have a medical card; if this is correct information; if he is satisfied with this arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29656/14]

Road Projects

Jim Daly

818. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will detail the scheduling of pavement improvements to a section of the N71 in west Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29498/14]

Road Safety

Jim Daly

826. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will instruct the National Roads Authority to immediately review the traffic flow arrangements at Owenahincha junction on the N71 at Rosscarbery, County Cork, noting the multiple road traffic accidents over many years which are frequent and which have unfortunately been fatal for some motorists and passengers; if will further note the willingness of adjoining landowners to facilitate any planned road improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29561/14]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Jim Daly

137. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance the number of mortgage holders of each financial institution operating here whose repayment schedule and interest rate was either aligned to at the time or due to be converted to an ECB tracker rate at a point in the future who have since converted to a variable rate, waived entitlement to a tracker rate for the period of 2008 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28250/14]

School Accommodation

Jim Daly

187. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider funding a proposal to provide alternative temporary accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28376/14]

Flood Relief Schemes Data

Jim Daly

205. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the Skibbereen flood relief scheme; the commencement and completion dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28347/14]

Flood Relief Schemes Data

Jim Daly

206. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the Clonakilty flood relief scheme; the commencement and completion dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28348/14]

Flood Relief Schemes Data

Jim Daly

207. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the Bandon flood relief scheme; the commencement and completion dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28349/14]

Post Office Network

Jim Daly

254. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a post office in west Cork has been closed to the public for the past three months; that social welfare customers are not able to collect payments without travelling 10 km to another post office; if she will seek a commitment from An Post that services will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28418/14]

Water Services Provision

Jim Daly

296. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the Bandon main drainage scheme; the commencement and completion dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28350/14]

Architectural Qualifications

Jim Daly

329. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has given further consideration to the status of Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists members being recognised as assigned certifiers; if can assist them further in any way to allow them to certify works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28288/14]

Seniors Alert Scheme

Jim Daly

330. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding avenues available for elderly persons who require a personal alarm monitor, for persons who have had to discontinue a landline telephone service subsequent to the subsidy being discontinued in the latest budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28309/14]

Community Alert Programme

Jim Daly

370. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if additional funding has been awarded to neighbourhood watch and community alert groups in recent times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28310/14]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Jim Daly

95. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27455/14]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Jim Daly

263. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the categories of existing contributors that are exempt from the changes made in budget 2012 which required the number of stamps to be increased from 260 to 520 to qualify for a contributory pension; her views on whether it is fair and reasonable that a person, who had the required amount of stamps paid in 2012 to qualify for a contributory pension in 2015 and for whom it is not possible to acquire the required additional stamps in the allowed timeframe, does not now qualify for the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26620/14]

Driver Licence Renewals

Jim Daly

675. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if postal applications may be submitted as an option to apply for and-or renew driving licences instead of persons having to present themselves at driving licence centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26821/14]

Civil Registration Legislation

Jim Daly

91. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing a registered solemniser to solemnise a marriage in a public place that is easily identifiable by its address; that it is open to the public to enter at all reasonable times rather than it having to be a public building to facilitate outdoor ceremonies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26323/14]

Insurance Industry Regulation

Jim Daly

184. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide any financial assistance to those who lost their insurance premiums following the recent collapse of Setanta Insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25925/14]

Civil Marriages Data

Jim Daly

108. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the current law which excludes persons from arranging a marriage ceremony outdoors or in marquees (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25015/14]

Insurance Costs

Jim Daly

169. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the extraordinarily high car insurance quotations being given to many of our citizens who are returning from years of forced emigration and the failure of insurance companies to acknowledge previous driving experience; if he will raise this issue with the regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24840/14]

Residential Property Sales

Jim Daly

120. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the assistance, incentives or grants available to first-time buyers of residential properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23897/14]

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Jim Daly

135. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a farm payment appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23851/14]

IBRC Liquidation

Jim Daly

51. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the arrangement for customers of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation who have partial draw-down of funding remaining on contracted mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23457/14]

Mortgage Schemes

Jim Daly

127. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance the assistance, incentives or grants available to first-time buyers of residential properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22811/14]

Research and Development Supports

Jim Daly

139. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider sponsoring a review of Ireland's competitiveness for attracting inward investment and research and development, noting in particular the increased competition and suite of tax incentives being offered by the United Kingdom with the patent box and overhauled corporate tax rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22954/14]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Jim Daly

353. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22189/14]

Building Regulations Compliance

Jim Daly

551. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options available to a person (details supplied) to regularise a situation after the commencement of the construction of a dwelling under a valid planning permission which omitted, in error, to submit a commencement notice to the building control authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22805/14]