Parliamentary questions

Job Creation Issues

Martin Ferris

36. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of jobs welcomed by his Department for each of the past three years, and the number of these additional jobs in situ by the end of each year. [51899/12]

Parliamentary Inquiries

Martin Ferris

36. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a brief comparison between the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2012 provisions and the provisions for parliamentary inquiries in other jurisdictions that his Department considered. [51557/12]

Public Sector Reform Review

Martin Ferris

38. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received outsourcing plans from Health, Education, Justice and Local Government; if he will provide the short-list developed by his reform and delivery office of potential services to be prioritised for outsourcing broken down by Department or agency. [51558/12]

Tax Collection

Martin Ferris

225. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if it is still the case that Revenue will only ask for a medical certificate when assessing incapacitated child tax credit claims with a first claim when it is not obvious that the incapacity is of a serious and permanent nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51444/12]

Tax Collection

Martin Ferris

226. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether it is appropriate for Revenue to ask the parents of a Down's Syndrome child who are claiming incapacitated child tax credits to provide medical evidence that their child is incapacitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51445/12]

Promissory Note Negotiations

Martin Ferris

33. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the ongoing negotiations with the troika on the resolution of the Anglo Irish Bank promissory note; if the technical paper that was to be agreed in February 2012 has yet to be agreed; if it has not been agreed, the date on which he thinks it will be completed; the reason for the delay and the obstacles that are preventing agreement between the troika and the Government on this issue. [50516/12]

Promissory Note Negotiations

Martin Ferris

57. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance the date on which payments are due in 2013 to Irish Bank Resolution Corporation and Bank of Ireland arising from the Anglo Irish Bank promissory note schedule of payments of 2011 and 2013. [50515/12]

Hospital Charges

Martin Ferris

255. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the daily accommodation rate at the South Infirmary Hospital, County Cork; the way the cost is calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50315/12]

Hospital Charges

Martin Ferris

256. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if patients that have paid PRSI are charged the Government in-patient levy when staying in hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50316/12]

Employment Support Services

Martin Ferris

143. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will develop a clear strategy to increase awareness of the employment supports available to persons with disabilities; and her plans for further steps regarding same. [49850/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Martin Ferris

152. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to shorten the time period that it takes to implement decisions of appeals officers. [49851/12]

Child Benefit Eligibility

Martin Ferris

387. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will state which parent is entitled to child benefit in a situation where the parents have joint custody of the child; and the basis on which the decision is made. [49968/12]

Farm Household Incomes

Martin Ferris

547. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown, on a county basis, of the number of farmers who currently receive less than €5,000 in single farm payment, those who receive between €5,000 and €9,999, between €10,000 and €19,999, between €20,000 and €29,999, between €30,000 and €39,999, between €40,000 and €49,999, between €50,000 and €59,999, between €60,000 and €69,999, between €70, 000 and €79,000, between €80,000 and €89,999, between €90,000 and €99,999 and over €100,000. [49945/12]

Poultry Industry

Martin Ferris

552. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the two poultry farms in an area (details supplied) in County Fermanagh which has contracted a disease known as samonella gallinarun leading to the destruction of 125,000 birds on one farm and 50,000 on another; if he has been in contact with his northern counterpart on this issue; if he will investigate if waste fertiliser from those farms has been used in this jurisdiction; the steps he proposes to prevent this disease affecting this jurisdiction. [50021/12]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications

Martin Ferris

563. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a single farm payment application in respect of a person (details supplied). [50118/12]

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Martin Ferris

648. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a hearing aid will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50005/12]

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Martin Ferris

649. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a hearing aid will issue to a person (details supplied). [50006/12]

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Martin Ferris

650. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a hearing aid will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [50007/12]

Health Services Reform

Martin Ferris

61. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that the Health Service Executive has taken the decision to outsource central payroll operations and its support system infrastructure; the number of staff currently working in this area broken down by HSE region; the savings expected to be made by such a move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48967/12]

Hospital Bed Statistics

Martin Ferris

79. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the restoration of the 22 beds cut from the Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, Couny Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48966/12]

School Transport Provision

Martin Ferris

283. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has had one of their remote area grant payments stopped and if it is possible to have it reinstated. [47325/12]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Martin Ferris

861. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the number of farmers who will receive less than €5,000 and €9,999; between €10,000 and €19,999; between €20,000 and €29,999; between €30,000 and €39,999; between €40,000 and €49,999; between €50,000 and €59,999; between €60,000 and €69,999; between €70, 000 and €79,000; between €80,000 and €89,999, between €90,000 and €99,999; and over €100,000; if his Department's proposals on the reform of the single farm payment were to be accepted. [47459/12]

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Staff

Martin Ferris

7. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that his plans to nominate the Director of the new Human Rights and Equality Commission are in line with best international practice and in particular with the Belgrade Principles. [46419/12]

Septic Tank Registration Scheme

Martin Ferris

82. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the financial supports that have been put in place to assist households upgrading their septic tanks to meet the new standards. [46069/12]

Jobseeker's Benefit Applications

Martin Ferris

360. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who has left their employment to seek alternative employment and have enough contributions, are entitled to claim jobseeker's benefit. [46276/12]

Farm Sizes

Martin Ferris

528. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of all farms in the State according to size; that is below 10 ha; between 10ha and 20 ha; 20 and 30 ha and so on up to the largest holdings. [45650/12]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Martin Ferris

546. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has conducted a study of the likely impact of the proposed reform of the single farm payment; and if he will make the study available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45897/12]

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Martin Ferris

570. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will support a limit of €100,000 on the amount that any person or company could receive in one year under the single farm payment, thus freeing up almost €33 million for redistribution to small to medium farm households. [46493/12]

Penalty Point System

Martin Ferris

16. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the time-frame set down by the North South Ministerial Council to harmonise penalty points on a cross border basis. [45139/12]

Tourism Promotion

Martin Ferris

80. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in a recent Euorbarometre poll over 63% of respondents listed sea as a main attraction; in view of this, the efforts he has taken to promote growth in visitor numbers to coastal communities and towns around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45125/12]

Foreign Conflicts

Martin Ferris

26. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details on his recent trip to meet the UN Assistant Secretary General in New York to discuss the current situation in Syria; if Ireland has been asked to carry out any specific tasks by the UN Assistant Secretary General to help elevate the humanitarian crisis in the region. [44813/12]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Martin Ferris

262. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he supports proposals to stop making single farm payments to businesses. [45355/12]

Social Welfare Code Issues

Martin Ferris

101. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection when she will present options for consideration, having regard, inter alia, to the results of the July 2012 actuarial review of the social insurance fund; and if the detail of these options will be made available to members of the Oireachtas well in advance of Budget 2013. [44566/12]

Gender Proofing of Policies

Martin Ferris

110. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale underpinning her cuts targets breakdown of children and families €250 million to €400 million; persons of working age €350 million to €600 million and older persons €150 million to €300 million; and if she is concerned at the impact such cuts will have on children in view of their dependence not only on child and family supports but also on persons of working age. [44565/12]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Martin Ferris

542. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that receive single farm payments of €60,000 and above, €70,000 and above, €80,000 and above and €90,000 and above. [44683/12]

Broadcasting Service Provision

Martin Ferris

29. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his plans to add a channel showing Oireachtas proceedings as a Saorview channel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43726/12]

Broadcasting Service Provision

Martin Ferris

32. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the number of Irish homes that have yet to make the switch over to Saorview; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43728/12]

Legislative Programme

Martin Ferris

36. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will include a definition of good faith in the Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest Act; and if the legislation will be introduced before the year end. [43496/12]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Martin Ferris

199. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if a disadvantaged payment was issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [43541/12]

State Examinations Issues

Martin Ferris

67. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider providing modern digital recording devices for use during State oral language exams to replace the cassette tape recorder that is currently in use. [43102/12]

School Staffing

Martin Ferris

105. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will instruct his Department to survey primary and post-primary schools to identify the vacancies they had trouble filling in recent months; and his views on the opinion that in a number of subject teaching areas insufficient applicants existed to have a robust selection process. [43101/12]

Banking Sector Staff Issues

Martin Ferris

167. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if he will explain the role of the public interest directors in the AIB and in other financial institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43169/12]

Banking Sector Staff Issues

Martin Ferris

168. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if the public interest directors in the banks provide him with regular reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43170/12]

School Transport Provision

Martin Ferris

191. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tenderers for school bus runs can have access to documents, evaluations, and other information used by evaluators in the assessment of tenders. [43172/12]

School Transport Provision

Martin Ferris

192. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tenderers for school bus runs have a right to know the basis on which tenders are accessed. [43173/12]

School Transport Provision

Martin Ferris

193. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tenderers for school bus runs can have access to evaluation reports on tenders. [43175/12]

Exploration Licences Approvals

Martin Ferris

386. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the persons who will have rights to any gas extracted from beneath Coillte owned lands in the Lough Allen Basin. [43213/12]

Nitrates Action Programme Review

Martin Ferris

402. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will consider a further extension beyond the end of October for the spreading of slurry. [43174/12]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Martin Ferris

524. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine when area aid will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [43284/12]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Martin Ferris

536. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the total funds paid to Irish recipients under the SFP in 2011, broken down for those receiving more than €99,999.99; those receiving between €50,000 and €99,999.99; those receiving between €5,000 and €49,999.99 and those receiving sums less than that. [43466/12]