Parliamentary questions

Harbour Authority Properties

Martin Ferris

902. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Dublin regarding the leasing of a premises for a vessel repair workshop on the west pier of Howth, County Dublin from his Department ; and if he intends to respond to this person on this matter. [46380/13]

Ambulance Service Response Times

Martin Ferris

1049. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in a transfer by ambulance of a seriously ill infant to the Bon Secours Hospital, Cork form Kerry General Hospital on 17 September 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45770/13]

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Martin Ferris

8. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure the Environmental Protection Agency incorporates the evidence of people adversely impacted by hydraulic fracturing in other jurisdictions in its terms of reference for its proposed report on fracking. [44983/13]

Rural Development Policy

Martin Ferris

33. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the services that will be impacted by the 49% reduction in funding to community and rural development. [44809/13]

Budget Measures

Martin Ferris

62. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department carried out any impact assessments in the run up to budget 2014 to ascertain the possible social consequences of spending changes proposed, factoring in the overall economic cost in dealing with such consequences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44838/13]

Audiology Services Provision

Martin Ferris

218. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has been waiting for more than three years for a hearing aid may expect to receive same. [45180/13]

Audiology Services Provision

Martin Ferris

219. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will have a hearing test for a hearing aid. [45181/13]

Stádas na Gaeilge san Eoraip

Martin Ferris

104. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Martin Ferris den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an mbeidh Rialtas na hÉireann, go cinnte, ag iarraidh ar an Aontas Eorpach (AE) deireadh a chur leis an maolú ar stádas na Gaeilge in AE in 2016; agus an aithníonn an tAire go bhfuil baol ann do stádas na Gaeilge in AE mura ndéantar amhlaidh faoin am sin, mar go mbeadh stádas ag an nGaeilge in AE le nach mór deich mbliana ag an bpointe sin agus go bhfuil baol ann go gcuirfear deireadh leis an stádas in ionad maolú eile a chur i bhfeidhm; agus an bhfuil imní air toisc nach bhfuil plean céimniúil curtha ar bun ag aon Rialtas ó baineadh stádas amach don Ghaeilge in AE an 1 Eanáir 2007 le fáil réidh leis an maolú faoi dháta ar leith; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44229/13]

UN Conventions

Martin Ferris

106. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department has considered applying for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culutral Organisation recognition and support for hurling under its heritage programme; and if any consideration has been given to any potential benefits to tourism here as a result of such a designation. [44242/13]

Water Supply

Martin Ferris

353. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will fund the replacement of lead piping by local authorities to prevent the danger of water becoming contaminated. [44369/13]

Job Initiatives

Martin Ferris

22. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce a facility to apply to participate on Gateway and Tús. [43376/13]

Recycling Policy

Martin Ferris

95. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reasons the Office of Public Works is refusing Kerry County Council permission to locate a recycling bring bank on the site of a Garda station (details supplied) in County Kerry which is jointly owned by the OPW and the Garda, in view of the fact that the Garda has no objections; and if he is facilitating the granting of permission, as this site is the only suitable location for such a facility according to Kerry County Council. [43263/13]

Youth Services Provision

Martin Ferris

372. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 1244 of 18 September 2013, the reason referrals to the youth advocacy programme are so low in County Kerry; the steps that will be taken to ensure the relevant State agencies are encouraged to use the service more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43456/13]

Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports

Martin Ferris

40. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to implement the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation report into employment in the south east. [42603/13]

Job Creation Data

Martin Ferris

45. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs promoted by the Industrial Development Agency that have been filled by the relocation of existing employees. [42602/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Martin Ferris

13. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of the number of public sector employees within the annual gross salary bands (details supplied). [42518/13]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Martin Ferris

36. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to take on additional staff to deliver the recently announced overhaul of the Irish Statute Book to be overseen by his Department. [42523/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Martin Ferris

76. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) whose application for a grant has been turned down despite the fact the family's net income would place them well below the threshold, leaving the individual in question unable to attend their post-leaving certificate course in Cavan Institute of Technology because of the costs involved. [42193/13]

Schools Guidance Counsellors

Martin Ferris

95. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce guidance for counselling teaching posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42192/13]

HSE Funding

Martin Ferris

545. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the Health Service Executive funding to Kerry Deaf Resource Centre in Tralee is not cut for the fourth consecutive year as to do so could make this valuable service unfeasible. [41989/13]

Central Bank of Ireland IT Operations

Martin Ferris

24. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide update of the outsourcing of the Central Bank’s IT system; and what steps are being taken to minimise the security risk. [41518/13]

EU-IMF Programme of Support Issues

Martin Ferris

57. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance the options being considered for additional funding or credit lines if Ireland leaves the troika programme and the level of conditionality each option would bring. [41504/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Martin Ferris

8. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the arrest and jailing of five Palestinian fishermen in Egypt in September for accidently crossing into Egyptian territorial waters; the worsening situation for Gaza’s fishermen who, due to Israel’s blockade of Gaza, are being forced to fish closer to the Egyptian border; and if he will raise the issue with the Egyptian and Israeli Governments and encourage them both to lift the illegal blockade and siege of Gaza. [41155/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Martin Ferris

60. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the upcoming legal trials of Basque political activists; his views on whether they could have a negative effect on the Basque-Spanish peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41175/13]

Sporting Organisations

Martin Ferris

71. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has discussed with the Department of Finance the tax relief for donations to sporting bodies contained in section 41 of the 2002 Finance Bill; his views on the scheme; and if it has succeeded in its objectives of maximising donations to sporting bodies and generally contributing to the funding of sport. [40893/13]

Public Transport Issues

Martin Ferris

111. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce a framework for assessment of any proposed policy change by public transport companies which would ensure that the social responsibility of these companies are upheld and service is maintained to an acceptable standard in all cases. [40912/13]

Health Services Expenditure

Martin Ferris

57. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost savings he will make in 2013 in charging the full cost of private care in public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40051/13]

Stocking Densities

Martin Ferris

50. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the statistics on stocking density do not support the claim that higher rates of single farm payment reflect much higher levels of productivity; if he will take this into account when deciding on which model to use to determine the new farm payments system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39616/13]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Reopening

Martin Ferris

53. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the scheme with which he intends to replace REPS 4. [39671/13]

Fodder Crisis

Martin Ferris

100. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has put in place contingency plans in the event of bad weather this winter causing another animal food crisis. [39508/13]

Workplace Safety

Martin Ferris

291. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the health and safety investigation into the recent tragedy at the Aughoose tunnel in County Mayo has been completed and the findings of same. [39679/13]

National Monuments

Martin Ferris

24. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the current state of the 1916 national monument at Moore Street-Moore Lane, Dublin 1; when he will make a decision on the future of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38505/13]

Expenditure Reviews

Martin Ferris

37. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress made to date on a website portal and joint commercial and marketing strategy as outlined in the comprehensive review of expenditure 2012-2014; the projected income that such an initiative might accrue to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38506/13]

Youth Services Provision

Martin Ferris

1244. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of children referred to the youth advocacy programme in each county. [37312/13]

Youth Services Provision

Martin Ferris

1245. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the number of children referred to the youth advocacy programme is lower in County Kerry compared with neighbouring counties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37313/13]

Local Authority Staff Remuneration

Martin Ferris

450. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of all staffing costs, including pensions, for each local authority, in tabular form. [35939/13]

Broadband Services Speeds

Martin Ferris

14. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a breakdown of the average broadband speed by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35022/13]

Sugar Industry

Martin Ferris

15. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the potential to develop bioenergy from the sugar beet industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35026/13]

Water Charges Administration

Martin Ferris

88. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a detailed local authority by local authority breakdown of when he expects the installation of domestic water metering to commence. [33800/13]

Education Grants

Martin Ferris

360. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a peson (details supplied) in County Kerry attending Queen's University, Belfast, was told that they were not entitled to assistance under the student grants scheme as they were attending a course outside the State, when the rules clearly state that Queen's is one of the qualifying colleges in the North of Ireland; and if he will ensure that this is not happening to other students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35019/13]

Public Procurement Regulations

Martin Ferris

31. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the outcomes that have been achieved through the implementation of the action plan for jobs with regard to making public procurement more accessible to small and medium enterprises. [33505/13]

Live Register Numbers

Martin Ferris

32. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the impact of jobs policy on the number of young persons employed when the Government came to power and the most recent quarterly household figures. [33504/13]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Martin Ferris

246. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive a hearing aid. [33720/13]

Social Welfare Offices

Martin Ferris

78. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Thomas Street, Dublin 8, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 and the Bishop's Square social protection offices will be upgraded to Intreo offices; the additional staff training required to facilitate the change; and the progress being made to achieve the required upskilling. [33263/13]

Unemployment Statistics

Martin Ferris

89. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a 60% unemployment rate in Cherry Orchard, Dublin; and her plans to address the needs of areas with high levels of unemployment. [33247/13]

Pension Provisions

Martin Ferris

200. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that retired teachers can be paid their pension into post office savings accounts. [32984/13]

Medical Card Applications

Martin Ferris

468. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [32985/13]

Youth Services Funding

Martin Ferris

30. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the efforts she is making to protect front-line youth services in view of funding cuts in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32598/13]

Aftercare Services

Martin Ferris

34. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of young persons who received an aftercare service while in full-time education during each of the past eight years. [32589/13]

Student Grant Scheme Administration

Martin Ferris

14. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason school guidance counsellors were not informed by Student Universal Support Ireland that the closing date for higher education grants had been brought forward to 1 August. [32220/13]

Student Support Schemes Issues

Martin Ferris

32. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the Student Universal Support Ireland application system was not available online earlier than its launch in May when many sixth year students had broken up for the school year; and if he will respond to the view that having the system available earlier would have allowed counsellors additional time to help students with their college applications. [32221/13]

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Martin Ferris

92. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants who will be allocated to primary and secondary schools in County Kerry from September 2013; the comparable figures for 2011 and 2012; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the number of special needs assistants per school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32374/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Martin Ferris

165. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposed new sewerage schemes for areas (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32373/13]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Conditions

Martin Ferris

199. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the flexibility that is applied in relation to agri-environment options scheme 3 applications by farmers in disadvantaged areas, particularly where the farm is 22.06 ha in size. [32417/13]

Tax Code

Martin Ferris

89. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if he has been in contact with any of the treaty countries that the State has tax arrangements with and have been mentioned alongside Ireland as providing the international loopholes for multinational corporations, with a view to curtailing the loopholes. [31878/13]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Martin Ferris

118. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance his views on the use of split mortgages as a means of dealing with the mortgage crisis; if he will intervene to prevent some lenders charging interest on the split portion of mortgages; and if he will state how he believes the residual split at the end of the term should be managed. [31864/13]

Light Rail Projects Status

Martin Ferris

23. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the progress made with the Luas Cross City project; and the plans for a north and southbound station at Dawson Street, Dublin 2. [31032/13]

Tourism Policy

Martin Ferris

37. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a progress report on the current review of the national tourism policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30947/13]

Ambulance Service Provision

Martin Ferris

259. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will restore local ambulance control to Tralee following the recent error in directing an ambulance to the home of a young child who died. [31306/13]

Human Rights Issues

Martin Ferris

8. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) who is imprisoned in Lithuania will have his case heard before the court of appeal in Vilnius, on 27 June; and if the Irish ambassador to Lithuania, or another high-ranking embassy official, will attend this hearing. [30773/13]

Human Rights Issues

Martin Ferris

24. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to conditions in Lukiškės Prison in Lithuania, in which an Irish citizen (details supplied) is currently imprisoned; and if the Irish Embassy in Lithuania is providing the consular support he needs. [30772/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Martin Ferris

112. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive their Student Universal Support Ireland grant. [31108/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Martin Ferris

113. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive a Student Universal Support Ireland grant. [31109/13]

Mental Health Services Provision

Martin Ferris

130. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the number of children being treated for depression, anxiety and stress; if he will provide information on the direction that is taken for treatment when these diagnoses are made; if he will provide the same information for patients between 18 and 25 years old; if he will outline the guidelines pertaining to the management of these patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30397/13]

Health Services Provision

Martin Ferris

134. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the supports in place for patients with Huntington's disease; if his attention has been drawn to proposals to develop specialist clinics at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin and University Hospital, Galway; if he will outline his plans to develop and implement these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30396/13]

Angling Restrictions

Martin Ferris

392. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason restrictions on salmon and trout fishing remain in force on the River Bride when they have been lifted on other tributaries of the River Blackwater. [30602/13]

Departmental Offices

Martin Ferris

2. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of offices that his Department intends to close around the State. [29620/13]

Defence Forces Operations

Martin Ferris

38. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Defence if leave has been cancelled for Irish Defence Forces on 17 and 18 June 2013. [29117/13]

Overseas Missions

Martin Ferris

45. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Defence if he will list the delegations of Irish troops stationed abroad. [29118/13]

Child Support

Martin Ferris

193. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the impact on families receiving family income supplement if the proposals contained in the report of the advisory group on tax and welfare on reforming child income supports were to be implemented. [28643/13]

EU Regulations

Martin Ferris

497. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he supports the proposal by the British Government to liberalise EU regulations on genetically modified food products. [29029/13]

Penal Policy Review Group Report

Martin Ferris

37. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the report on penal reform from the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality from March 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28242/13]

Joint Policing Committees Remit

Martin Ferris

47. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the future of joint policing committees in towns here after the abolition of town councils in 2014. [28241/13]

Rental Accommodation Scheme Expenditure

Martin Ferris

55. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin City Council has confirmed to councillors that it is spending €1.5 million more per year on the rental accommodation scheme than is given to it by his Department; if this is the case in any other local authority; the reason this is the case; and the action his Department is taking to ensure that RAS is sufficiently funded. [27062/13]

National Postcode System Establishment

Martin Ferris

69. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there has been any update in the possible introduction of postcodes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26710/13]

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Martin Ferris

299. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a special needs assistant to a school (details supplied) in County Limerick. [27570/13]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Martin Ferris

420. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [26903/13]

Garda Investigations

Martin Ferris

717. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Garda have carried out an investigation into financial irregularities on the part of a person (details supplied). [27416/13]

School Completion Programme

Martin Ferris

865. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if contracts for those employed in the school completion programme in counties Kerry and Limerick, which are due to end in August will be renewed for the 2013/2014 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27740/13]

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Martin Ferris

952. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown for the past five years of the numbers of persons in County Kerry on waiting lists for orthodontic treatment. [26966/13]

Orthodontic Services Provision

Martin Ferris

955. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will have orthodontic treatment. [26968/13]

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Martin Ferris

956. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently awaiting orthodontic treatment in County Kerry. [26969/13]

Commemorative Events

Martin Ferris

33. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of money his Department has allocated for the commemoration programme in 2013; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the projects and events the money will be spent on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26099/13]

Jobs Initiative Inquiry

Martin Ferris

8. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 has not been allowed rejoin the jobs initiative, as others have done; and if she will instruct FÁS to reinstate her to the position she held prior to June 2012. [25731/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Martin Ferris

56. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will run a public information campaign to highlight to landlords, whose tenants are in receipt of rent supplement, that it is illegal to demand an under the counter and or undeclared top-up payment. [25730/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Martin Ferris

63. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the findings of the National Council for Special Education report, Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools, which highlighted concerns at the length of time many parents have to wait for a diagnosis to assess their child's individual needs and learning capacity; and the way his Department plans to address this issue. [25396/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Martin Ferris

116. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on concerns expressed by the Irish National Teachers Organisation, which has stated that the implementation of recommendations, including changes in the allocation of resources, that are proposed in the National Council for Special Education report, Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools, would dismantle two decades of progress integrating special needs children in mainstream schools. [25397/13]

Road Safety

Martin Ferris

529. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the accident on the N21 at Garryduff Cross, Newcastle West, County Limerick, on 12 September 2010 in which three people lost their lives; if he is satisfied that a full investigation was carried out; and his further views on whether it was acceptable that there were delays of up to ten days in interviewing the driver and three occupants of the car involved which hit the minibus. [25562/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Martin Ferris

91. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if the continued practice by social welfare staff to refuse family payments based on the habitual residency clause is compatible with EU law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24860/13]

Employment Rights

Martin Ferris

101. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will state the EU's definition of a migrant worker. [25014/13]

Registered Employment Agreements

Martin Ferris

53. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he has taken to ensure that low-paid workers under the JLC and REA schemes continue to be fully protected and their income safeguarded. [24465/13]

Fodder Crisis

Martin Ferris

219. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of the €2 million allocated to addressing the fodder crises that has been utilised. [24502/13]

Equine Passports

Martin Ferris

224. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to change the regulations and methods of registering horses in the aftermath of the horsemeat crisis. [24571/13]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Martin Ferris

230. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason single farm payment and REP scheme entitlements for a person (details supplied) were cut by 5% because they were unable to cut rushes due to weather conditions in February 2013 and therefore failed inspection. [24688/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Martin Ferris

124. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that he will publish information on the special liquidation of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation that will show the unaudited book value of loans at IBRC at 6 February 2013; the par value and book value of loans refinanced at 100%; the par value and book value and independent valuation and disposal value of loans sold on the open market; and the par value and book value and National Asset Management Agency valuation of loans acquired by NAMA. [23967/13]

Investment in Agriculture Conference

Martin Ferris

21. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details about what was discussed at the Investing in Agriculture for Nutrition event in Washington, that was co-hosted by Minister for Development and Trade, Joe Costello. [23220/13]

Humanitarian Aid

Martin Ferris

47. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide further details on the three year Strategic Partnership Agreement that the Government recently signed with the UN World Food Programme. [23222/13]

Higher Education Institutions Staff

Martin Ferris

128. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether it is appropriate and in the best interests of the Institute of Technology of Tralee, County Kerry in respect of a person (details supplied) to remain in their position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23486/13]

Sale of State Assets

Martin Ferris

29. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on his plans to sell off State assets under his control including the public stake in Aer Lingus. [22894/13]

Road Projects Status

Martin Ferris

51. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the success of statewide road safety, his plans to focus to specific road safety blackspots such as the Castlebaldwin to Cloonamahon stretch of the N4 which has been the scene of the loss of 30 lives in recent memory. [22893/13]