Parliamentary questions

Site Acquisitions

Mattie McGrath

112. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills at what stage is the acquisition of the property, from the Mercy Order, required for the extension to a school (details supplied) to enable the amalgamation of a school; on the last report the acquisition of the site required was being dealt with under the redress scheme and the proposed build is due for the 2015/16 school year, if this timeframe can be verified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53645/12]

Ash Dieback Threat

Mattie McGrath

228. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the forestry were slow in taking action to try to limit the spread of ash dieback; the reason they waited until 90% of Denmark's ash trees were destroyed before starting to introduce measures to try to prevent the importation of additional sources of the disease; in view of the fact that the disease has been spreading across Europe for 10 to 15 years, the reason there has not been an information campaign to warn persons of the risk of importing a disease source; the way he can assure the Irish people that this disease has not been recently imported into several areas of the country through young ash plants, firewood, hurley butts, hurley planks or another source; the measures being taken to prevent the spread of the next tree disease to seep across Europe in years to come; with so many foresters retiring over recent years, if we have the experience and resources within Coillte to identify and tackle tree diseases; the percentage of Coillte employees that are actually trained and actively working foresters with the ability to work on the ground to combat this disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53675/12]

Banks Recapitalisation

Mattie McGrath

245. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the role of the public interest directors in the State funded banks; the way they are representing the taxpayer; the actions they can take or have they taken when a taxpayer has a grievance with their bank; the action that they have taken to review and reduce the remuneration and pension packages of bankers in the best interests of the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52895/12]

Defence Forces Reserve Funding

Mattie McGrath

544. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the criteria used when deciding the Reserve Defence Force bases that would be removed as opposed to those that would be retained under the value for money review of the Reserve Defence Force and reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force; the reason it has been proposed to remove the base from Clonmel, a town with such a rich military history; if he will consider reviewing this decision based on his plans for the future uses of Kickham Barracks in Clonmel where a perfectly suitable base could be provided for the RDF alongside the Clonmel Garda Station and where the RDF would not require rental of another premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52841/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

595. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount experts such as Geoffrey Shannon, Norah Gibbons and Helen Buckley have been paid in the last decade for their services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52838/12]

Child and Family Support Agency Establishment

Mattie McGrath

608. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the anticipated increased cost of the constitutional changes to the taxpayer in terms of the establishment of the new Child and Family Support Agency and any other costs which may be incurred; the anticipated savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52824/12]

Departmental Funding

Mattie McGrath

609. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the State contribution to Barnardos; ISPCC; Children's Rights Alliance and the Campaign for Children; the amount of money spent by these organisations; if the proposed change in the constitution will affect the amount of money that the State funnels into these organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52835/12]

Children in Care

Mattie McGrath

610. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of a Guardian ad Litem; who supplies Guardian ad Litem services; if Guardian ad Litem will be a feature of every case involving a child under Amendment 31; the cost to the taxpayer; if Barnardos, ISPCC and Children's Rights Alliance offer Guardian ad Litem services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52836/12]

Child and Family Support Agency Staff

Mattie McGrath

611. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the child protection staff currently employed by the Health Service Executive will be transferred to the new agency; the number of staff that will be transferred; if they receive will redundancy payments and if so what is the estimated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52837/12]

Medical Card Eligibility

Mattie McGrath

627. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card has been refused for a seriously ill child who requires palliative care; if he will have this decision reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52262/12]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

Mattie McGrath

632. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on the plans to extend free general practitioner care to all claimants of medicines under the long term illness scheme as announced in Budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52330/12]

Sports Funding

Mattie McGrath

714. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is any assistance available from the Sports Council or any other body to assist exceptional athletes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52286/12]

Health Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

206. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of adults are being funded by the Health Service Executive in 2012 to receive specialist care in facilities outside the State; if he will provide details in respect of each of those adults on the type of care being provided, for example mental health, learning disability, brain injury and each setting, that is hospital, community or residential placement; if he will provide details in respect of the duration of each placement, start date and projected end date; the name and address of the care provider; the HSE area that is funding each placement and the programme of care, for example mental health, physical or learning disability; the total cost to the HSE of each placement for the financial year 2012, with a breakdown of each care provider's costs, that is, hospital, day care, residential, therapy, treatment; the cost of family visits flights, taxis, meals, accommodation and so on; and the costs for the HSE multi-disciplinary teams who travel abroad to each unit/placement for review meetings, assessment and case conferences that is flights, taxis, meals, accommodation and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51750/12]

Garda Stations Closures

Mattie McGrath

477. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm the announcement that Clonmel Garda Barracks will be relocated to the former Kickham Barracks site; if he will confirm when funding will be made available for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51369/12]

Traffic Management

Mattie McGrath

285. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider examining the feasibility of introducing a left hand turn on red policy and to implement a pilot programme that would enable drivers to turn left after coming to a complete stop at an intersection where the light is red, assuming that no traffic is coming from the fight (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50550/12]

Building Regulations Compliance

Mattie McGrath

443. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the consideration he has given to the views and concerns of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists in relation to the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49599/12]

Referendum Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

467. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total cost to his Department of holding the Children's Referendum including a breakdown of the costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50055/12]

Hospital Services

Mattie McGrath

619. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans for the proposed downgrading of Waterford Regional Hospital to a district hospital; if his attention has been drawn to the devestating effect this will have for persons across the entire south east region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49684/12]

Army Barracks Closures

Mattie McGrath

3. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the progress that has been made in arranging an alternative use for the former Kickham Barracks site in Clonmel, County Tipperary; if he has examined the option of relocating the Clonmel Garda Station to the barracks location; when this matter will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48757/12]

Children's Rights Referendum

Mattie McGrath

186. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the expected cost of the Children's Referendum including a breakdown of such costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48985/12]