Parliamentary questions

Performing Arts

Mattie McGrath

486. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there are any supports available for students studying in performing arts-musical theatre courses abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26825/13]

Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal Funding

Mattie McGrath

744. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal does not have sufficient funding to give immediate payment following an award that has been made to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27776/13]

Departmental Records

Mattie McGrath

229. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if records of Garda briefings to him or the Department concerning members of the Oireachtas are recorded and archived by his Department. [26578/13]

Garda Operations

Mattie McGrath

230. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has requested a report from the Commissioner on an incident (details supplied) under section 41 of the 2005 Garda Síochána Act. [26580/13]

Property Tax Administration

Mattie McGrath

143. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance when the local property valuation bands are increased every €50,000, the reason there are no bands of 0-€50,000 and €50,000- €100,000; the option available to a person when their property is valued significantly below €100,000, that is, where a house is valued at €25,000, 0.18% would mean that the home owner should be paying €45 per annum but because there is no band of 0- €100,000, the home owner is expected to pay €90 per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25057/13]

Residential Institutions

Mattie McGrath

216. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific status in terms of access to financial compensation by the State for former inhabitants of the Bethany House Homes under the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25587/13]

Mobility Allowance Decision

Mattie McGrath

207. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if details are available for the new scheme which is to replace the mobility allowance scheme; if those who are currently in receipt of the mobility allowance will transfer automatically to the new payment; the date on which applications will be accepted for the new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24850/13]

Third Level Courses Availability

Mattie McGrath

356. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of CAO applications for BSc honours computing and creative multimedia courses at Limerick Institute of Technology; the number of these applicants who have applied to the LIT Clonmel campus; the direct cost of educating such students at the LIT Clonmel campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24328/13]

Institutes of Technology Staff

Mattie McGrath

357. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Limerick Institute of Technology staff specifically supporting the Clonmel campus of LIT Tipperary as defined under shared services; the total salary cost of staff at the Clonmel campus of LIT Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24329/13]

Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility

Mattie McGrath

438. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if an elderly or disabled person who requires work to their home would be considered for an emergency needs payment when the local authority is no longer accepting applications for housing aid for older people or housing adaption grants and where works are necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24272/13]

Special Housing Aid for the Elderly

Mattie McGrath

472. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider the reintroduction of the special housing aid for the elderly scheme to assist the elderly and disabled who require works to their home and where the local authority is no longer accepting applications for housing aid for older people or housing adaption grants due to their lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24274/13]

Employment Support Services

Mattie McGrath

161. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Tús scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23464/13]

Property Taxation Administration

Mattie McGrath

176. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by householders who have not received their local property tax return form and who do not have Internet access; if he will extend the deadline for paper returns to the 27 May to ensure that all householders making an effort to pay and who do not have access to the Internet are not put under undue pressure when they have not received the form (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22175/13]

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Mattie McGrath

285. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration has been given to an application for emergency works funding in respect of roof repairs for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if funding will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22827/13]

National Asthma Programme

Mattie McGrath

641. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the first phase of the national asthma programme will be implemented; and the initial actions that will be taken in order to implement the programme and the deadlines for these actions. [22518/13]

National Asthma Programme

Mattie McGrath

642. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason implementation of the national asthma programme was not prioritised in the 2013 Health Service Executive Services Plan with more than one person a week dying from asthma and 470,000 people here living with this respiratory disease that is particularly prevalent in children, with one in five Irish children suffering from the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22519/13]

Patient Transport Provision

Mattie McGrath

225. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the assistance available towards the cost of transport to and from hospital appointments and where the patient is not in a position to pay for a taxi; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22023/13]

Inland Fisheries Issues

Mattie McGrath

136. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason for the change in the by-laws which have been introduced recently to prohibit the use of worms, prawns and shrimp when fishing for salmon and sea trout on the River Suir; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21620/13]

FÁS Training Programmes

Mattie McGrath

169. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 588 of 16 April 2013, the avenue available to a person who is unemployed or disabled and not in receipt of a social welfare payment to engage in a training course when they have been advised by their local FÁS office that they are not entitled to participate in any course because they are not in receipt of a social welfare payment; if FÁS must provide training courses to those who are disabled and not in receipt of a payment due to a spouse's income and where this training course would be beneficial to their rehabilitation and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21212/13]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Collection

Mattie McGrath

265. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 784 of 16 April 2013, the reason the full rate of non-principal private residence charge is being charged for 2013 when those properties are also liable for the local property tax in view of the fact that this constitutes double taxation of the one property; the reason the NPPR was not at least reduced to 50% to correspond with the introduction of 50% of the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21229/13]

Inland Fisheries Issues

Mattie McGrath

328. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that repair works to a fallen bridge on the border of south Tipperary and Waterford is being delayed until August-September by the Inland Fisheries; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this road is closed and will remain closed until August-September unless these works are carried out and that this is causing inconvenience to the road users in the area; if permission will be granted to allow works be carried out in the coming weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21145/13]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Mattie McGrath

330. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a disadvantaged area payment has not been made to a person (details supplied) in CountyTipperary; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21169/13]

Road Maintenance

Mattie McGrath

420. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that repair works to a fallen bridge on the border of south Tipperary and Waterford is being delayed until August-September by the Inland Fisheries; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this road is closed and will remain closed until August-September unless these works are carried out and that this is causing inconvenience to the road users in the area; if permission will be granted to allow works be carried out in the coming weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21146/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Mattie McGrath

191. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to parliamentary question No. 186 on 18 April 2013, if he will provide the information sought in the second part of the question, specifically, if the residents of this area who are subjected to using bottled water due to the condition of their water will be exempt from water chargeswhen they are introduced;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19361/13]

Respite Care Services

Mattie McGrath

619. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive has now imposed charges of €170 per week for respite care in hospitals; if he will reverse this decision in view of the fact that it places a massive burden on the families who are providing care to loved ones and who require respite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18737/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Status

Mattie McGrath

186. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current position with the Burncourt Regional Water Treatment System in South Tipperary; if the residents of this area who are subjected to using bottled water due to the condition of the water will be exempt from water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18125/13]

Property Taxation Collection

Mattie McGrath

218. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views with the level of information on the property tax form relating to payment options; his views on the fact that while the information surrounding option five cash payments is clear, there is no option to make payment in full by cash; the reason there is no reference made to An Post as a payment service provider; his views on whether this information is clear for the elderly or those without Internet access who are most likely to use An Post to make their payments and who are referred to the Revenue website to find information on the service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16120/13]

Banking Sector Regulation

Mattie McGrath

356. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank of Ireland and the Financial Service Regulatory Authority of Ireland is aware of discrepancies between Allied Irish Bank's Annual Financial Report of 2008 and documents filed by Allied Irish Bank with the Company Registration Office in 2008 in relation to a first floating charge placed in favour of the Central Bank over all of AIB's right, title, interest and benefit, present and future in and to eligible securities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17626/13]

Banking Sector Regulation

Mattie McGrath

357. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if a charge by way of a first floating charge placed in favour of the Central Bank of Ireland over all of Allied Irish Bank's right, title, interest and benefit, present and future is in and to each of the eligible securities or is in and to certain segregated securities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17627/13]

School Closures

Mattie McGrath

426. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the exact criteria which will govern the decisions to leave open or close the many hundreds of rural schools throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16690/13]

Household Benefits Scheme

Mattie McGrath

568. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an illness benefit is not considered as a qualifying payment for the household benefits package; if there is any assistance that can be provided to a person who is unable to work due to a serious illness such as cancer and who is struggling to meet household bills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15981/13]

FÁS Training Programmes Eligibility

Mattie McGrath

588. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 309 of 12 March 2013, the avenue available to a person who is unemployed or disabled and not in receipt of a social welfare payment to engage in a training course when they have been advised by their local FÁS office that they are not entitled to participate in any course because they are not in receipt of a social welfare payment; if FÁS must provide training courses to those who are disabled and not in receipt of a payment due to a spouse's income and where this training course would be beneficial to their rehabilitation and well-being; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16327/13]

Property Taxation Collection

Mattie McGrath

784. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the non-principal private residency charge will be abolished following the introduction of the local property tax in view of the fact that it represents a double taxation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16517/13]

Unfinished Housing Developments

Mattie McGrath

792. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if all unfinished housing estates that are not exempt from the local property tax will now be taken in charge by their relevant local authorities; if public lighting, finished roads and so on will now be provided in these estates; if not, the services that will be provided to these estates; if no extra services will be provided, the reason these estates are not exempt from the local property tax in view of the fact that they are not receiving any public services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16651/13]

Building Regulations Application

Mattie McGrath

847. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities made efforts to communicate the new housing regulations to landlords; and the efforts that have been made to communicate these new regulations and their implications to tenants who might be affected by them. [17501/13]

Building Regulations Application

Mattie McGrath

848. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the rights that tenants have when their accommodations is below the new standards for housing regulation. [17502/13]

Building Regulations Application

Mattie McGrath

849. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a local authority finds that bed-sit accommodation which does not meet the new housing regulations is still being tenanted, the action that will be taken and the way in which the tenure of the current tenants will be affected. [17503/13]

Building Regulations Application

Mattie McGrath

850. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the guidance that has been provided by him in relation to tenants about procedures to identify and avoid any risk of homelessness. [17504/13]

Building Regulations Application

Mattie McGrath

851. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing units that have been upgraded, that will be upgraded and that might be withdrawn from the private rented sector as a result of the new housing regulations. [17505/13]

Building Regulations Application

Mattie McGrath

852. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions that he has had with the Department of Social Protection regarding the increased demands on rent supplement as non-working tenants of bed-sits seek more expensive accommodation as a result of the new housing regulations; and the procedures that will be put in place to support vulnerable tenants in making this transition. [17506/13]

Building Regulations Application

Mattie McGrath

853. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has a target date by which all inspections of housing will be completed and that all below-standard bed-sits are withdrawn from the housing market. [17507/13]

Water Fluoridation

Mattie McGrath

1230. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if, despite the fact that our national water supply has been artificially fluoridated for the past 49 years, there has been any testing of the chemicals for their safety on human health; if so, when this took place; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16692/13]

Medical Card Reviews

Mattie McGrath

1287. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason when carrying out medical card reviews, particularly in the case of the elderly, that is, those in receipt of a State pension, the Health Service Executive cannot simply send a letter asking whether or not the medical card holder's circumstances have changed rather than expecting the medical card holder to complete the review form and gather all necessary information again as in such cases, circumstances are unlikely to have changed and these review letters can cause stress and anxiety to the elderly while sending a change of circumstances letter would significantly reduce administration in the medical card office; if he will ask the HSE to examine this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17148/13]

Departmental Programmes

Mattie McGrath

1324. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the first phase of the national asthma programme will be implemented; the initial actions that will be taken by him in order to implement the programmer; and the deadlines for these actions [17519/13]

Departmental Programmes

Mattie McGrath

1325. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason implementation of the national asthma programme was not prioritised in the 2013 Health Service Executive services plan with more than one person per week dying from asthma and 470,000 people here living with this respiratory disease that is particularly prevalent in children, with one in five children here suffering from the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17520/13]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Mattie McGrath

398. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria that was used when deciding which housing estates were exempt from the local property tax; the category of unfinished housing estates that were included on this list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15341/13]

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Mattie McGrath

576. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the orthodontic treatment waiting list in the South East is currently dating back to August 2009; the reason for this delay; the efforts being made to address this backlog and the options available to patients who are waiting for treatment since 2009/2010 almost three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15156/13]

Tourism Promotion

Mattie McGrath

615. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Tourist Office in Cahir will open for the summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15118/13]

Leader Programmes Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

164. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way savings will be made by his proposals to streamline the LEADER programmes under local authorities as part of the alignment process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14366/13]

Registered Employment Agreements

Mattie McGrath

288. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason the registered employment agreement is being challenged in the High Court; and if he will indicate the present status of the agreement. [14107/13]