Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for Dáil or Seanad term
Page 81 of 85
Tue, 14 May 2013
written
Preschool Services
Michael Lowry
299. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify his comments made regarding the cutting of child benefit; if he will make his intentions clear with regards to the future of child benefit; if child benefit will be cut in order to fund additional free pre-school care; if he will clarify the current status of these proposals and if costings have been undertaken; if his attention has been drawn to the distress, fear and upset being caused as a result of these reports; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of child benefit in assisting families in keeping their heads above water; if he will give an assurance that child benefit will not be cut any further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23067/13]
Tue, 14 May 2013
written
Child Benefit Payments
Michael Lowry
378. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will make her intentions clear regarding the future of child benefit; if child benefit will be cut in order to fund additional free preschool care; if her attention has been drawn to the distress, fear and upset being caused as a result of these reports; if her attention has been drawn to the importance of child benefit in assisting families in keeping their heads above water; if she will give an assurance that child benefit will not be cut any further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23066/13]
Tue, 14 May 2013
written
Firearms Licences
Michael Lowry
480. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm the timeframe it takes to process an application for a firearm certificate and the timeframe after the application has been lodged that it actually takes to issue the licence/certificate; if he will further confirm if out of date certificates are being issued in respect of applications which are taking in excess of 12 months to process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22742/13]
Tue, 14 May 2013
written
General Practitioner Services
Michael Lowry
680. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the reasons general practitioner cards have not been provided to those with a long term illness as set out in the Programme for Government; the reason for the ongoing delay in delivering on this commitment; the reason the deadlines set out for deliverance on this issue have continually been broken; the current status of the plans to extend the GP card scheme to those with long term illness; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused to those with a long term illness who are forced to pay for free GP care at present; if free GP care will be extended to all members of the public as stated in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22809/13]
Wed, 8 May 2013
written
Better Energy Homes Scheme Expenditure
Michael Lowry
137. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing issue with regards to the non-payment of a community based organisation (details supplied) which has been carrying out insulation works under the warmer homes scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that this is causing for the organisation in question; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that jobs will be lost if this payment is not advanced as a matter of urgency; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this action jeopardises the future of this scheme in the county and subsequently adversely impacts on older and vulnerable people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21606/13]
Tue, 7 May 2013
written
Departmental Funding
Michael Lowry
214. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a guarantee that her Department will continue providing funding for the maintenance of MABS offices nationwide; if she will further guarantee that no reduction of this funding will be allowed; if she will ensure that the current disagreements between MABS and citizens information does not jeopardise the operations of any MABS office; if she will detail the steps being taken to resolve this conflict; if her attention has been drawn to the vital importance of MABS offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21329/13]
Tue, 7 May 2013
written
Fodder Crisis
Michael Lowry
338. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the transport subsidy scheme for the importation of fodder in view of the continued difficulties being faced by farmers; if he will extend this scheme to cover marts and private merchants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21346/13]
Tue, 7 May 2013
written
Cancer Screening Programme
Michael Lowry
415. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will consider removing the age limits in place for the free smear test under the National Cervical Screening Programme in view of the incidence of this cancer in younger women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21550/13]
Wed, 1 May 2013
written
Mortgage Interest Rates Issues
Michael Lowry
95. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will intervene to prevent the future increase in mortgage interest rates as announced by a number of named banks earlier this week (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress these increases will have on strained mortgage holders; his views on whether this increase will drive further mortgages into arrears; his views on whether increases are beneficial for the economy as a whole; the steps he wil take to lessen this burden; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20734/13]
Wed, 1 May 2013
written
Banking Sector Remuneration
Michael Lowry
101. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will, in view of the information that has come to light in the past week, take definitive steps to cap the salaries being received by senior officials in the banks that have received State capitalisation; if he will provide a guarantee that these payments will be clamped down on; his views on whether the current salaries and payments being received are fair in view of the funds provided to these banks by the Irish taxpayer; the reason he did not exercise his vote against approving such a payment in an individual case in the past week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20821/13]
Wed, 1 May 2013
written
HSE Funding
Michael Lowry
229. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will rescind the decision taken by the Health Service Executive to withdraw core funding for the Irish Society for Quality and Safety in Healthcare; his views on whether the HSE is accountable and transparent without the oversight of the ISQSH; if he will confirm where these funds have gone; if they have been returned to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20571/13]
Wed, 1 May 2013
written
HSE Health Insurance Claims
Michael Lowry
263. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to collect outstanding moneys owed to the Health Service Executive by health insurers; the total sum outstanding; the progress made to date in ensuring doctors complete paper work within a set period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20822/13]
Wed, 1 May 2013
written
Medicinal Products Prices
Michael Lowry
264. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to date in cutting the drugs spend in the State; the steps that will be taken to encourage health care professionals to prescribe generic drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20823/13]
Tue, 30 Apr 2013
written
Fodder Crisis
Michael Lowry
463. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will sanction emergency funding to assist farmers facing a fodder crisis at present; if emergency funds cannot be made available, if he will ensure an advance single farm payments/disadvantaged payments; if his attention has been drawn to the desperation and despair being felt by farmers as a result of this crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19803/13]
Tue, 30 Apr 2013
written
Tourism Industry Issues
Michael Lowry
611. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if will intervene and take steps to prevent the closure of Nenagh tourist information office, further to the decision made by Fáilte Ireland to withdraw; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of this office in promoting the town and surrounding area; if he will provide an assurance as to the future of this office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20009/13]
Tue, 23 Apr 2013
written
Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
Michael Lowry
269. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider altering the definition of a dependent student for the purposes of the student grant; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the definition in its current form leads to unfairness when those under the age of 23 years receive no financial support from their parents/legal guardians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18564/13]
Tue, 16 Apr 2013
written
Passport Application Refusals
Michael Lowry
178. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will detail the reasons a new passport will not be issued to an individual who has changed their name (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the legality of such; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship, distress and financial impact caused as a result of this; if an exemption will be made in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16389/13]
Tue, 16 Apr 2013
written
Primary School Statistics
Michael Lowry
420. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm the number of two, three and four teacher schools in County Tipperary; if he will provide a guarantee that these schools will be protected and maintained into the future; if his attention has been drawn to the vital role played by these schools in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16634/13]
Tue, 16 Apr 2013
written
Student Grant Scheme Appeals
Michael Lowry
427. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on the status of a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the current status of this payment; the reason for the conflicting information being received by the person; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress being caused as a result; if he will ensure payment of this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16699/13]
Tue, 16 Apr 2013
written
Naturalisation Applications
Michael Lowry
964. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to an application for permission to remain in the State, Stamp 4, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the current status of this application; if he will confirm whether this individual can take up work experience as prescribed by their college course; when a decision will be reached in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17630/13]