Parliamentary questions

Institutes of Technology Issues

Seán Kyne

156. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the strategic partnership recently formed by Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology Sligo as an attempt to achieve technological university status. [40626/12]

Bullying in Schools

Seán Kyne

157. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to the offer from the anti bullying campaign to provide training in combatting and preventing bullying to teachers and school staff free of charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40627/12]

Student Support Schemes Issues

Seán Kyne

158. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the budgetary amount allocated to the student assistance fund which provides emergency financial support to students in order that they can continue their studies will be maintained this year. [40628/12]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

Seán Kyne

257. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for the exclusion of independent financial brokers who are regulated by the Central Bank and operate to a high standard from taking part in the advisory service for persons experiencing mortgage difficulties. [40625/12]

Sick Pay Scheme Expenditure

Seán Kyne

258. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection if a regulatory impact analysis has been or will be conducted on the sick pay proposals which she is considering on account of the uncertainty the proposals have created and the negative effects such proposals could have on job retention. [40633/12]

Renewable Energy Generation Issues

Seán Kyne

273. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the analysis undertaken by his Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority; and if this analysis will be published. [40629/12]

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Seán Kyne

274. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update in the Environmental Protection Agency research taking place into the practice of hydraulic fracking; when this research will be completed; and if he will provide assurances that no authorisations for fracking will be granted without comprehensive research on its effects as well as a full public consultation process in the area concerned. [40630/12]

Broadcasting Sector Regulation

Seán Kyne

275. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if, in view of the digital dividend which will arise from the cessation of the analogue TV signals and the freeing up of the radio spectrum between 790 MHZ and 862 MHZ, his views on the progress of the auction of this infrastructure; and if he will provide assurances, notwithstanding the statutory function of ComReg in this area, that the dividend will benefit homes and businesses in rural as well as urban areas as outlined in the Programme for Government. [40632/12]

Social Welfare Code

Seán Kyne

401 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to add flexibility to the qualification criteria of social welfare schemes such as the jobseeker’s schemes and the family income supplement which would take into the account the changes which have occurred in the Irish workplace which have resulted in less predictable standard working hours, for example a teacher employed on a half-week contract but required to teach over several days and hence ineligible for a payment such as casual jobseeker’s allowance.
[36708/12]

Hospital Staff

Seán Kyne

708 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health about his views that hospital consultant salary levels are out of line with our European neighbours; and his plans to reform this area of expenditure in view of the reform remit of his Department.
[36440/12]

Hospital Staff

Seán Kyne

778 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if, in the context of the State’s financial position and the remuneration rates in other European states, there are plans to renegotiate the contracts of hospital consultants which would generate savings to the Exchequer but also permit the recruitment of additional consultants, thereby reducing patient waiting times.
[36596/12]

Irish Language

Seán Kyne

183 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any plans to review the teaching of Irish at secondary level; if consideration will be given to the development of a new subject which would place a greater emphasis on the acquisition of conversational skills; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35384/12]

Proposed Legislation

Seán Kyne

612 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the progress of the new mental capacity legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35386/12]

Single Payment Scheme

Seán Kyne

652 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a request has issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway to refund part of their 2011 single farm payment; the way this amount was calculated and which specific parcels of land his Department have deemed unfarmable; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34585/12]

Child Care Services

Seán Kyne

714 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the practice and frequency of the inspections of child care facilities across the country to ensure adherence to best practice standards.
[35385/12]

Departmental Properties

Seán Kyne

108 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance the schedule for the vacating of the Central Bank of Ireland on Dame Street, Dublin; and if members of the public will be afforded the opportunity to contribute suggestions on the future possible uses for this building.
[33639/12]

Departmental Reports

Seán Kyne

134 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the progress made in implementing those recommendations categorised as immediate, short and medium term of the Advisory Group for Small Business Report entitled The Voice of Small Business for which he has been designated as having lead responsibility.
[33644/12]

Departmental Functions

Seán Kyne

135 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if the recommendation of the Deloitte report into the €3.6 billion accounting error to transfer sole responsibility for the compilation of statistics and information on the Government deficit to the Central Statistics Office will be implemented; and, if so, if a timescale will be indicated.
[33647/12]

Bullying in Schools

Seán Kyne

182 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce statutory provisions to require the preparation and operation of safe schools programmes to combat bullying in schools and educational facilities in a holistic and community-centred approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33637/12]

Departmental Bodies

Seán Kyne

206 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report on the progress made in implementing those recommendations categorised as immediate, short and medium term of the Small Advisory Group’s Report entitled The Voice of Small Business for which he has been designated as having lead responsibility.
[33641/12]