Parliamentary questions

Tax Credits

Willie Penrose

98. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath has had their tax credits significantly reduced in the context of the one-parent family tax credit, which resulted in their marginal rate of tax being increased from the 20% standard rate to 41% while they are still paying a mortgage and contributing significant funding towards the upkeep of their children; if there are any tax credits available in relation to maintenance payments made by them for the maintenance of their spouse and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7458/14]

One-Parent Family Payment Appeals

Willie Penrose

155. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for one-parent family payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7459/14]

Homeless Accommodation Funding

Willie Penrose

182. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when is it envisaged that regional homeless forums will be advised of budgets for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7463/14]

Teacher Recruitment

Willie Penrose

232. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers that it is planned to recruit at secondary school level in 2014; the number of these in the disciplines of science, mathematics and biology; when these positions are likely to be advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6962/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure

Willie Penrose

410. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the precise details on all capital funding received by Westmeath County Council in the context of social housing provision for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6963/14]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Willie Penrose

365. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual cost per participant of the community employment scheme as administered by her Department; the amount of the cost that is incurred at each of the levels, administration/management by her Department at national level, at local Department of Social Protection office level, at sponsor employer level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5700/14]

Carbon Tax Implementation

Willie Penrose

222. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider reviewing the imposition of the carbon tax, which sees a significant increase in charges for solid fuel resulting in the addition of €1.20 per 40 kgs of solid fuel and 26 cent per bale of briquettes, all of which will impact severely upon those on low incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4299/14]

Tax Credits

Willie Penrose

223. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he will take steps to have the tax free allowance of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath transferred to the person's spouse in order to avail of same, in compliance with their expressed desire that same would be done in their current financial circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4301/14]

Voluntary Sector Funding

Willie Penrose

163. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that funding for volunteer centres will not be reduced as it would have a severe and negative impact upon their ability to carry out important work and functions; if in particular he will recognise the imposition of an 8% cut to a volunteer centre (details supplied) would be detrimental to its continued vital work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3404/14]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Willie Penrose

183. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a REP scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3091/14]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Willie Penrose

253. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills in the context of correspondence (details supplied), if he will take steps to address the anomaly that has arisen under the recently announced grants for book rental schemes, which excludes schools, which in many areas, promoted and advanced school book rental schemes and which are now disadvantaged because of their enterprise; if additional funding can be secured to enable these far seeing schools to be accommodated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2638/14]

Immigration Status

Willie Penrose

531. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a decision will be made concerning an application to his Department pursuant to a section of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, in respect of a person (details supplied) wherein it is indicated that this person, who has specific talents which are suited to a particular business, will be employed immediately and will not constitute any burden on the State, and where character references have already been furnished; if a decision thereon can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2971/14]

Rural Environment Protection Scheme Applications

Willie Penrose

577. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that an error which has been identified by his Department in relation to a claim for REPS by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is corrected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2970/14]

Tax Credits

Willie Penrose

165. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance in the context of the recent taxation changes to the one-parent family credit under the tax code, the criteria by which same can be claimed; if there is provision for same to be allocated to two people who are providing the necessary care for a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1803/14]

Renewable Energy Exports

Willie Penrose

440. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to a statement made in October 2013 by United Kingdom Minister of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Mr. Greg Barker MP, that there are enough wind projects in the system, there is no requirement for anymore onshore expansion and the big expansion for same should be offshore where there is scope for larger projects and whereby, with the projects in the system and under consideration in the planning process, they had enough to achieve their 2020 targets; in this context, if he will clarify the impact of this statement on the intergovernmental agreement, IGA, on export of wind-derived electricity to the United Kingdom; given that the IGA is still in the process of being evaluated, if he will also clarify the scope of the associated cost basis analysis in terms of cost and revenue elements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55242/13]

Garda Recruitment

Willie Penrose

583. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications received to date in respect of the competition for recruitment to An Garda Síochána; the method by which assessment of the applicants will be undertaken; if all applicants will have an opportunity for assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1328/14]

Local and Community Development Programme Staffing

Willie Penrose

225. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of directors of local community development companies that his Department is now insisting that such directors execute personal indemnity bonds, which are equivalent to guarantees and indemnities, arising from their membership of the board of directors, when that particular condition or stipulation arose or was insisted upon by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55107/13]

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Willie Penrose

309. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a 2013 single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55110/13]

Teachers' Remuneration

Willie Penrose

73. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of entitlement which becomes available to a permanent teacher who has worked through sick leave; if the limit of 365 days of paid sick leave in any four-year period still applies or has been reduced; if he will provide full details of the entitlement to continuing salary during the sick leave period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53591/13]

Planning Issues

Willie Penrose

148. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a decision will be taken to finalise the list of protected structures in County Westmeath, which have been prepared on foot of the draft county plan; when his Department will be in a position to finalise the list in this regard taking into account the submissions made in respect thereof and the final recommendation by the local authority in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53593/13]