Parliamentary questions

Hospital Appointments Status

Derek Keating

451. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) to expedite a very urgent appointment in a hospital, given that the urgency of this case requires him to directly intervene and not to send it to the Health Service Executive for a response, and given the performance of the executive on this matter to date. [42835/15]

Child Benefit Eligibility

Derek Keating

54. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in relation to the SAFE programme, the number of persons in the years 2012 to 2015 to date who have had their child benefit suspended as a consequence of not attending a SAFE registration appointment and obtaining a public services card. [39881/15]

Social Welfare Fraud Data

Derek Keating

57. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the amount that is represented as fraudulent claims for social protection benefits for the years 2012 to 2015 to date. [39907/15]

Fishing Industry

Derek Keating

96. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that are being taken to confirm the veracity of the allegations impinging on the reputation of the Irish fishing fleet in reports in newspapers of poor employment practices that should not be tolerated, and other measures alleged to circumvent the work permit and migration laws, to remedy the situation; and the action to be taken against the perpetrators, should wrongdoing or criminality be found. [39836/15]

Child Care Costs

Derek Keating

329. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered the introduction of tax relief for child care costs (details supplied). [38132/15]

HSE Funding

Derek Keating

817. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to a charity (details supplied) for each of the years, 2011 to 2014, and for 2015 to date. [38133/15]

Light Rail Projects

Derek Keating

714. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport given that a Lucan LUAS line, LUAS F, has been in planning since 2000 and that the development would have had 10.5 km of rail with capacity to carry 4,650 persons in each direction per hour and could carry over 20 million passengers per year, with a significant reduction in vehicle traffic along the N4 corridor and given that the proposed line had significant development work completed and was at the stage to proceed to construction when work was suspended and given that the capital investment plan, Building on Recovery 2016 to 2021, makes no mention of what is seen as a vital transport link, if he will confirm that this project remains under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36077/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Derek Keating

407. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills given that the project to extend and refurbish Lucan Community College in County Dublin is included in the current five-year construction programme, and has a target opening date of September 2018, and given that Lucan is one of the fastest growing residential areas in the country, and is in urgent need of secondary school places, if she will ensure that there is no further impediment in authorising the progress of the project to stage 2A; if she will expedite the preparation and submission of the planning application preferably before, but no later than, spring 2016; if she will confirm that the target opening date of September 2018 will be met; if she will accommodate the attendance of a staff representative at future meetings between her Department and Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board regarding the progress of this project in order that the board of management and parents can become fully aware of all progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35758/15]

Rail Network Maintenance

Derek Keating

767. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport given that the new capital plan includes an allocation in the order of €3.6 billion for public transport and and given that €6 million has already been spent on a train station at Kishogue in Lucan in County Dublin, which is already constructed and lying idle, his plans to ensure that this station is completed and opened within the lifetime of the plan, in order that the journey time for a 7 km trip can be reduced from the current 1 hour and 45 minutes by bus to the area where Kishogue is located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34336/15]

Health Services

Derek Keating

993. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the number of diagnoses of Lyme disease here in recent years; the number of diagnoses for Lyme disease that were missed, in view of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; his views on the matter; his further views on the quality of testing here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31410/15]

Swimming Pool Programme Applications

Derek Keating

1651. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the fact that Lucan, County Dublin, is one of the biggest population growth areas in the State, that there is a lack of a public swimming pool to support a population of over 50,000 people and that grant assistance is an integral part of the financing of elements of South Dublin County Council’s water leisure strategy, and that the council could not of its own resources provide a swimming pool for the area, if he will commit to reopening the local authority swimming pool grant scheme in order to provide a swimming pool facility for Lucan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31997/15]

Departmental Legal Cases

Derek Keating

831. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 775 of 17 June 2014, previous parliamentary questions and correspondence with him and his Department over the past 20 years, if he has consulted recently with the Dublin Airport Authority regarding the actions of his former agent, Aer Rianta, in this matter; and, notwithstanding ongoing court proceedings, if he is satisfied that there was no conflict of interests, breach of official policy, misrepresentation, or concealment or wrongdoing on the part of his former agent, Aer Rianta, in this matter. [29885/15]

Mental Health Services

Derek Keating

195. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that this Deputy has received a letter of concern from the board of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin regarding the functioning of the child and adolescent mental health service, in which this Deputy is advised that parents have been told that there is a one-year waiting list for an appointment, and expressing concern regarding the early sign-off of identified cases where there is already a psychological report outlining significant emotional, behavioural or intellectual challenge; if such a one-year waiting list exists for an appointment with the service; the position regarding the signing-off of cases where such a psychological report exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28026/15]

Road Safety

Derek Keating

272. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the Department, agency, authority or local authority that is responsible for safety on motorways, national primary, national secondary, local primary, local secondary, local tertiary and any undesignated roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28063/15]

National Archives

Derek Keating

280. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the fact that the Ireland-Australia transportation database is incomplete as a result of the destruction of the National Archives in 1922 and only contains transport registers from 1836 to 1857; given that in 1988 the then Taoiseach gave a microfilm copy of the database as a gift to the Australian archives as part of Australia's bicentennial celebrations and, particularly, as it is a stated objective of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to increase tourist numbers from Australia, if she will seek a reciprocal copy of the existing convict transportation records from Australia, which are held in the New South Wales archives in Australia, to be placed in the Irish National Archives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28000/15]

Road Projects

Derek Keating

592. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the support he will provide to an important infrastructural development by EirGrid (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27510/15]

School Management

Derek Keating

202. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills given that an investigation pursuant to section 19 of the Education Act 1998 has been carried out in a school (details supplied) in County Dublin, if she will confirm that recommendations have been made and fully implemented and that a copy of these will be provided for this Deputy and parents of pupils who were interested or affected by the issues raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26738/15]

Rare Diseases

Derek Keating

168. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the Health Service Executive has now opened the National Rare Disease Office, the scope of the conditions that will be dealt with there; if a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who has the condition Alkaptonuria, which is extremely rare and of which this person is one of only two sufferers here, will have her condition managed here rather than having to travel to Liverpool in England for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24087/15]

EU Regulations

Derek Keating

516. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will investigate a situation whereby a person (details supplied) who applied to the central authority for maintenance recovery, for enforcement under Council regulation (EC) 4/2009 of 18 December 2008 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and co-operation in matters relating to maintenance obligations from a person who is resident in the United Kingdom, and despite the fact that the relevant maintenance was granted in 2012, no payments have been actioned to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20520/15]

Military Honours

Derek Keating

110. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Defence in view of the fact that a large number of members of the Defence Forces served during the emergencies that were declared as a result of the period here known as the Troubles, maintaining peace in this State, one of whom made the ultimate sacrifice, if consideration will be given to awarding a service medal to those who gave service to the State and who were directly involved in the support of the civil power during that time, from 1968 to 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15007/15]

Service Medals

Derek Keating

113. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that a large number of members of An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service served during the emergencies that had been declared as a result of the period here known as the Troubles, maintaining the peace in this State, a number of whom made the ultimate sacrifice, comprising some nine members of An Garda Síochána and one member of the Irish Prison Service, if consideration will be given to awarding a service medal to those who gave service to the State during that time, from 1968 to 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15006/15]

Homeless Accommodation Provision

Derek Keating

780. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a comprehensive report on the measures that have been undertaken to deal with the issue of homelessness, particularly in view of the increase in homelessness as a consequence of the rising cost of rented sector accommodation, allied to the increase in the numbers of persons sleeping rough, and furthermore, given the change from the winter season, which of these measures will remain in place, and the supports available to assist in the prevention of homelessness, when encountered with unreasonable rent increases. [14233/15]

Road Traffic Legislation

Derek Keating

196. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number and proliferation of rickshaws that have been plying for hire in Dublin and other cities over the past number of years, in view of the fact that these vehicles have neither registration, insurance or public service vehicle identification and are operated for reward by unqualified persons; and these vehicles, which have been the subject of media comment, are being driven often overloaded, with no regard for road traffic legislation, and operate in pedestrian-only areas and footpaths, with disregard for other road users and pedestrians and often in contravention of the road traffic legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13544/15]

National Awards Scheme

Derek Keating

1. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Taoiseach his plans to establish a national awards scheme; if he will now bring forward his plans for a national awards scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46775/14]

National Awards Scheme

Derek Keating

2. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 9 of 25 October 2011, during which he committed to write to the party leaders and representatives on the establishment of a national civil award, if he will report on the responses received; the views expressed by those party leaders and representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3280/15]

Defence Forces Veterans

Derek Keating

402. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Defence in view of the fact that those who have served in the Defence Forces at home and in international United Nations service are often likely to suffer family breakdown and homelessness the specific services that are available to homeless former members of the Armed Forces and the outreach services that are available to ensure that those who served this country well are looked after following their return to civilian life. [11789/15]

Light Rail Projects Status

Derek Keating

594. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the fact that the Luas project Lucan, line F1, was part of Government plans since the publication of A Platform for Change in 2000 and was at the environmental impact statement stage when work was suspended due to the downturn in public finances, his plans for resuming this project at the earliest opportunity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8741/15]

Rail Services

Derek Keating

597. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the fact that Irish Rail has spent a number of million euro on the construction of Kishogue railway station, as part of the Kildare route project, and that this station was to be opened in 2009 and, furthermore, as the station is adjacent to the location of a large number of high profile multinational companies that have invested heavily in the area and could, with proper park-and-ride facilities, help to provide a solution to the traffic problems in Dublin mid-west, his plans for the opening of this railway station, with adequate car parking facilities, at the earliest possible opportunity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8766/15]

School Accommodation Provision

Derek Keating

189. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No.174 of 24 September 2014, regarding the shortfall of 200 school places in the Lucan area of County Dublin, for second level education for September 2015, if she will provide the results of the analysis of the latest demographic data, specifically in relation to the examination of the Lucan area; and the arrangements that will be made to make accommodation available where it is needed. [7640/15]

Social Welfare Offices

Derek Keating

186. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 24 September 2014, if she will provide an update regarding a dedicated social welfare office in the Lucan area of Dublin for the provision of Intreo services; the efforts the Office of Public Works has made; and when this matter will come to a satisfactory conclusion. [6761/15]

Criminal Prosecutions

Derek Keating

314. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that a police certificate was issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin, which shows two criminal convictions, and in view of information supplied pursuant to section 4 of the Data Protection Act 1988 and 2003, reference number 14/342719, which shows one conviction, and other charges dismissed pursuant to section 1(i) of the Probation of Offenders Acts 1907, and that these offences occurred up to 38 years ago, if she will ensure that a police certificate is issued which records one criminal conviction as a matter of urgency, due to the person’s pending visit to Australia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6904/15]

School Accommodation Provision

Derek Keating

447. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 174 of 24 September 2014, in which she responded that her Department was at that time analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional school accommodation may be needed from 2015 onwards and in which she gave an undertaking that, when that exercise had been completed, arrangements would be made to make accommodation available where it is needed, the outcome of this study in relation to the Lucan area; and the arrangements being put in place to alleviate the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6817/15]

Tax Rebates

Derek Keating

245. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Finance if VRT paid on cars in 2009, which had been imported from the UK throughout 2008 and kept in storage never having been driven on Irish roads and eventually both scrapped, can be refunded. [4564/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Derek Keating

549. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made on funding for a school extension in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; if she will prioritise this outstanding issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2843/15]

Unemployment Data

Derek Keating

116. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Taoiseach the percentage of the labour force in Dublin Mid-West that is officially unemployed in 2014 compared with each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46932/14]

Home Care Packages

Derek Keating

116. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the availability of home care packages in Dublin mid-west (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43385/14]

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Derek Keating

117. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the costs of external consultants and legal fees incurred by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland for the year 2013 to include the hourly and daily rates paid and other costs incurred on the activities of the board to external consultants and legal practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43393/14]

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Derek Keating

135. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the reason the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland has voted to increase the annual retention fee from €100 to €150 for 2015 in view of the fact that the same fee increased by 12.5% from 1 January 2014 and is not proportionate when compared with other allied health professionals, where fees are set at €100 and in the case of teachers where the retention fee was reduced to €65 per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43441/14]

Garda Resources

Derek Keating

504. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the sharp rise in break-ins, particularly in homes and business premises, and an armed robbery at Saggart post office on 18 October 2014, if she will ensure that sufficient Garda resources are available to a Garda station (details supplied) to deal with such eventualities; her plans to increase resources in the area to ensure that homes and businesses are protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41110/14]

Medical Card Eligibility

Derek Keating

129. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if expenses for water charges and local property taxes will be included in calculating the eligibility criteria for general practitioner visit cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40557/14]

Light Rail Projects Status

Derek Keating

231. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to recommence the Luas Lucan F1 project in view of the fact that this project was halted at an advanced stage of planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40690/14]

Medical Card Eligibility

Derek Keating

164. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the reason an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied), was assessed on net income but when calculating for the over 70 medical card, gross income was assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39592/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Derek Keating

264. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an up-to-date report on the proposed new buildings for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin in view of the fact that the school will soon be submitting stage 2B to her Department; if the school will be passed to go to tender stage soon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39170/14]

Water Charges Administration

Derek Keating

217. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason apartment residents will be charged an average for their water usage; the basis this average is on as there is no information available concerning this issue; the reason persons on fixed incomes are not being given the option of paying their water charges by monthly standing order or by weekly payment through their local post office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38360/14]

Jobseeker's Benefit Applications

Derek Keating

135. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the position on a matter whereby a series of errors were made in determining, responding to, paying and dealing with a claim for jobseeker's benefit in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will confirm that the two PPS numbers applicable to the person and the contributions made by the person have been properly considered in dealing with the issue. [38075/14]

Social Welfare Offices

Derek Keating

49. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a dedicated social welfare office in the Lucan area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36100/14]

School Accommodation Provision

Derek Keating

174. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the potential shortfall of 200 school places in the Lucan area for second level education for September 2015 in view of the fact that a number of parents have conducted an exercise which indicates that 200 places plus will not be accommodated at second level in September 2015 in view of the numbers that are currently in sixth class in national school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36114/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Derek Keating

456. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an updated report on the application for structural funding for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin, as this college has been waiting for an extension which is now many years overdue and in the next few months it is scheduled to go to planning permission stage. [35649/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Derek Keating

457. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school extensions at a school (details supplied) in County Dublin, as both schools are expecting to go to planning permission stage in the very near future; if additional structured funds will be provided as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35656/14]

Citizenship Applications

Derek Keating

549. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will examine the application for citizenship in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33117/14]