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 12 of 14
Wed, 16 Jan 2013
written
Third Level Institutions Mergers
Robert Dowds
243. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the negotiations between the Church of Ireland College of Education and Trinity College Dublin in relation to a possible merger. [57928/12]
Wed, 16 Jan 2013
written
Third Level Institutions Mergers
Robert Dowds
244. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the negotiations between Saint Patrick's College, Drumcondra and Dublin City University in relation to a possible merger. [57929/12]
Wed, 16 Jan 2013
written
Carer's Allowance Eligibility
Robert Dowds
505. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the vetting or inspection that takes place of persons in receipt of carers' payments, or who have applied for such payments, to ensure that they are acting as carers. [1429/13]
Wed, 16 Jan 2013
written
Property Taxation Exemptions
Robert Dowds
617. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person who owns one property but who is living elsewhere in rented accommodation has to pay the non-principal private residence tax for the house which they own. [1016/13]
Wed, 16 Jan 2013
written
Immigration Policy
Robert Dowds
752. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his reasons for increasing the registration fee for most categories of legal immigrants from outside the EEA by 100% from November; and if he intends to continue the fee at its current level. [58032/12]
Wed, 16 Jan 2013
written
Visa Applications
Robert Dowds
753. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the €60 charge for a single use re-entry visa for non-EEA nationals leaving and returning to Ireland; and his plans to review same. [58033/12]
Wed, 16 Jan 2013
written
Upward Only Rent Reviews
Robert Dowds
769. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is any prospect of bringing an end to existing leases with upward-only rent review clauses in view of the fact that many businesses are still struggling with rents which do not reflect market value. [1030/13]
Wed, 16 Jan 2013
written
Disabled Drivers Grants
Robert Dowds
932. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if the material transport grant for persons with a disability who require a car for going to work is being maintained and at what rate per annum. [1015/13]
Wed, 16 Jan 2013
written
Maternity Services
Robert Dowds
961. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of maternity hospitals that currently test pregnant women to see if they carry the sickle-cell gene; if there are plans for all maternity hospitals to test for this if they do not already do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57927/12]
Tue, 18 Dec 2012
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Ambulance Service Response Times
Robert Dowds
622. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the numbers of ambulances being held up for significant lengths of time that is greater than half an hour at each of the Dublin hospitals (details supplied) because the ambulances are waiting for their trolleys to be returned; the figures for the first three months of 2012; and the length of time each ambulance has been delayed [56510/12]
Tue, 18 Dec 2012
written
Health Services Provision
Robert Dowds
626. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing regular bone density scans to at risk groups to allow early diagnosis and monitoring of osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56592/12]
Tue, 18 Dec 2012
written
Medicinal Products Prices
Robert Dowds
627. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his efforts to reduce the price of prescription medications; and if he will provide an estimate of when he anticipates that many price cuts to medication will take effect [56593/12]
Tue, 18 Dec 2012
written
Sports Capital Programme Applications
Robert Dowds
679. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the parameters that were used to allocate sports capital grants in 2012. [56430/12]
Tue, 18 Dec 2012
written
Sports Capital Programme Applications
Robert Dowds
680. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is any specific aspect of sport or of club governance which should be made clear in every application for sports grant funding. [56431/12]
Tue, 18 Dec 2012
written
Sports Capital Programme Applications
Robert Dowds
681. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be a further call for applications for sports capital funding in the foreseeable future, and if so; when this may happen. [56432/12]
Thu, 13 Dec 2012
written
Work Permit Applications
Robert Dowds
81. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of employers per annum that have been prosecuted for breaches of section 2 of the Employment Permit Act (2003) since its enactment for each year for which data is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56128/12]
Thu, 13 Dec 2012
written
Work Permit Applications
Robert Dowds
82. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of employees per annum that have been prosecuted for breaches of section 2 of the Employment Permit Act 2003 since its enactment for each year for which data is available. [56129/12]
Thu, 13 Dec 2012
written
Work Permit Applications
Robert Dowds
83. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections of employment premises that have been carried out by the National Employment Rights Authority with the Garda National Immigration Bureau in 2012; and in which sectors of employment have such inspections been carried out. [56130/12]
Tue, 11 Dec 2012
written
Constitutional Convention
Robert Dowds
108. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Taoiseach the expected cost of the Constitutional Convention to take place this year and next year. [55225/12]
Tue, 11 Dec 2012
written
Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility
Robert Dowds
239. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if the amount due on the mortgage every month can be used to offset rental income for the purposes of claiming means tested social welfare payments, in particular jobseeker's allowance. [55224/12]
Tue, 11 Dec 2012
written
Local Government Elections
Robert Dowds
294. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to publish proposals on a directly elected mayor for Dublin; and the date on which he expects to publish same. [55226/12]
Tue, 11 Dec 2012
written
Mortgage to Rent Scheme Funding
Robert Dowds
295. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it will be possible to amend the mortgage-to-rent rules to include persons who bought under affordable housing schemes in cases in which the county council is the mortgage lender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55227/12]
Tue, 11 Dec 2012
written
Waste Management Regulations
Robert Dowds
297. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 25158/11, if he will provide an update on the possibility of a glass bottle deposit scheme, which he has said would be considered as part of a review of packaging. [55300/12]
Tue, 11 Dec 2012
written
Coillte Teoranta Lands
Robert Dowds
360. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to include provisions which will ensure public access to Coillte land for recreational purposes, as part of any move to sell any assets of Coillte in the future. [55266/12]
Tue, 11 Dec 2012
written
Medical Aids and Appliances Applications
Robert Dowds
470. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide figures, in tabular form, of the amount of money spent by the Health Service Executive on the provision of sleep apnoea machines in each of the past six years; the number of persons who have been provided with such sleep apnoea machines in each of the past six years; and using this information, if he will provide figures on the cost per patient for the provision of sleep apnoea machines in each of the past six years. [55230/12]
Tue, 4 Dec 2012
written
Employment Support Services
Robert Dowds
281. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she is using to ensure that persons in receipt of jobseekers' payments are actively looking for work or training opportunities, or are pursuing training or education. [53884/12]
Tue, 4 Dec 2012
written
Departmental Investigations
Robert Dowds
282. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of investigations that have been launched into persons suspected of claiming jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit under false pretences in the most recent twelve months for which figures are available. [53885/12]
Tue, 27 Nov 2012
written
Pension Provisions
Robert Dowds
201. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the financial emergency measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 to include the staff of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, Allied Irish Bank and Irish Life under the provisions of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52259/12]
Tue, 27 Nov 2012
written
Pension Provisions
Robert Dowds
202. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide figures, in tabular form, on the amount of revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer if the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 was amended to include the staff of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, Allied Irish Bank and Irish Life respectively under the provisions of the Act. [52260/12]
Tue, 20 Nov 2012
written
Diplomatic Representation Expenditure
Robert Dowds
169. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland has embassies physically located in each of the G20 countries, particularly Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, South Korea, Indonesia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and in the case of any of these countries where we do not currently have an embassy, if there are plans to open embassies in these countries to more accurately reflect the changing nature of the global economy. [51465/12]
Tue, 20 Nov 2012
written
Employment Support Services
Robert Dowds
330. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the way JobBridge is audited to ensure that employers do not use repeat internships to avoid employing new paid staff and if her attention has been drawn to any cases where this practice has been noticed and halted. [50869/12]
Tue, 20 Nov 2012
written
National Internship Scheme Administration
Robert Dowds
331. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider asking employers partaking in JobBridge for a contribution to the cost of maintaining an intern; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50870/12]
Tue, 20 Nov 2012
written
Rent Supplement Scheme Applications
Robert Dowds
356. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the proposed transfer of some of the administration of rent supplement to county councils, and if she has given further consideration to the payment of rent supplement directly to the landlord as a default option. [51012/12]
Thu, 15 Nov 2012
written
Proposed Legislation
Robert Dowds
178. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on his efforts toward commencing section 15 of the Fines Act 2010; and if he will provide an estimate of when he will be able to commence it. [50568/12]
Tue, 13 Nov 2012
written
Garda Civilian Staff Numbers
Robert Dowds
497. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of qualified accountants employed on a full time basis by the Garda Bureau for Fraud Investigation. [50014/12]
Tue, 13 Nov 2012
written
Garda Civilian Staff Numbers
Robert Dowds
498. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of qualified solicitors employed on a full time basis by the Garda Bureau for Fraud Investigation. [50015/12]
Tue, 13 Nov 2012
written
Garda Civilian Staff Numbers
Robert Dowds
499. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of qualified barristers employed on a full time basis by the Garda Bureau for Fraud Investigation. [50016/12]
Tue, 13 Nov 2012
written
Health Services Provision
Robert Dowds
610. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the action he will take in relation to persons who are affected by narcolepsy as a result of the Pandremix vaccine for swine flu given in 2009-10; if a paper will be put to Dáil Éireann on this issue and the timeline for same [49626/12]
Thu, 8 Nov 2012
written
Pension Provisions
Robert Dowds
96. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the rate at which the pension provisions of senior managers in the banks in which the State has a stake will be taxed; and if he has considered levying a high rate of tax on these pension provisions in order to provide some measure of social equity. [49158/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
written
Middle East Peace Process
Robert Dowds
162. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the recent interception by Israeli forces of the flotilla sailing to Gaza with basic equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47826/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
written
Illegal Israeli Imports
Robert Dowds
163. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the purchase of goods by EU countries from Israeli-occupied areas of the West Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47827/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
written
Mortgage Resolution Processes
Robert Dowds
222. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will put in place measures to enable couples where each partner owns a residence and both are in negative equity to allow them both to sell in order to buy a joint residence. [47825/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
written
Teaching Qualifications
Robert Dowds
380. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Montessori teaching qualifications are not recognised as qualifying a person to teach in primary schools, and the action that needs to be taken to change this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48679/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
written
Housing Adaptation Grants Expenditure
Robert Dowds
749. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider setting aside a specific budget for the housing adaptation grant scheme, as funding for accessible living environments has been prioritised in the National Carers' Strategy, but programmes in most local authorities are either on hold or are moving very slowly because of a lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48678/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
written
Animal Welfare Issues
Robert Dowds
878. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to amend the law to make it illegal for circuses to hold performing animals in captivity and use them as part of their performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47836/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
written
Live Exports
Robert Dowds
903. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to amend the law to prohibit the live export of animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47971/12]
Thu, 25 Oct 2012
written
VAT Rate Increases
Robert Dowds
56. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that although many unhealthy foods and beverages are taxed at the standard rate, anomalies exist whereby products high in fat, sugar and salt are taxed at a reduced, or zero, rate;his plans to address these anomalies in the Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46975/12]
Thu, 25 Oct 2012
written
Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times
Robert Dowds
104. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the average time a social welfare appeal has taken to reach a decision in the past six months for which data are available, and the comparable figure for the previous six months and for the same period year-on-year. [46974/12]
Wed, 24 Oct 2012
oral
Criminal Prosecutions Data
Robert Dowds
6. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the contact that he has had with the Garda Commissioner regarding the conviction rate for white collar crime as reported in a publication (details supplied); his views on the statistics outlined in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter [46310/12]
Tue, 16 Oct 2012
written
Tax Reliefs Availability
Robert Dowds
157. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the requirements under the VRT and VAT tax relief scheme for drivers and passengers with disabilities regarding persons from whom a used car may be bought to qualify for the scheme, that is, authorised dealers. [44151/12]