Parliamentary questions

Farm Assist Scheme Appeals

Colm Keaveney

212. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect a decision on their farm assist payment appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48183/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Colm Keaveney

273. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills with reference to the Government's capital investment programme which committed to the construction of a Gaelscoil in Tuam, County Galway, if the site has been identified; when construction will commence; if the school will commence operations in the academic year 2015-2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45640/13]

Mental Health Services Funding

Colm Keaveney

1026. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in reference to the statement by the Minister of State for mental health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, on the RTE programme "This Week" which referenced the allocation of €20 million for investment in mental health in 2014, where she said, we, the mental health service, are getting €20 million this year and I have guaranteed that the additional €15 million will be available next year, if he will confirm that his Department has made this guarantee; if so, if he will restate that guarantee in response to this question; if this €15 million will be on top of the €35 million per year that the programme for Government committed to be ring-fenced each year for investment in mental health; if he will state the conditionality attached to this guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45659/13]

Road Projects Status

Colm Keaveney

1255. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects work to commence on the construction of the M18-M17 Gort to Tuam motorway; the funding model being used that has been agreed with the National Roads Authority and other relevant stakeholders; if a contractor has been identified and, if so, who; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45638/13]

Budget Measures

Colm Keaveney

78. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance in relation to the statement on page C 14 of budget 2014, €600 million of the budgetary adjustment comes from additional resources and savings elsewhere, adding all of these to the €1.85 billion in new policy measures outlined gives a total adjustment package of €3.1 billion in 2014; if he will clarify what the total budgetary adjustment is for 2014 and if different from the statement quoted, if he will provide an explanation for that difference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44910/13]

Youth Unemployment Measures

Colm Keaveney

119. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons aged 25 or under in receipt of jobseeker's benefit; the number of persons aged 25 or under in receipt of jobseeker's allowance; the number of dedicated training placements she is making exclusively available to those aged 25 or under; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44913/13]

Medical Card Data

Colm Keaveney

559. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number, according to the latest data available to him, of children aged five or under who are currently holders of a medical card or of a general practitioner-only medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44586/13]

Mental Health Services Funding

Colm Keaveney

566. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health regarding the €35 million ring-fenced for mental health in budget 2012 and budget 2013; the amount of the €35 million ring-fenced for 2012 which was spent in that year; the amount carried forward; of the portion carried forward from 2012 into 2013, the amount that remains unspent; the amount of the €35 million ring-fenced for 2013 that has been spent to date; the way the moneys were spent in all cases; if the programme for Government committed the Government to ring-fence €35 million in each and every budget of its term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44619/13]

Medical Card Data

Colm Keaveney

567. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the cost-benefit analysis performed on the proposal announced in budget 2014; if he will provide general practitioner-only medical cards to all children aged five or under; if he will provide details of any report or study conducted to support that choice as the best option for the extension of free GP care; if he will provide details of the stakeholders consulted in making the decision to grant all children aged five or under with GP-only medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44620/13]

Medical Card Data

Colm Keaveney

568. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he considered, as part of his preparations for budget 2014, extending general practitioner-only medical cards to all persons with serious long-term illnesses; if this is the case, if he will provide details of any cost-benefit analysis performed; if he will provide details of any report or study conducted to support that choice as the best option for the extension of free GP care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44621/13]

Prescription Charges

Colm Keaveney

569. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in relation to the decision announced in budget 2014 to increase the prescription charge by €1 to €2.50, if he considered any study on the effects of such a charge on the behaviour of persons taking medication in accordance with their doctor’s instructions; if he will provide details if those studies' standard academic citations will suffice; the actions, he considers necessary to counteract any deterrent effect of such prescription charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44622/13]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications

Colm Keaveney

339. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) may expect to receive their headage payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43221/13]

Organic Farming Scheme Appeals

Colm Keaveney

340. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect a decision on their appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43229/13]

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

64. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the name and business address of all of the providers of public relations services to his Department since the current Government came into office; the total amount spent on such services in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40221/13]

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

96. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the name and business address of all of the providers of public relations services to the Department since the current Government came into office: the total amount spent on such services in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40220/13]

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

110. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the name and business address of all of the providers of public relations services to the Department since the current Government came into office: the total amount spent on such services in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40224/13]

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

117. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the name and business address of all of the providers of public relations services to the Department since the current Government came into office; the total amount spent on such services in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40223/13]

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

134. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection the name and business address of all of the providers of public relations services to the Department since the current Government came into office: the total amount spent on such services in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40225/13]

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

159. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the name and business address of all of the providers of public relations services to his Department since the current Government came into office: the total amount spent on such services in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40219/13]

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

234. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the name and business address of all of the providers of public relations services to her Department since the current Government came into office: the total amount spent on such services in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40218/13]

Health Services Staff Data

Colm Keaveney

243. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of cognitive behavioural theory therapists employed by the Health Service Executive in each of their areas; the funding that has been made available to provide training for more such therapists; the target number of CBT therapists to be deployed in each area by the end of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40156/13]

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

253. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the name and business address of all of the providers of public relations services to his Department since the current Government came into office; the total amount spent on such services in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40222/13]

Exports Data

Colm Keaveney

65. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the target for goods exports to be achieved in 2013; the measures he has taken to encourage trade in our goods exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36927/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Colm Keaveney

106. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures he has taken, as part of a unilateral initiative by Ireland or working with our European partners, to address the ongoing serious persecution of Christians in Egypt, Syria and Iraq; if he has considered offering asylum to those affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37858/13]

Exports Data

Colm Keaveney

107. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his Department's target for goods exports for 2013; his estimate that the outturn for 2013; his Department's target for 2014; the activities to increase trade he has scheduled between now and the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37859/13]

Prize Bonds

Colm Keaveney

150. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance in view of the special case of prize bonds, if he will consider raising the anti money laundering requirement purchase threshold from €25 to €100 in order that a balance may be achieved between convenience of purchase for customers and the need to counter money laundering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36923/13]

Banks Recapitalisation

Colm Keaveney

209. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has undertaken any study on the probability of the need for any future recapitalisation of Irish banks; his views on the likelihood of same; the progress that has been made on securing a commitment that any future recapitalisation will be provided by the European Central Bank or from some other European mechanism or body; his views on whether such a commitment will be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37864/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Colm Keaveney

310. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that students will be entitled to a third level grant from Student Universal Support Ireland if, satisfying all other criteria, they are going from an appropriate degree with an NFQ level of 8 to a professional diploma in education which has an NFQ level of 8; that condition of progression will be waived in this case, in view of the fact that the professional diploma is a necessary qualification to work as a teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37531/13]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Colm Keaveney

374. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he plans to take to reduce the percentage of primary school children attending classes of 30 or more pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38116/13]

IDA Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

511. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports the Industrial Development Agengy or his Department give to a company (details supplied) that recently announced its intention to close its operation in Cork, including the details and values of any monetary supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37533/13]

Garda Reports

Colm Keaveney

1100. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm if An Garda Síochána carries out surveys or commissions reports on the state of the morale of the force; if so, details of the most recent report; if he will provide details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38120/13]

Hospitals Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

1290. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a financial breakdown of the current budgetary performance of every hospital providing acute services within the Health Service Executive with details of the expected target of each acute hospital and the projected outturn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36925/13]

Suicide Prevention

Colm Keaveney

1291. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the measures he has implemented since coming into office to reduce the numbers of deaths by suicide; the measures he is planning to implement by the end of 2013; the targeted reduction to be achieved by the end of 2013, 2014, 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36926/13]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Colm Keaveney

1442. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the number of the 477 additional staff committed to under the Health Service Executive National Service Plan 2013 in order to fulfil the objectives of further development of forensics and community mental health teams for adults, children, older persons and mental health intellectual disability, that have been filled in each of the HSE areas and when will all of the posts be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37862/13]

Hospital Services

Colm Keaveney

1443. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will he confirm that Toghermore House, Tuam, County Galway, will continue in its function as of November 2012, and that all 17 of the beds will remain open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37863/13]

Mental Health Guidelines

Colm Keaveney

1481. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the funding being provided in 2013 to the National Service User Executive, established under Recommendation 3.5 of A Vision for Change; the funding provided in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38112/13]

Mental Health Guidelines

Colm Keaveney

1482. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he is committed to the role of the National Service User Executive, established under Recommendation 3.5 of A Vision for Change, in informing the National Mental Health Service Directorate and the Mental Health Commission on issues relating to user involvement and participation in planning delivering, evaluating and monitoring services including models of best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38113/13]

Mental Health Guidelines

Colm Keaveney

1483. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in view of information set out on page 28 of the 2006 document A Vision for Change, in which services users, in the context of user involvement, should at a minimum be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses at the same rates as health professional, if he will confirm if this is current practice and, if not, the rate at which services users and professionals are reimbursed and if he can account for the differential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38114/13]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

1484. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that all of the community based mental health teams are in place in counties Galway, Mayo and Roacommon areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38115/13]

Mental Health Act Review

Colm Keaveney

1485. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will forward to this Deputy details of the report of the expert group to review the Mental Health Act 2001 which was due to be published in the second quarter of 2013; if it has not yet been published, the reason for same and the date on which it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38117/13]

Mental Health Services Report

Colm Keaveney

1486. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in view of the recommendations contained on pages 133 and 145 of the 2006 document A Vision for Change, if these changes have been implemented; if not, the date on which he plans to have them implemented, namely 14.2, 14.3, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9, 14.11; and with reference to recommendation 14.9 if he will list the units referred to and provide details of their current capacities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38119/13]

Hospital Appointment Status

Colm Keaveney

1535. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect to be called for a surgical procedure taking into account that they are on an emergency waiting list [38361/13]

Traffic Management

Colm Keaveney

1675. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has ever considered the ideas of the Dutch road planner, Hans Monderman, in the management of traffic in urban areas; if he will provide details of same; if he will consider a pilot scheme in line with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38122/13]

Road Traffic Accidents Data

Colm Keaveney

918. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drivers involved in fatal and non-fatal collisions who were unaccompanied drivers on learner's permit in each of the years 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35125/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Colm Keaveney

109. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) may expect a response to their current appeal to Student Universal Support Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32406/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Colm Keaveney

110. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) may expect a response to their appeal to Student Universal Support Ireland; if he will resolve the issue whereby SUSI has issued this individual with two reference numbers; if he will clarify which one they should use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32412/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Colm Keaveney

113. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) may expect a response to their current appeal to Student Universal Support Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32424/13]

Garda Vetting Applications

Colm Keaveney

363. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect the Garda vetting process to be completed in order that he or she may engage in an employment scheme dependent on the outcome of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28656/13]

EU Conventions

Colm Keaveney

678. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Government intends to sign the European Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence Against Women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27314/13]

Road Traffic Accidents Data

Colm Keaveney

735. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vehicular traffic accidents that have been recorded at or in close proximity to the crossroads at Knockdoe, Claregalway, County Galway, being the junction between the N17 and the roads leading to the townlands of Carraghy and Monroe, in the periods from the beginning of November 2012 to end of April 2013, and from the beginning of November 2011 to end of April 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27673/13]