Parliamentary questions

Employment Data

Brendan Griffin

217. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons in employment in County Kerry compared to when this Government took office; his views that the Action Plan for Jobs is less effective in regional areas such as County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30387/14]

Suckler Welfare Scheme Payments

Brendan Griffin

373. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2012 suckler cow welfare scheme payment for six calves will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [29988/14]

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Brendan Griffin

475. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he anticipates a further round of the sports capital scheme; if so, when this may happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30380/14]

Tax Reliefs Application

Brendan Griffin

222. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on calls to make private health insurance payments fully income tax deductible in budget 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29900/14]

Tax Code

Brendan Griffin

224. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the tax concessions available in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29903/14]

Rural Social Scheme Administration

Brendan Griffin

395. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will apply any derogations to assist community groups (details supplied) in County Kerry with problems that will potentially lead to the loss of vital community services in a socially disadvantaged area [29486/14]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Brendan Griffin

396. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will initiate a review of the eligibility criteria for participation in community employment schemes; and if she will ensure that as part of that review the demographic context in which the scheme operates will be taken into account, as many community groups feel that the CE scheme does not currently meet the needs of rural communities as the population structure is not conducive to meeting the eligibility rules on an on-going basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29487/14]

Back to Education Allowance Payments

Brendan Griffin

427. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will refrain from further reducing or altering the household benefits and free travel pass facilities in Budget 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29897/14]

Living Alone Allowance

Brendan Griffin

428. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the living alone allowance form €7.70 a week in budget 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29898/14]

Crime Data

Brendan Griffin

634. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of bicycle thefts per annum per Garda district for the past five years; her plans to address this problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29307/14]

Crime Data

Brendan Griffin

635. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of convictions for bicycle theft per Garda district in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29308/14]

Home Care Packages Provision

Brendan Griffin

674. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health following the recent investigations and reporting into Fingal Home Care the efforts that been applied to improve the management and monitoring of the service and the quality of care to clients of Fingal Home Care; if the clients of Fingal Home Care have been consulted and communicated with regarding the service and care provided by Fingal Home Care; the changes and improvements that are being put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29013/14]

HSE Complaints Procedures

Brendan Griffin

720. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the treatment of a person (details supplied) at a recent consultant appointment; his views that this practice is widespread. [29352/14]

Drugs Payment Scheme Threshold

Brendan Griffin

788. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will consider reducing the ceiling of the drug refund scheme in Budget 2015. [29899/14]

Insurance Levy

Brendan Griffin

789. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on calls to reverse the levy on private health insurers for use of private beds in public hospitals in Budget 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29901/14]

Hospital Appointments Administration

Brendan Griffin

207. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a date for an appointment for a MRI scan will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28871/14]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Brendan Griffin

38. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding development education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28699/14]

Television Reception

Brendan Griffin

112. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a Saorview blackspot in County Kerry (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28624/14]

Legal Services Regulation

Brendan Griffin

140. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the recourse available to persons who are victims of a fraud by solicitors acting on their behalf; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28661/14]

Medicinal Products Availability

Brendan Griffin

150. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the drug beta feron will be made available on the Health Service Executive community drug scheme for multiple sclerosis sufferers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28566/14]

Irish Language

Brendan Griffin

154. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the grant to student teachers undertaking courses in the Gaeltacht will be restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28328/14]

Irish Language

Brendan Griffin

155. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will introduce the Gaeltacht scholarship scheme for teachers wishing to attend Gaeltacht courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28329/14]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Griffin

198. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide funding for a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27962/14]

Harbours and Piers Funding

Brendan Griffin

202. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 54 of 11 June 2014, the position regarding repair works to the landing area at An Blascaod Mór, County Kerry; when he expects the works to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28330/14]

Health Services

Brendan Griffin

253. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to persons who have special dietary requirements after the suspension of the diet supplement payment for new applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28417/14]

Environmental Protection Agency Remit

Brendan Griffin

308. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Environmental Protection Agency requirements for percolation tests will be reviewed in view of the advancement in sewerage treatment systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27884/14]

Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding

Brendan Griffin

314. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce a derogation to allow tendering for SICAP by national organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27964/14]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Collection

Brendan Griffin

318. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide examples of liabilities for home owners who have not discharged their non-principal private residence tax on the 31 August 2014, 1 September 2014, 1 January 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28048/14]

Register of Electors

Brendan Griffin

331. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reform the voter registration process to facilitate online registration and the creation of an electoral commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28321/14]

Housing Issues

Brendan Griffin

332. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to support students in accessing affordable accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28327/14]

Legislative Process

Brendan Griffin

371. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the children and family relationships Bill will be enacted in full by the end of 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28322/14]

Marriage Equality Referendum

Brendan Griffin

372. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a date will be set for the referendum on marriage equality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28323/14]

Equality Issues

Brendan Griffin

373. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if section 37.1 of the Employment Equality Act will be deleted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28324/14]

Hospital Appointment Delays

Brendan Griffin

483. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be given a date for a hernia operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28017/14]

Medicinal Products Prices

Brendan Griffin

547. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will put in place regulations to impose maximum price for emergency contraception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28325/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Brendan Griffin

548. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his plans for mental health service improvement for young persons and third level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28326/14]

Health Services Provision

Brendan Griffin

552. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding cuts in services in respect of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28375/14]

Road Projects

Brendan Griffin

16. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the possibility of building the new road from Kerry to Cork via Ballyvourney and Macroom to Ovens; if he recognises the economic need for this new road and that it would make Kerry far more attractive for foreign direct investment and tourism by cutting journey times from Cork, that it would provide opportunities for many Kerry persons to commute to jobs in Cork safely and in viable travel times and that it would have a positive impact on health care provision, in view of the large volume of persons that travel from Kerry to Cork daily for medical treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27095/14]

Cycling Facilities Funding

Brendan Griffin

50. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will make funding available to complete greenways from Tralee to Fenit and from Listowel to the Limerick border near Kilmorna along CIE-owned routes; if he will fund a feasibility study for the Tralee to Listowel route; if feasibility studies would be initiated to find a viable route possibly incorporating local back roads in places and so on where historic railway lines used to be in State ownership from Glenbeigh to Farranfore and from Killarney to Kenmare, with absolute recognition being given to landowners along these routes and with an approach of consultation, respect for property rights and co-operation being central to all efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27094/14]

International Relations

Brendan Griffin

54. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed with his UK counterparts the issue of the continued presence of the harp on the UK royal coat of arms to represent Ireland; his views that it is time to replace the harp with a more appropriate symbol in view of the fact that the harp was incorporated into the coat to represent all of Ireland before Irish independence and is now the emblem of the Irish State; if he will provide any reassurance to any citizen who is concerned about this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27684/14]

Corporation Tax

Brendan Griffin

61. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on Ireland's international reputation due to the effective rates of corporation tax being paid here by some large firms; his views that the Irish Exchequer could benefit better from corporation tax without moving into diminishing returns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27686/14]

Corporation Tax

Brendan Griffin

62. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on the way of increasing Ireland's effective corporation tax take without hunting firms out of the economy; how far from that tipping point is the current tax regime positioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27687/14]

School Transport Appeals

Brendan Griffin

86. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will introduce an appeals process to be adjudicated upon on an individual basis for primary schools adversely affected by the 2010 changes to school bus catchment areas; if this process will give particular consideration to isolated rural schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27685/14]

Irish Language

Brendan Griffin

114. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will pursue that the derogation on the status of the Irish language in the European Union is ended at the end of 2016 and in order for this to happen, that the Irish Government would inform the Council of the European Union in 2014 that it intends to propose the ending of the derogation on the status at a formal meeting to be held in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27769/14]

Official Languages Act 2003 Compliance

Brendan Griffin

123. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will insert a new provision in the Official Languages Act to ensure that at least 10% of employees in the Civil Service can communicate with the public through Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27729/14]

Official Languages Act 2003 Compliance

Brendan Griffin

124. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will insert a new provision in the Official Languages Act whereby services are made available in Irish for Gaeltacht communities before the end of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27730/14]

Inland Fisheries

Brendan Griffin

128. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the lake at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry will be restocked, even if for just two months of the year, to help support local tourism, as it used to be stocked in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27676/14]

Broadcasting Sector

Brendan Griffin

130. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide continuous multi-year annual funding for TG4 similar to that which RTÉ currently receives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27768/14]

Irish Water Remit

Brendan Griffin

145. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a specific grant for homeowners who wish to replace the dangerous lead piping in their homes with safer modern alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27688/14]

Irish Water Remit

Brendan Griffin

146. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide Irish Water with a grant to replace dangerous lead piping from the point of metering to the house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27689/14]