Parliamentary questions

Road Safety

Tony McLoughlin

786. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the serious safety concerns locally regarding the N4 stretch from Castlebaldwin to Colooney, County Sligo; if he is prepared to state that this road is a priority for the National Roads Authority and his Department when funding becomes available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8655/13]

Garda Stations Closures

Tony McLoughlin

336. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way community and local development groups will put forward proposals to acquire local Garda Stations recently vacated for community projects or facilities; and if he will outline the mechanism that such groups should consider in order that any proposals they may have may be considered by the Office of Public Works. [7170/13]

Taxi Regulations

Tony McLoughlin

755. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the position for a taxi plate owner who wishes to sell or lease their licence as he wishes to retire; the options available for such a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7152/13]

Higher Education Courses Deferrals

Tony McLoughlin

82. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered pushing back the deferral dates for students following the delays around the Student Universal Support Ireland grant application process (details supplied). [6252/13]

Public Procurement Regulations

Tony McLoughlin

97. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will conduct a cost benefit analysis of central purchasing which, while reducing the cost to Departments and agencies, threatens the viability of many smaller companies who have, and are supplying, goods and services on a regional and local basis to Government offices, schools and hospitals; if he will justify his policy of saving public money, on one hand, and on the other hand risking the loss of jobs to small indigenous supplier companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6148/13]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Tony McLoughlin

212. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if he or the Health Service Executive provide any grant assistance to persons with severe disabilities who require a mobility scooter in order to lead an independent life as much as possible; if he will provide the relevant details of any scheme which the aforementioned persons could avail of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6115/13]

Water Services Registrations

Tony McLoughlin

171. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide information on the total numbers of septic tanks and other similar type of systems that are currently registered locally and nationally; and the timeframe for when the inspection process will begin. [5071/13]

Water Services Registrations

Tony McLoughlin

196. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update in the implementation of the Water Services Amendment Act 2012. [5070/13]

Tax Collection

Tony McLoughlin

264. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the decision of the Revenue Commissioners not to reduce a tax interest liability for late payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [5431/13]

Consumer Protection

Tony McLoughlin

309. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether there is need for a review or a change in current consumer protection legislation following the decision to put a company (details supplied) into examinership resulting in gift vouchers in that company's name not currently been honoured by its stores here. [3010/13]

Library Projects

Tony McLoughlin

466. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if consideration has been given by him to an application by Sligo County Council seeking funding towards the provision of a new library building in Sligo. [3011/13]

Local Authority Staff Issues

Tony McLoughlin

467. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is considering any targeted retirement schemes within the local government sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3012/13]

Home Help Service Provision

Tony McLoughlin

526. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the number of persons in the State in receipt of home help hours while also being cared for by persons who are in receipt of carer's benefit; and if she or her Department officials have ever discussed with the Health Service Executive the reason any person cared for by a person receiving carer's benefit and the respite care grant should require home help hours also. [1711/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Tony McLoughlin

599. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether it is vitally important to have in place high quality broadband at Carraroe, County Sligo where there is a high level of retail activity and small and medium enterprises located in Sligo; the reason Eircom is not proceeding to activate from their exchange at Carraroe and if the communications regulator attention has been drawn to the lack of proper broadband at this industrialised area of Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1244/13]

HSE Staffing

Tony McLoughlin

986. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the current number of assistant national directors employed within the Health Service Executive [58111/12]

HSE Staffing

Tony McLoughlin

987. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health in consideration of his proposal to reduce the Health Service Executive staff by 3,000, the way he proposes to ensure that the present level of front line staff within the HSE across the range of services are kept at their present numbers [58112/12]

HSE Staffing

Tony McLoughlin

988. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the current number of what is often referred to as back office staff, staff other than front line staff employed within the Health Service Executive within the various grades across the service nationally [58113/12]

Home Help Service Provision

Tony McLoughlin

1096. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of persons in the State in receipt of home help hours and are also cared for by persons who are in receipt of carer's benefit; if he or his Department officials have ever discussed with the health Service Executive and the Department of Social Protection the reason any person cared for by a person receiving carer's benefit and the respite care grant should require home help hours also; his views on whether the impact nationally of recent cuts in home help hours would be lessened if the practice of granting home help hours to persons being cared for by recipients of carer's benefit was abolished [1712/13]

Planning Issues

Tony McLoughlin

450. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local authorities are in many cases differing in their interpretation of the 2010 Planning Act which refers to the extension of time for planning permissions after their time limits have expired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56943/12]

Broadcasting Service Provision

Tony McLoughlin

116. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if consideration has been given to naming the new Oireachtas TV station to "Telifís Oireachtas" rather than Oireactas TV in consideration to the Irish Language, our first language. [56094/12]

Education and Training Boards Issues

Tony McLoughlin

104. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider his view in relation to the allocation of the 10 local authority members, where more than one local authority will fall within the Education and Training Board area, where he considers that population, based on the most recent census, is the most appropriate and fair way to devise the proportions in which each local authority will be represented on the new bodies [53519/12]

Tourism Industry Issues

Tony McLoughlin

110. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will meet with car hire companies prior to the 2013 tourist season and the Gathering to ensure that they sign up to a particular code of practice in relation to charges to ensure that all such charges are up front and are fair to ensure tourists get a fair deal. [52250/12]

Tourism Industry Issues

Tony McLoughlin

120. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to advise tourists coming here of some hidden charges that car hire companies add on to customers in relation to insurance which many of them are not aware of when they make their booking from overseas. [52249/12]

Education and Training Boards Issues

Tony McLoughlin

89. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if under Section 28(2) of the new Educational and Training Boards Bill he has made an order yet in relation to the composition of the new Educational and Training Boards in particular to the 10 member representation from the local authorities where there is a composition of three counties. [52007/12]

Education and Training Boards Issues

Tony McLoughlin

90. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if under Section 28(2) of the new Educational and Training Boards Bill, he has given consideration to smaller counties in three county vocational education committee amalgamations where that county may have a small population but a strong number of schools and pupils under the patronage of the ETBs and that recognition will be given to public representatives numbers from those aforementioned smaller counties; if he will ensure that more than just population be taken into consideration when allocating the 10 local public representative members on the ETBs to ensure smaller counties are given a equitable voice. [52008/12]

Local Authority Staff Issues

Tony McLoughlin

457. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide clarification for local authority staff across Ireland who may one way or other transfer from their current employer to the Irish Water Company, many of these staff currently employed will play a pivotal role in the successful transfer of assets and infrastructure from the local authorities to Irish Water; and if he will clarify the status of their job security post 2016. [51471/12]

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Tony McLoughlin

434. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has developed the terms of reference and the parameters for further research to be commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency later this year on the issue of hydraulic fracturing here; if the terms of reference for this more extensive research is to be drawn up by a steering group; the organisations that will be represented on this group other than the EPA and his Department; the time frame for the publication of this report, and the further explorative activity that the companies licensed by his Department can undertake between now and the publication of this report. [50086/12]

Community Development Initiatives

Tony McLoughlin

660. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider under his community programme and in cooperation with the partnership companies across Ireland putting a place a specific short term course for home/family carer's (details supplied). [47262/12]

Care Services

Tony McLoughlin

982. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will welcome any initiative by the partnership sector under the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government; if he will consider the setting up of local based home care courses for dependents who have to care for patients discharged from acute hospitals around the country [47263/12]

Broadband Services Provision

Tony McLoughlin

391. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his views on the importance of having in place high quality broadband at Carraroe, County Sligo where there is a high level of retail activity and small and medium enterprises located in Sligo; the reason Eircom is not proceeding to activate from their exchange at Carraroe; if the Communications Regulators attention has been drawn to the lack of proper broadband at this industrialised area of Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45796/12]

Broadband Services Provision

Tony McLoughlin

394. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his views on the importance of having in place high quality broadband at Carraroe, County Sligo, where there is a high level of retail activity and small and medium enterprises located in County Sligo; the reason Eircom is not proceeding to activate from their exchange at Carraroe; if the attention of the Communications Regulator has been drawn to the lack of proper broadband at this industrial area of County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45933/12]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Tony McLoughlin

141. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to reports by licensed retailers of cigarettes that illegal and smuggled cigarettes are being allegedly advertised on flyers and are being distributed throughout the town of Sligo; if he will advise of the actions that Customs and Excise officers are doing to prevent this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43471/12]

Community Employment Schemes Funding

Tony McLoughlin

315. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection with regard to local Social Employment Schemes formerly under FÁS, if she will consider measures to change where local community group members are been asked by Banks to act as guarantors because the last month's wages payments of a scheme are withheld pending audits; if she will engage with community groups to ensure a better system can operate between the scheme operators, her Department and the Banks. [42599/12]

Mortgage Interest Relief Application

Tony McLoughlin

136. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance if mortgage interest relief claimants who purchased for the first time between 2004 and 2008 have yet benefitted from the new increases in the level of mortgage interest reliefs as set out in Budget 2012; if there is a delay in relation to the processing of this increased benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41698/12]

Site Acquisitions

Tony McLoughlin

168. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he will not enter into negotiations with the Health Service Executive regarding the purchase, for a nominal price, of a field adjacent to a school (details supplied) in County Sligo, to provide much needed parking which would provide critical safety infrastructure at this busy primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41692/12]

Broadband Services Speeds

Tony McLoughlin

350. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether it is vitally important to have in place high quality broadband at Carraroe, County Sligo, where there is a high level of retail activity and small and medium enterprises located in County Sligo; the reason Eircom is not proceeding to activate from their exchange at Carraroe; if the communications regulator is aware of the lack of proper broadband at this industrialised area of County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41693/12]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Tony McLoughlin

470. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine when an agri environment options scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41691/12]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Tony McLoughlin

121. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will consider any grant applications for minor extensions of the towns and villages sewerage schemes in County Leitrim in which some small clusters of houses may combine to make an application subject to terms and conditions and the approval of the local authority. [40835/12]

Departmental Banking

Tony McLoughlin

100 Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance the reason Government Departments including the Department of Health continue to have their banking business with UK banks when banks bailed out and supported by the tax payer such as AIB and Bank of Ireland are not used by these Departments to conduct their banking business; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36242/12]

Departmental Contracts

Tony McLoughlin

326 Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department continues to have its banking business with UK banks when banks bailed out and supported by the taxpayer such as AIB and Bank of Ireland are not used by her Department to conduct its banking business; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36242/12]

Job Protection

Tony McLoughlin

114 Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if following the successful sale of its Irish credit card business to Apollo if he will confirm if there is any further progress to report regarding the other 400 jobs currently serving the UK credit card market at Carrick-on-Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34327/12]

Job Creation

Tony McLoughlin

115 Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if considering unemployment numbers in excess of 3,400 people in County Leitrim which has a population of just 32,000, the relevant agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and the Industrial Development Agency are doing enough to attract inward investment and in particular foreign direct investment to Carrick-on-Shannon, which has over 500 people under the age of 25 registered as unemployed at the local exchange office.
[34328/12]

Professional Qualifications

Tony McLoughlin

554 Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the number of students by examination session January, June, September who sat the TMCPC under the Chartered Institute of Logistics in Transport examination in Sligo for each of 2009, 2010 and 2011 calendar years; and the number of the aforementioned examination students who had their TMCPC course tuition provided in Sligo by the approved course provider for each of those three years.
[33593/12]