Parliamentary questions

Sick Pay Scheme Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

45. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation if he will comment on the views of the Small Firms Association that proposals to pass on sick pay costs to the employer will cost jobs and restrict future recruitment; the steps he has taken to ensure that such jobs are protected [42021/12]

Action Plan for Jobs

Mattie McGrath

226. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation the steps he has taken to reduce bureaucracy and red tape in an effort to protect and encourage employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42022/12]

Drugs Payment Scheme Administration

Mattie McGrath

571. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason Omacor medication for cholesterol is not covered by the medical card; the assistance that is available to those who require this medication and who cannot afford same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41903/12]

Mental Health Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

197. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the body responsible for the care of a mental health patient who is in an open unit (details supplied) in County Tipperary and has went missing from care and is a danger to themselves and where no other secure placement has been made available for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40931/12]

School Transport Provision

Mattie McGrath

138. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary has been refused a school bus ticket; if he will review this matter based on the fact that no bus travels from the area in which they live into the school within their catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40119/12]

Medical Card Applications

Mattie McGrath

409. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue on a medical card review in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40160/12]

Medical Card Appeals

Mattie McGrath

442. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a cancer patient (details supplied) who is currently undergoing radiotherapy and other medical treatment at significant cost has been refused a medical card; if she will ensure that the appeal against this decision is dealt with as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40352/12]

Mental Health Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

462. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the services available to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who requires a secure placement in a Psychiatric Unit since the closure of St. Michael's Psychiatric Unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40504/12]

Broadcasting Service Provision

Mattie McGrath

135. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his plans to reimburse those members of the public who are unable to receive Saorview and who will be charged at least €200 for the installation of a new satellite dish with LNBF for SAORSAT; his views on whether it is acceptable that these members of the public who have already paid €160 for their TV licence are charged so much to receive this service; his views on whether it is acceptable that some members of the public are left without Saorview coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39920/12]

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Mattie McGrath

205. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason it is the policy of the Health Service Executive to consider items such as crutches and walking aids as single use items; the cost of crutches and walking aids per year for the past two years; if he and the HSE consider this policy to be a major area of waste within the HSE; the efforts he has taken to change this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39509/12]

Teaching Contracts

Mattie McGrath

428. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of retired primary and second level teachers who have retired between 1 February 2009 and 29 February 2012 and who are currently on his Department's payroll; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38415/12]

Teaching Contracts

Mattie McGrath

429. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of retired primary and second level teachers who have retired between 1 February 2009 and 29 February 2012 and who are currently on his Department's payroll and being paid by payable order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38416/12]

Teaching Contracts

Mattie McGrath

430. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of retired primary and second level teachers who have retired between 1 February 2009 and 29 February 2012 and who are currently on his Department's payroll and who had the salary increase of 2.5% payable from 1 September 2008 included when their gratuity and pension entitlements were being calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38417/12]

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Mattie McGrath

434. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if schools are obliged to implement an individual education plan for children with special needs who are progressing through the mainstream system; the avenue available to a parent who is not satisfied that a special needs child is receiving the proper facilities to allow him or her to progress through the mainstream school system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38451/12]

Sick Pay Scheme Reform

Mattie McGrath

680. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if a full cost-impact analysis on small business will be undertaken on her proposals to force employers to cover the cost of up to four weeks sick pay; if her attention has been drawn to the results of a recent Small Firms Association survey in relation to the impact that this proposal would have on small firms; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this proposal will add to the cost of employment and will result in job losses and goes against the Government's action plan for job creation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37637/12]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Mattie McGrath

789. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of applications for the domiciliary care allowance that were refused each year for the past five years; the number of refusals that were overturned following appeal; the main reason for refusal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38551/12]

Natural Gas Grid

Mattie McGrath

5 Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the circumstances surrounding the underground gas exploration that occurred during the commissioning of the new Bord Gáis high pressure pipeline between Middleton, County Cork and Ballyporeen, County Tipperary and the gas explosion in Leixlip, County Kildare; the safeguards that are in place to prevent a re-occurrence of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36897/12]

Higher Education Grants

Mattie McGrath

107 Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a mechanism in place for a person who is above the income threshold for the higher education top up grant to have the application considered on hardship grounds; if there is any mechanism in place to appeal a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35759/12]

Bord Gáis

Mattie McGrath

209 Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if an independent inquiry or investigation will be carried out into the adherence by a company (details supplied) to the transfer of undertakings regulations 2003 and also to the award and operation of the contract; if the security of employment and 12 month wage freeze as agreed between the unions and the company will be extended to all employees of Bord Gáis Networks Services Works Contract; the reason different terms and conditions are being offered to those in different regions; the reason the deal negotiated for the Dublin based transferred employees is much better than that offered to those elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35523/12]

Bord Gáis

Mattie McGrath

210 Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm that Bord Gáis are compliant with the Late Payments in Commercial Transactions Regulations 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35524/12]