Parliamentary questions

Trade Agreements

Andrew Doyle

114. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the financial services regulatory measures he would envisage or hope to see contained within the transatlantic trade and investment partnership deal negotiations that got underway this week; his views on whether any such deal will negatively impact on the financial services industry here that employs thousands of people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34069/13]

Departmental Agencies Staff Numbers

Patrick Nulty

115. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspectors that are employed by the National Employment Rights Authority to carry out workplace inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34051/13]

Respite Care Grant Administration

Michael Healy-Rae

116. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection further to the 19% cut to the respite care grant in 2012, the measures she will take to ensure that there are no more cuts; the reforms that will be taken to help restore the grant and ensure those affected by the cuts must no longer endure the hardship of budget cuts to the respite care grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33971/13]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Michael Healy-Rae

117. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average waiting periods for the social welfare appeals office in respect of carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33972/13]

Social Welfare Offices

Nicky McFadden

118. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the continuation of Granard social welfare office, County Longford; if figures are available on the number of persons attending the office's Monday information and claim taking service; if the office will continue to operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33985/13]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Michael Creed

119. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33991/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Numbers

John Lyons

120. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 154 of 3 July 2013, if she will provide comparable figures for the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33997/13]

Social Welfare Code Issues

Nicky McFadden

121. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that carers are adequately protected so that they may continue to provide care rather than placing their loved ones in full-time care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34009/13]

Treatment Benefit Scheme Eligibility

Eoghan Murphy

122. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering amending the eligibility criteria for the treatment benefit scheme (details supplied). [34023/13]

Budget 2014 Issues

Brendan Griffin

123. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if income supports will be protected for family carers in budget 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34024/13]

Respite Care Grant Administration

Brendan Griffin

124. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reversing the cuts to the respite grants or offer an alternative as a redress to compensate for these cuts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34025/13]

Household Benefits

Brendan Griffin

125. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the household benefit package will be reviewed to take into consideration the costs involved with running medical devices from homes such as nebulisers and ventilators and the impact such equipment has on energy costs, also the costs of operating washing machines especially for persons who suffer from incontinence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34026/13]

Household Benefits

Brendan Griffin

126. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the provision of a direct telephone line will be included in the household benefits package which is essential for emergency and security reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34027/13]

Household Benefits

Brendan Griffin

127. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the new household broadcasting charge will be included in the household benefit package for family carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34028/13]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Brendan Griffin

128. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions being taken to address the backlog in the social welfare appeals office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34029/13]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Brendan Griffin

129. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider removing the habitual residence clause as a requirement of eligibility for carer's allowance for persons returning here to provide full-time care. [34030/13]

Pension Provisions

Brendan Griffin

130. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions being devised to protect long-term and older carers in relation to their pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34032/13]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Seán Fleming

132. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34061/13]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Andrew Doyle

133. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeals officer will be appointed as soon as possible and review the case of a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if she will review the situation and provide a timeframe for when the appeal decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34064/13]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Willie Penrose

134. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath against the refusal of an invalidity pension claim will be determined and if same will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34098/13]

Carer's Benefit Applications

Frank Feighan

135. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied). [34101/13]

Pension Provisions

Willie O'Dea

136. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of defined benefit pension schemes which failed to submit proposals to meet the required funding standard by 30 June deadline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34131/13]

Social Welfare Overpayments

Bernard Durkan

137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 97 of 13 June 2013, wherein it stated that the person had engaged in an apprenticeship whilst claiming jobseeker's allowance as a means of attributing an overpayment to them, if her Department is aware of the fact that they received no payment for any training/apprenticeship in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34155/13]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Bernard Durkan

138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which two medical officers decided that a person (details supplied) in County Kildare was deemed not incapable of work in view of the extent of their medical treatment and dependence on medication and frequent visits to doctors and consultants; if a person in receipt of such continued treatment is likely to be found acceptable to an employer on health and safety grounds; if in such circumstances their case will be urgently reviewed notwithstanding their current appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34156/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review entitlement to deserted wife's benefit in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34158/13]

Noxious Weeds

Brendan Griffin

140. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the threat posed to native and other species by the plant known as Japanese knotweed, Fallopia Japonica; if he is concerned that hedge cutting by local authorities and individual landowners is spreading this invasive species; his plans to amend the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 in an effort to tackle this problem; if he will direct all local authorities to put in place codes of practice to deal with this issue before it becomes an even more expensive problem here as happened in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34043/13]

Architectural Heritage

Mattie McGrath

141. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to reintroduce a grant scheme for the restoration of listed buildings throughout the country; the options that are available to those who own listed buildings and who cannot afford to restore same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33983/13]

National Monuments

Robert Troy

142. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will consider an application from Longford County Council to share all reasonable acquisition costs regarding the purchase of the Moat Granard national monument; if he will ensure that the Office of Public Works uses it statutory powers to safeguard this important national monument, which is a local tourist attraction, and ensure it comes into public ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34063/13]

Irish Language Issues

Andrew Doyle

143. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding whether written correspondence, as the only form of complaints procedure between an individual and an Irish registered company mainly based in Ireland but operating across member states may only return complaints in English as opposed to Irish, the language the complaint was initially made in; if his attention has been drawn to other member states' position regarding same, such as in Spain, where large firms operating in member states must communicate back in Spanish, the national language, if written to in Spanish, as required by law; if he intends to look at implementing similar measures in Ireland for the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34073/13]

Architectural Heritage

Catherine Murphy

144. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with regard to the proposed demolition of Nos. 20-22 Vicar Street, Kilkenny under the Kilkenny central access road scheme, which form part of the medieval complex of St. Canice's Cathedral, the specific heritage obligations that are necessary in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34093/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Brendan Smith

145. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proposals, if any, there are to upgrade broadband connectivity in an area (details supplied) where a number of small businesses need better telecommunications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34078/13]

Wind Energy Generation

Clare Daly

146. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will conduct an inquiry into the granting of planning permissions for wind farms in north Wexford in terms of the appropriateness of the decisions and allegations that some who made the decisions benefited from same; and if he will outline the other remedies open to residents who have concerns. [34084/13]

Wind Energy Generation

Clare Daly

147. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to any concerns regarding the operation of wind farms in County Wexford; and the action he will take in relation to same. [34085/13]

Offshore Exploration

Andrew Doyle

148. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he and his Department intend to review the Petroleum and Other Minerals Act 1960; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34088/13]

Housing Adaptation Grants Funding

Michael Healy-Rae

149. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to the cuts in the housing adaptation grant from €79 million in 2011 to €35 million in 2013, the way this scheme can better meet the needs of older persons, persons with disabilities and their carers; the measures that will be taken to ensure needs are still taken care of and no one is negatively affected by these cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33973/13]

National Spatial Strategy

Barry Cowen

150. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timescale for the development and implementation of a new national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33940/13]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Brian Stanley

151. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount his Department spent on private consultants in 2012; and the amount expected to be spent in 2013. [33967/13]

Event Licences

Andrew Doyle

152. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of event licences that have been issued by local authorities in 2012 for events that were for a duration of longer than two weeks; the type of events they were; the location at which they were held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33974/13]

Event Licences

Andrew Doyle

153. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the legislation under which local authorities may issue event licences; if he will detail the current legislation; the length of time a particular event may be held continuously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33975/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Applications

Michael P. Kitt

154. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the proposals he has to deal with the increased number of applicants for housing; the work of housing organisations and the National Asset Management Agency in housing regeneration projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34021/13]

Foreshore Licences Applications

Michael McGrath

155. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a foreshore licence application (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34044/13]

Local Authority Staff Numbers

Patrick Nulty

156. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of dog wardens employed by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34052/13]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Healy-Rae

157. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that €39 million in Leader funding was handed back this year, the action he is taking to ensure that this situation will not be allowed to recur this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34068/13]

Local Authority Staff Recruitment

Andrew Doyle

158. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of requests received in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 from a local authority (details supplied) in County Wicklow seeking sanction to fill positions at the local authority; the outcome of each of these requests; the nature of each of the positions; the term of the contract in each case where the filling of the position was sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34083/13]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bernard Durkan

159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which EU target reductions are being met here in each of the past five years to date; the areas in respect of which further improvement is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34103/13]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bernard Durkan

160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which carbon emissions arising from bituminous fuel has stabilised in the course of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34104/13]

Energy Conservation

Bernard Durkan

161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which it is expected to conserve energy by way of home or commercial building insulation; the degree to which improvements have taken place in this regard over the last four years; his expectations for the future in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34105/13]

Local Authority Housing Application Numbers

Bernard Durkan

162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of families currently registered on local authority housing lists; the extent to which rent support in lieu of rehousing continues to remain a budgetary matter; the extent to which, in the short to medium term, the local authority house building programme is likely to feature as a means of reducing this expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34106/13]

Local Authority Housing Application Numbers

Bernard Durkan

163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate, by each local authority, the number of housing applicants for local authority housing currently registered; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34107/13]

Housing Management Companies

Bernard Durkan

164. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of housing associations nationwide that have benefitted from the capital allowance housing scheme; the number of such bodies that have malfunctioned or have failed to meet their statutory obligations or the company legislation; the procedure to restore such housing schemes to local authority management in the short and medium term; the nature of legislation required, if any, to effect such transfer in view of the fact that the entirety of the cost was borne by the Exchequer in the first instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34108/13]