Parliamentary questions

Energy Resources

Ann Phelan

196. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to set up an advisory group to report on the impact and implications of seeking to use geothermal energy here; and the likely finance required to extract and use GT Energy and the implications it might have for the employment market. [43267/13]

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Ann Phelan

212. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of houses in County Carlow that have been transferred by the National Asset Management Agency to local authorities for the purpose of alleviating social housing needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42990/13]

Institutes of Technology Issues

Ann Phelan

86. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the outcome figure for an institute of technology (details supplied) in respect of research and development income is significantly lower than the other third level institutions here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42682/13]

Youth Guarantee

Ann Phelan

133. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the fact that a pilot project under the youth guarantee scheme has been confirmed for Ballymun, Dublin, her plans to establish a pilot scheme in a rural constituency to ensure balance is provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41578/13]

Research and Development Funding

Ann Phelan

223. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the exact amount of research and development that institutions in the south east have attracted in comparison to the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40772/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Ann Phelan

432. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline in detail the exact amount of broadband penetration in the south east and at what speed, in comparison with the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40774/13]

Household Charge Collection

Ann Phelan

213. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the statistics for outstanding household charges for counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the number of these outstanding payments that will incur penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37951/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Ann Phelan

339. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an Irish citizen (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who satisfies all the relevant criteria to avail of help and funding from Student Universal Support Ireland, but who fails the criteria on residency, having lived abroad for a time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37934/13]

Office of Public Works Properties

Ann Phelan

438. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the former Garda station in Ballyragget in County Kilkenny (details supplied). [37029/13]

Labour Court Recommendations

Ann Phelan

500. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason a company (details supplied) in County Offaly is allowed to refuse to recognise a Labour Court recommendation that the company should meet with the workers' trade union, in view of the record of State support that this company has been given through the national development plan in the form of grant aid, contracts to supply to the Health Service Executive and research and development funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37299/13]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Ann Phelan

560. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will investigate the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who applied in January 2011 for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37028/13]

General Medical Services Scheme Administration

Ann Phelan

1311. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health his views on the matter of general practitioners plans to charge medical card holders for previously free warfarin blood tests; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that warfarin is a vital weapon in the fight against the blood clotting (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37101/13]

Patient Transport Provision

Ann Phelan

1387. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the position in relation to medical card holders and ambulance service to clinics, as patients have been told that as and from 1 August 2013 this service is only available in emergencies and not to clinics, the impact on medical card holders is yet another financial burden; if he will confirm whether this will apply to wheelchair accessible ambulances; if the people in the system will be protected; and if this applies to new patients. [37661/13]

Monument to the International Brigades

Ann Phelan

165. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action that can be taken by the Government regarding a recent decision by the Spanish supreme court to remove a memorial to the International Brigades who fought in the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35191/13]

Education and Training Provision

Ann Phelan

361. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position on vocational training in the hospitality industry (details supplied) in which there has been training for the past two years; his plans to alter this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35124/13]

Education and Training Boards Issues

Ann Phelan

362. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the opportunities for the vocational education committees to participate in the hospitality industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35126/13]

VAT Rates Reductions

Ann Phelan

194. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if it is envisaged that the special rate of VAT set at 9% for tourism related activities including that of restaurants and hotels initially implemented between 1 July 2011 and 31 December 2013 will be extended in view of the level of employment creation that has arisen because of this introduction and the benefits that have been passed on to the consumer since the 9% VAT rate was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31718/13]

Student Support Schemes Issues

Ann Phelan

131. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide confirmation as to whether any of the recommendations as outlined in the Accenture report on 17 May 2013 in relation to Student Universal Support Ireland have been taken into consideration; if he will confirm if the inferred increase in staffing will be in place within his Department in the upcoming year to cater for such a high influx of applications, as was the case in the academic year gone by; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28916/13]

Hospital Services

Ann Phelan

526. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm if the inferred allocation of increased staffing has been approved for the New Accident and Emergancy Unit at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny in view of the fact that it is imperative that this matter is resolved prior to completion of the project to ensure that a new facility is not lying vacant due to lack of appropriate and relevant staffing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28907/13]

Tax Code

Ann Phelan

141. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the disparity that exists in the sale of nicotine replacement patches in Northern Ireland and here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21274/13]

Animal Welfare

Ann Phelan

206. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the code of ethics as set out under the Animal Welfare Bill; when the code of ethics will be published; what it contains; if the code of ethics is merely a guideline; if it will create new legislation; the persons who will have to abide by the code; the way the code of ethics will secure the safety of animals particularly in respect of the practise of digging out foxes and hares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17789/13]

Animal Welfare

Ann Phelan

214. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in regard to the practice of digging out of foxes who have gone to ground, if he has stated that the Animal Welfare Bill will include the strict application of a code of ethics; if he will outline the contents of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17949/13]

Mental Health Awareness

Ann Phelan

368. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that some of the colleges, universities and students' unions are facing in respect of students struggling with depression and other mental health problems; if there is a mental health policy specifically for third level institutions; if not, his views on developing such as policy and how a college or university would implement same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15979/13]

Child Abduction

Ann Phelan

892. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny whose rights have not been vindicated under the Hague Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16437/13]

Animal Welfare

Ann Phelan

1076. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a consultation process on the Animal Welfare Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17710/13]

Vaccination Programme

Ann Phelan

532. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the possibility of contracting narcolepsy from the flu vaccine in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if there are many persons here to whom this has happened; the number of persons; and the reason he has ceased communication with the support group Sound which is working with victims of this affliction in County Kilkenny, when support measures were promised as far back as April 2012. [13932/13]

Excise Duties Collection

Ann Phelan

60. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if he will re-examine the 22% rise in cider excise duty as announced in budget 2013 in view of the following the additional 22% in excise duty is crippling for many Irish craft cider makers as they cannot avail of the 50% rebate system; the Irish craft cider industry produces 0.5% of the amount consumed by this country, and has directly and indirectly created over 230 jobs in this sector; if he will consider legislating for the implementation of a threshold of 30,000 litres of cider under which no excise duty will be levied for all cider makers which cannot be considered anti competitive, this would therefore counteract the additional rise in excise duty announced in budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13394/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ann Phelan

559. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who has been awaiting an appointment in the Mater Hospital, Dublin, since 6 June 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11430/13]

Mental Health Services Provision

Ann Phelan

222. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the case of a child (details supplied) in County Carlow who has been in long-term care since June 2009 who has been assessed by a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, and a clinical educational psychologist and psychotherapist, as requiring additional therapeutic work more than four years ago but has, to date, received no additional therapy; if he will outline the up to date situation with the case; what can the carer's expect at this stage; the actions that will be taken by the Health Service Executive in view of the previous recommendations made by the medical professionals involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6251/13]

Broadband Services Speeds

Ann Phelan

429. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of schools in the constituency of Carlow Kilkenny, that are in receipt of high speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3141/13]

Garda Stations Closures

Ann Phelan

486. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the exact cost savings that are to be achieved by the closure of Garda Stations around the country (details supplied). [2503/13]

Garda Stations Closures

Ann Phelan

492. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the future model for the policing of rural Ireland when many Garda stations are to be closed; his policy when gardaí will have to patrol bigger areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2524/13]

Student Assistance Fund Issues

Ann Phelan

320. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills following his recent announcement that an additional €3m is being allocated to the student assistance fund, if he will outline if this is being administered by the Higher Education Authority; if so, the way funding is being allocated per college/university as part of the SAF and the way a college will apply for funding for SAF if their current student assistance fund is being subsidised by fees and not by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1530/13]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Ann Phelan

441. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58077/12]

Fire Stations Upgrade

Ann Phelan

636. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the proposal for a new Fire Station for Graignamanagh, County Kilkenny as part the National Fire Appliance Fleet has not been considered under the Fire Service Capital Allocation fund, in view of the fact that the present building was built in the 1950s and is classified as substandard (details supplied) and should the county boundaries change, as is imminent, the catchment area served by Graignamanagh Fire Station will increase; if he will outline which fire stations are currently being given priority as part of the national fire appliance fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58110/12]

Diabetes Strategy

Ann Phelan

983. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health in understanding the importance of tackling diabetes foot disease in the community and in keeping persons with this health complication out of hospital and healthy and mobile, if he will consider filling the podiatry post at St Luke's Hospital Kilkenny, which was initially sanctioned in April 2012, and was planned as part of the national footcare programme to tackle the increase in diabetes related foot ulcers and amputations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58094/12]

Children in Care

Ann Phelan

1033. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the case of a child (details supplied) in County Carlow who has been in long term care since June 2009 and who has been assessed by both a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist and by a clinical educational psychologist and psychotherapist as requiring additional therapeutic work over four years ago and has to date received no additional therapy; if he will outline the up-to-date situation with this case; what the carer's may now expect at this stage; what does the Health Service Executive propose in view of this case based on the previous recommendations made by the medical professionals involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1192/13]

Tax Yield

Ann Phelan

151. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if the tax band was increased from 41% to 42%, the savings this would incur and how sufficient would these savings be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56443/12]

NAMA Property Sales

Ann Phelan

190. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if he will ascertain from the National Assets Management Agency the status of moneys paid by NAMA to Carlow County Council in respect of local estates upkeep of those estates and lighting and so on. [56937/12]

Semi-State Bodies Dividends

Ann Phelan

410. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the dividends paid to the Exchequer last year by the ESB and Bord Gáis respectively. [56220/12]

Jobseeker's Benefit Appeals

Ann Phelan

428. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will investigate the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who appealed the decision to refuse payment of jobseeker's benefit and subsequently won the appeal following an oral hearing; the person complied with all relevant criteria, however, they have been refused payment of arrears due to them from the period of initial application dating from January-July 2012; if she will fully investigate the circumstances surrounding this refusal and fully reimburse the applicant back to their application in January 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52914/12]

Voluntary Sector Funding

Ann Phelan

647. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of all of the voluntary organisations here in receipt of grants under Section 39 of the Health Act; if he will indicate the hierarchy of such organisations and the amount the chief executive officers or equivalent are receiving in salaries per annum; if he intends to question these salary levels in the public interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52437/12]

Air Services Provision

Ann Phelan

717. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the withdrawal, by Aer Lingus of its services, provided in this instance by its subsidiary, Aer Arann, to the UK airports, London Luton, London Southend, and Manchester from Waterford Airport (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52561/12]

Public Service Contracts

Ann Phelan

132. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if it is the case that all non-resident contractors entering into public service contracts to the value of €10,000 over a 12 month period or non-resident contractors who received a payment worth €2,600 within a 12 month period, must register for tax here and must produce a tax clearance form from the Revenue Commissioners in order to remain eligible to bid for public service contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45763/12]

Single European Act

Ann Phelan

200. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a contractor (details supplied) working in County Kilkenny who is formerly of another jurisdiction, appears to have no Republic of Ireland entity even though they are trading here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45762/12]

Employment Rights Issues

Ann Phelan

201. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if clause 2.9 in his Department's guidance notes regarding cooperation with trade union officials will be strengthened and enforced to increase compliance with the Registered Employment Agreements for the Construction Industry; if evidence of non-compliance is provided by trade union officials, if his Department will investigate independently of the National Employment Rights Authority as provided for in clause 5.3.3 to 5.3.8 inclusive of the Public Works Contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45919/12]

Company Registration

Ann Phelan

291. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the compliance that surrounds companies who are not resident in the Republic of Ireland, for example if a Northern Ireland company trading in the Republic of Ireland is required to register with the Companies Registration Office and if the company is required to file accounts in Northern Ireland and establishes an external branch in the Republic, with a separate management structure, it must file its Northern Ireland accounts in the Republic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45764/12]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Oversight

Ann Phelan

616. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health when the review of the fair deal scheme will be brought before the Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45920/12]

Medical Card Delays

Ann Phelan

230. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the renewal of medical cards, whereby a person may have been requested to pay for their medication and general practitioner services in the interim while the card is being renewed; if current medical cards may be used in the interim of persons have actively sought to renew their card, even though the card has effectively expired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45473/12]

Parliamentary Questions Numbers

Ann Phelan

143. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the costs of members putting Parliamentary Questions to Dáil Éireann; the costs involved; if there is an average time taken to answer all questions put before Dáil Éireann. [45261/12]

Vehicle Registration Issues

Ann Phelan

405. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the current position regarding proposals to introduce legislation to tighten rules on declaring a car off the road for the purposes of motor tax; the way this will affect owners of vintage cars/classic vehicles which are primarily only active in the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44206/12]

Tax Code

Ann Phelan

54 Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify if there is an exemption for full income tax on pension amounts less than €50,000 for persons over the age of 70 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34155/12]

Home Help Service

Ann Phelan

608 Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will now review the entire casual employment trend of home help and home care service in view of (details supplied) and replace it with a proper and sustainable foundation in the public interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31899/12]