Parliamentary questions

EU Directives

Eamonn Maloney

277. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to introduce legislation which would provide for a social clause to allow a quota of local labour to be employed on all construction projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17580/14]

Private Rented Accommodation Costs

Eamonn Maloney

410. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of rising rents, his proposals to introduce legislation for rent control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17579/14]

Ground Rents Abolition

Eamonn Maloney

459. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his proposals for new legislation to abolish ground rents outright; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17613/14]

Ambulance Service Provision

Eamonn Maloney

595. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the introduction of the ambulance call centre to be located in close proximity to the Square, Tallaght, Dublin 24. [17577/14]

National Children's Hospital

Eamonn Maloney

596. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the construction of the urgent care centre to be located at Tallaght hospital, Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17578/14]

Driver Licences

Eamonn Maloney

649. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a graduated driving licence system will be introduced here; if existing holders of a full driving licence, who have passed their test within the two years prior to GDL being introduced, will be subjected to the same restrictions as those who pass their driving test after the introduction of GDL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15326/14]

Local Government Reform

Eamonn Maloney

17. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the key recommendations made in the report on citizenship engagement with local authorities; when the expected framework for public participation will be put in place; the person who will provide the guidance to local authorities on drafting citizens’ charters; the way these might operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11805/14]

Local Government Reform

Eamonn Maloney

50. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify what is meant by participatory budgeting; the way involvement of community activists and citizens can be facilitated in such a way as to respect the mandate of elected representatives and empower ordinary citizens not necessarily affiliated with lobby groups or NGOs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11804/14]

Heritage Centres

Eamonn Maloney

8. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the proposed cultural and heritage centre for College Green, the person responsible for the provision of historical content; the content that will be exhibited and-or historical experience facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10645/14]

Heritage Centres

Eamonn Maloney

20. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the proposed cultural and heritage centre for College Green, the new positions that will be created; if the Office of Public Works will be responsible for these positions along the lines of other cultural buildings; if they will be publicly advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10646/14]

Health Services Staff

Eamonn Maloney

221. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Health if there is a body responsible for regulating the standards required for health care assistants to practice in the Irish health care system and if so, the name of same; the minimum qualifications required to practice as a health care assistant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8512/14]

Schools Amalgamation

Eamonn Maloney

198. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the consultative process related to primary school amalgamations and specifically the requirements regarding consultation with parents and school employees; if his Department has received notice of a proposed amalgamation of schools (details supplied) in Dublin 12; when and from whom such notice was received; the proposed timescale for the proposal; and the assurances he can give to parents regarding the continued availability of all educational and related services to children in the context of any proposed amalgamation. [4857/14]

Irish Prison Service

Eamonn Maloney

378. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date by the Irish Prison Service in targeting the problem of homelessness among women; if he will provide a list of the agencies with which the Irish Prison Service has co-operated to this end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53003/13]

Youth Justice Strategy

Eamonn Maloney

379. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the impact of the Garda diversion programme on anti-social behaviour and youth crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53004/13]

General Practitioner Services

Eamonn Maloney

447. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Health the number of extra GPs that are now practising in the provision of services to medical card and GP visit card patients in the Tallaght, Dublin South West area, as a result of the removal of restrictions following the commencement of the Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Act 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51774/13]

Medical Card Data

Eamonn Maloney

180. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the current medical card holders according to their occupation category, that is, PAYE or self employed, agricultural industry, service industry or manufacturing industry and so on; if he will provide information on same to establish which occupations give rise to a medical card requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47346/13]

Tax Collection

Eamonn Maloney

80. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Finance the total outstanding amount of arrears owed to the Revenue Commissioners up to and including 30 June 2013, with a breakdown of the amount owed by self employed, national companies and multinational companies; the number of Revenue staff engaged in recouping the arrears for the year 2011, 2012, and 30 June 2013. [41701/13]

Diplomatic Representation Issues

Eamonn Maloney

22. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if resolution is close for the four members of the Halawa family who are currently incarcerated in Cairo, Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41055/13]

Dublin Bus Services

Eamonn Maloney

74. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for making Dublin Bus a cost-effective organisation, providing a quality service befiting a capital city of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40727/13]

Magdalen Laundries

Eamonn Maloney

1001. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that 130 survivors are in the care of the former laundry proprietors, the steps being taken to ensure that Magdalen survivors receive and handle their individual compensation without undue influence or interference from former proprietors; if consideration has been given to the appointment of an advocate in both survivors' and public interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36971/13]

Garda Divisional Headquarters

Eamonn Maloney

543. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of plans for the provision of a new Garda Divisional Headquarters in Tallaght, Dublin; the cost of accommodation for the Gardaí in the Plaza Complex, Tallaght; the cost of depot/compound storage for impounded, crashed and stolen vehicles in the Tallaght area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36257/13]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Eamonn Maloney

238. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding smaller one-teacher to four-teacher primary schools; the number of teaching posts lost in September 2012 and projected to be lost in September 2013 due to the changes in the appointment schedule; the number of schools which appealed the loss of a teacher in 2012 and 2013; the number and proportion of appeals which were successful in each year; the number of such schools which were closed or amalgamated in 2012 and as projected for this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30070/13]

Early Child Care Education Issues

Eamonn Maloney

531. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs regarding the free preschool year, the number of persons employed as pre-school teachers and leaders in approved preschools; the qualifications required of such persons; if her Department seeks information on the qualifications of staff; the most up to date figures on qualifications by HETAC/FETAC level; if her attention has been drawn to any qualified primary teachers working in the preschool sector and, if so, the numbers of same; if there is a central guideline or requirement in respect of qualifications of, and conditions of employment for, staff being hired in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30162/13]

State Bodies Mergers

Eamonn Maloney

354. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the proposed merger of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority is going ahead; the timetable for such a merger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27243/13]

Consumer Protection

Eamonn Maloney

355. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, in view of the perceived lack of diligence by leading retailers to display their prices and terms and conditions correctly and the perceived lack of enforcement of the regulations underpinning consumer law, more meaningful legislation is required to protect consumer rights in the retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27245/13]

Offshore Exploration

Eamonn Maloney

512. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he proposes to appoint consultants to carry out a review of the fitness for purpose of Ireland's fiscal terms for oil and gas exploration as indicated recently in Dáil Éireann; the procedure for appointing these consultants; the terms of reference for the review; when this review will be completed and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas; if the review will consider retrospectively amending any licensing agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26872/13]

Site Acquisitions

Eamonn Maloney

109. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made on the approval of the South Dublin County Council owned site, identified as a suitable site to accommodate a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25301/13]

IBRC Staff

Eamonn Maloney

83. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Finance the current position of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation staff; the plans for staff not being retained after 7 August; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23988/13]

Health Promotion

Eamonn Maloney

143. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the link between high sugary soft drink consumption and type-2 diabetes has been firmly established in both American and European studies, the steps he will take to highlight, educate and bring about a change in consumption habits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21535/13]

Aftercare Services

Eamonn Maloney

19. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the structures and support mechanisms that can be provided to young persons who leave State care where there is no family support. [21730/13]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

Eamonn Maloney

1142. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Health his plans for coverage of mental illness and prescribed medicines under the proposed new universal health insurance schemes. [16202/13]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Eamonn Maloney

1143. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the age restriction of 16 years old for cover for mental illness on the long-term illness card is legally valid, in view of the legal difficulties that arose under equality legislation with age limits on the mobility allowance. [16203/13]

Public Transport Subsidies

Eamonn Maloney

64. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the link up between the red and green lines of the Luas tram system will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15239/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Eamonn Maloney

19. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Finance in the event that the special liquidator for Irish Bank Resolution Corporation does not realise the economic valuation of the assets of IBRC, his plans for the transfer of the assets into the National Asset Management Agency in view of reports (details supplied) and the plans in place to arrange for a transfer of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation staff to service these assets in an effort to maximise the return to the State. [14085/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Eamonn Maloney

48. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on negotiations between staff of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation and the special liquidator (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13940/13]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Eamonn Maloney

28. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made regarding the provision of primary national schools in the Citywest, Ballycullen and Firhouse areas of Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11768/13]

School Accommodation

Eamonn Maloney

41. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the negotiations being conducted with South Dublin County Council on the acquisition of land on which to site a permanent building for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11767/13]

Garda Stations Refurbishment

Eamonn Maloney

31. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding extending Tallaght Garda station, as an extension was proposed five years ago, but no work has commenced to date. [11421/13]

Garda Stations Refurbishment

Eamonn Maloney

42. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the recent closure of small Garda Stations, the arrangements in place to expand, extend, refurbish or re-site existing Garda Stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11424/13]

Hospital Staff

Eamonn Maloney

672. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to address the anticipated shortage of intern places for both EU and non-EU graduates of Irish medical schools this summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8177/13]

Disability Allowance Payments

Eamonn Maloney

115. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the calculation process which is used and the steps taken to determine the amount of weekly diet supplement for persons on gluten free diets who are in receipt of disability allowance and invalidity pension; if she will provide examples for both categories; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7617/13]

Disability Allowance Payments

Eamonn Maloney

134. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Social Protection the calculation process which is used and the steps taken, to determine the amount of weekly diet supplement for persons on gluten free diets who are in receipt of disability allowance and invalidity pension including examples for both categories; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7700/13]

State Examinations

Eamonn Maloney

275. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the payment his Department receives from the private companies who reprint, for sale, the junior and leaving certificate exam papers. [6937/13]

Leave to Remain

Eamonn Maloney

734. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of outstanding applications for leave to remain from 1 January 2008 that are pending a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57809/12]

Health Services Provision

Eamonn Maloney

56. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Health when the ambulatory urgent care centre will be opened in Tallaght Dublin [57001/12]

School Staffing

Eamonn Maloney

212. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the staffing of small primary schools as set out in Circular 007/2012 from his Department, the number of teaching posts lost in the current school year in schools with four classroom teachers or less as a result of the change to the staffing formula for smaller schools as set out in this Circular; the number of appeals submitted by small schools under the terms of the Circular; the number of teaching posts granted back to smaller schools on appeal; the projected number of teaching posts to be lost by smaller schools in September 2013, based on school enrolments on 30 September 2012; the further revisions of the staffing formula for smaller schools for 2013-2014; and the projected number as outlined at above, broken down by school size. [54270/12]

Civil Service Code of Conduct

Eamonn Maloney

230. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will clarify the status of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, that is, is it mandatory on all civil servants as it indicates it is; the persons whose duty is it to enforce the code. [53840/12]

Departmental Bodies

Eamonn Maloney

506. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 502 of 13 November 2012, if he will explain the purpose of the allowance paid to staff of the National Disability Authority at Assistant Principal level in terms of the additional work carried out or additional responsibilities held or additional services provided by the staff that receive this allowance, that is, what the employer receives in return for the allowance. [52501/12]

Local Authority Members' Remuneration

Eamonn Maloney

468. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his planned approach and timescale to implement the recent ruling by the Standards in Public Offices Commission that the regulations for expenses for training and conferences do not provide for claims for expenses by councillors in respect of third-level degree courses in the interim period prior to the introduction of the Putting People First reform programme in 2014. [50069/12]

Departmental Bodies Expenditure

Eamonn Maloney

502. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form, for each grade, details of the salary, allowances and purpose of allowances paid to employees of the Irish Human Rights Commission and the National Disability Authority in 2011. [50068/12]