Parliamentary questions

Alcohol Sales Legislation

John Lyons

114. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the consultation process will begin for the draft statutory code of practice relating to the sale and display of alcohol in mixed trading premises; if she will provide an update on plans for the structured separation of alcohol from other products in such premises; and if the draft code will include measures to separate alcohol in this regard. [48496/14]

Alcohol Sales Legislation

John Lyons

115. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the new statutory code of practice relating to the sale and display of alcohol in mixed trading premises will include measures to restrict the advertising of bulk alcohol offers and below-cost alcohol in large quantities. [48497/14]

Disability Allowance Appeals

John Lyons

116. Deputy John Lyons asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position on a disability benefit application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if an appeal is open on the application; and the timeline for the processing of the application. [47715/14]

Proposed Legislation

John Lyons

380. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if measures are being prepared by her Department to allow couples convert pre-existing civil partnerships to civil marriages, in the event of next year's referendum on marriage equality being passed. [48307/14]

Proposed Legislation

John Lyons

381. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if legislation to bring in civil marriage for same-sex couples due to be published in advance of the referendum on marriage equality will include measures to convert pre-existing civil partnerships to civil marriages. [48308/14]

Job Assist Scheme Eligibility

John Lyons

32. Deputy John Lyons asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there is further scope to expand the eligibility of the JobsPlus scheme to those out of work for shorter periods and who have been made offers by employers under the scheme. [46436/14]

Postcode Implementation

John Lyons

552. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the new national postcodes system, Eircode, will work in conjunction with standard sat-nav devices and applications on mobile devices such as Google maps, to make it easier for members of the public to find addresses and businesses accurately. [45130/14]

Household Charge Collection

John Lyons

180. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if a family (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will be contacted again by the Revenue Commissioners to discuss an outstanding liability for the household charge for 2012; if a payment plan will be considered in view of their limited means; and if further consideration may be given for discretion in their case in view of their circumstances. [44130/14]

Early Childhood Care Education

John Lyons

328. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the delays and technical problems with the new programme implementation platform computer system for registering children for the early childhood care and education scheme; and his views on specific problems (details supplied) which have been experienced by childcare professionals with the new system. [43066/14]

Alcohol Sales Legislation

John Lyons

407. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the introduction of measures to prevent the below-cost selling of alcohol here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43174/14]

Alcohol Sales Legislation

John Lyons

408. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to a series of measures to reduce the practice of the below-cost selling of alcohol; if restrictions on the advertising of alcohol offers and the introduction of structural separation for alcohol purchase are being considered as part of such a response to this practice. [43175/14]

Illness Benefit Payments

John Lyons

337. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) is being requested to pay back tax when cheques for sick leave were not cashed by the person; if he will clarify with the Revenue Commissioners that these cheques during a period of sick leave were not cashed; and if the person's tax liability could be rectified as a result. [41976/14]

Employment Rights

John Lyons

382. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the data available to him regarding the extent of zero hour contracts here; if his Department plans to carry out a study on the prevalence of these zero hour contracts in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41179/14]

Ports Policy

John Lyons

1129. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Drogheda Port Company operates under his remit or that of another State body; if this company is answerable to its board of directors; and if expenditure incurred as part of a recent project (details supplied) is justified under the various Harbour Acts to which the company is subject. [42034/14]

Central Bank of Ireland

John Lyons

216. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will be making a submission to the Central Bank of Ireland regarding its proposed mortgage rules to be introduced next year; and if he has a response to situations where consumers have already been approved mortgages under existing rules but will not draw down these loans until next year. [40068/14]

Schools Building Contractors

John Lyons

550. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review compliance mechanisms at all school and other educational building sites to ensure workers are paid the proper rate for jobs and in keeping with legislation and EU directives. [40475/14]

Insurance Coverage

John Lyons

44. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to householders in some types of housing, such as maisonettes, being denied insurance cover for their homes; if there are any measures under his remit to assist these householders; and if policy changes could assist those affected by this situation. [38669/14]

Water Quality

John Lyons

239. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water will publish a medium to long-term plan to improve water quality, capacity and infrastructure around the country; and if a timeframe will be given for such improvements. [38608/14]

Low Pay Commission Establishment

John Lyons

216. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the status of the low pay commission; when it will be officially established and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35837/14]

Trade Agreements

John Lyons

422. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the timeframe for ratification of the EU-Colombia free trade agreement; and if Dáil Éireann will be given an opportunity to debate the implications of such an agreement as per the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. [34445/14]

Civil Partnership Legislation

John Lyons

626. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if proposals have been finalised for existing and future civil partnerships as part of same-sex marriage legislation and in the event the constitutional amendment is passed in the 2015 referendum. [33800/14]

Treatment Abroad Scheme

John Lyons

986. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if there is a list of agreed treatments available to Irish citizens as part of the treatment abroad scheme; if novel therapies and new cancer drugs trials, particularly in the National Health Service, are included as part of this scheme; and his plans to extend the scheme in the future [33801/14]

Treatment Abroad Scheme

John Lyons

987. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive's treatment abroad scheme provides funding to citizens here to take part on new cancer drug trials in other jurisdictions; if the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is currently covered as part of the treatment abroad scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33802/14]

National Drugs Strategy Implementation

John Lyons

988. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate which Minister or Minister of State has responsibility for the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33803/14]

Inland Waterways Maintenance

John Lyons

1748. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht ,further to Parliamentary Question No. 412 of 30 April 2014, if she will provide an update on the reopening of the Royal Canal towpath from Jones Road to Drumcondra Road which has been closed for nearly 12 months due to flooding damage; if the timeline for works to be completed by Waterways Ireland is still prior to early autumn 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32986/14]

Quality and Qualifications Ireland Remit

John Lyons

73. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if independently managed community education providers will be considered for a fee waiver during the re-engagement process with Quality and Qualifications Ireland; if this takes account of the difficulty the fee would cause community education providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31713/14]

Civil Partnership Legislation

John Lyons

335. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the current problems facing civil partners of former civil servants, who retired previous to the enactment of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, in receiving pension benefits as a result of Sections 81E (5) and (6) of the Pensions Act 1990 as amended by the Social Welfare (Misc. Provisions) Act 2004, which provides for a maximum of 12 months to seek redress for perceived unfair pension decisions; if he will amend the legislation to be in line with the UK's provision on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30991/14]

Road Projects Expenditure

John Lyons

723. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if local authorities can recoup the costs of repairs to footpaths and roads under their remit if they are left in a poor state following works by semi-State bodies or private companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31085/14]

Property Tax Exemptions

John Lyons

160. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance his views on extending local property tax exemptions to include households where high level care is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29712/14]

Mortgage Protection Policies

John Lyons

171. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if, under legislation, financial institutions such as banks can waive the requirement for a customer to take out mortgage protection insurance in the event of the customer being turned down by three different insurance companies; the process a financial institution must follow if a consumer requests a waiver to mortgage protection insurance in this instance; and if there is an independent complaints procedure in the case of this waiver being denied. [29242/14]

Water Charges Exemptions

John Lyons

417. Deputy John Lyons asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the water allowance payment to all full-time carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29711/14]

Action Plan for Jobs

John Lyons

463. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the take-up rate of action 78 of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, relating to the distribution of 1,000 trading online vouchers in 2014 in tabular form; the take-up rate by region; the take-up rate by type of business; the number of applications by which the scheme was oversubscribed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28814/14]

Mental Health Act Review

John Lyons

764. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if under the Government's stated commitment to the development of a community based model of care, he will support the amendment to the Mental Health Act 2001 proposed by the Carer's Association to require health professionals to involve the carers of mental health patients in their treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29710/14]

Home Care Packages Provision

John Lyons

765. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he supports legislating for a statutory entitlement to primary home care which will provide for a detailed and practical transfer of care protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29713/14]

Light Rail Projects Provision

John Lyons

191. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the contract for the next stage of the Luas Cross City has been awarded by the National Transport Agency; if his Department and NTA will consider the use of social clauses to allow a certain percentage of new construction jobs on the next phase of the project to be awarded to those who are on the live register or long-term unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28734/14]

School Enrolments Data

John Lyons

160. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list the school feeder areas in Dublin city and county which his Department uses for school planning purposes; if this information could be provided in tabular form; and if a map could also be provided detailing or illustrating this information. [27857/14]

Schools Building Projects Administration

John Lyons

161. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding for school extensions is exclusively being used for that purpose; if consideration has been given in any instances to fund new school buildings using this funding stream; and if such a funding stream could be considered for projects such as an Educate Together second level school in Dublin. [27858/14]

Cancer Screening Programmes

John Lyons

565. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will consider extending the BreastCheck screening programme to women aged between 65 and 69 years in line with a programme for Government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28415/14]

Public Sector Staff

John Lyons

92. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a public service employee (details supplied) in Dublin 11 was classed as a new entrant when beginning a new role in the public service in view of the fact that the employee had previously completed two years' service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27654/14]

Infectious Disease Screening Service

John Lyons

155. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has given consideration to a rapid, reliable and cost-effective HIV test (details supplied) which has been available in the UK since 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27460/14]

Departmental Bodies

John Lyons

678. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person (details supplied) was originally employed under a so-called "hay" contract; if this contract was subsequently changed or altered in any way [26946/14]

HSE Staffing

John Lyons

206. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health the number of staff currently employed at a local Health Service Executive service (details supplied); the positions these staff hold; the number of staff currently on maternity leave; and if temporary staff have been hired to cover their positions in the interim. [24980/14]

Alternative Energy Projects

John Lyons

99. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if waste to energy or energy from waste plants are being considered by his Department as part of the wider solution to reduce fossil fuel emissions; the current number of plants which have been constructed in the State; and his plans to extend the use of this technology. [24883/14]

School Enrolments

John Lyons

53. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide statistics in tabular form related to projections for demand for second-level schooling in the feeder areas within the districts of Dublin 7, 9 and 11, over the next five, ten and 15 years respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23728/14]

Water Charges Exemptions

John Lyons

119. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will elaborate further on caps for water charges for those with medical conditions; if those with colostomy bags will be included for consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23882/14]

VAT Exemptions

John Lyons

116. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if a VAT waiver exists for renovation works on State-owned properties, such as those that have been leased out to groups for community use and are in the ownership of the Office of Public Works. [22677/14]

VAT Rebates

John Lyons

323. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a VAT waiver exists for renovation works on Office of Public Works owned properties that have been leased out to groups for community use (details supplied). [22676/14]

National Lottery Funding Applications

John Lyons

1001. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a date has been set for the next round of national lottery funding at his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22681/14]

Child Care Services Funding

John Lyons

1002. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding is available from his Department to install essential wheelchair lifts and accessibility improvements at child care groups (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [22682/14]

Schools Data

John Lyons

75. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide statistics in tabular form related to projections for demand for second level schooling in the Dublin North area, over the next five, ten and 15 years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21629/14]