Parliamentary questions

Property Tax Administration

John Lyons

164. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify with the Revenue Commissioners the reason residents in certain estates (details supplied) who were issued with an unfinished housing estates waiver for the household charge in 2012 are now being issued with non-payment letters from the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will instruct the Revenue Commissioners to make contact with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to clarify the waiver list. [20873/14]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

John Lyons

337. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is aware of reports that former Dublin Airport Authority workers who are deferred members of the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme residing in the UK will be given protection of their full pension entitlements; if her Department will examine this issue and clarify the reason a similar arrangement could not be introduced for the majority of deferred members in this State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20876/14]

Unfinished Housing Developments

John Lyons

449. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department will clarify that certain estates (details supplied) were issued with unfinished housing estates waivers in 2012 in respect of the household charge; and if his Department can communicate this information to the Revenue Commissioners as householders are being issued with non-payment letters from the Revenue Commissioners for this charge despite the waiver. [20874/14]

Social Insurance

John Lyons

98. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the implications for the PRSI system from the introduction of universal health insurance; if citizens will continue to pay PRSI in the same fashion when UHI is introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20635/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

John Lyons

105. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the office of Government procurement will place a greater emphasis on long-term benefits to the economy when awarding procurement contracts; and if this can include the benefit of job creation to local communities and the benefits to smaller companies from splitting contracts between several companies. [20439/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

John Lyons

106. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the office of Government procurement will give further consideration and assistance to groups of smaller Irish companies bidding for procurement contracts as a group due to the benefits to the economy and local job creation arising from such contracts. [20440/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

John Lyons

110. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the role his Department has in supporting Irish companies in bidding for public procurement contracts; if small and medium enterprises in particular are being offered support in grouping together to make joint bids for contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20443/14]

Action Plan for Jobs

John Lyons

111. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the implementation of the small business innovation research pilot programme announced in the Action Plan for Jobs 2014; and if local authorities are being encouraged to make full use of the scheme. [20444/14]

Industrial Relations

John Lyons

112. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the proposed revised legislative framework regarding registered employment agreements following publication of a draft framework document in February 2014 and subsequent consultations with stakeholders. [20455/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

John Lyons

140. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if guidelines, circulars or directives will be issued to local authorities to ensure Irish companies are always considered before any local authority procurement contracts are awarded; and if greater consideration will be given to the benefits to local communities in terms of job creation arising from such considerations. [20441/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

John Lyons

141. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities will be issued with new guidelines in awarding procurement contracts for library schemes whereby Irish companies are actively encouraged to submit bids for contracts and are given every consideration before contracts are awarded. [20442/14]

Tax Code

John Lyons

148. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to tax reliefs for management company fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20035/14]

Anti-Social Behaviour

John Lyons

11. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number, geographic distribution and use of joint policing committees in tackling anti-social behaviour; if additional resources have been provided to the Garda, particularly for community policing in tackling anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19069/14]

Crime Prevention

John Lyons

18. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in tackling cyber-crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19068/14]

Social Welfare Appeals

John Lyons

371. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19437/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

John Lyons

412. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on the reopening of the Royal Canal towpath from Jones Road to Drumcondra Road which has been closed for nine months due to flooding damage; if the timeline for works to be completed by Waterways Ireland is still prior to summer 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19489/14]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

John Lyons

864. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health the implications for the PRSI system from the introduction of universal health insurance; if citizens will continue to pay PRSI in the same fashion when UHI is introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19334/14]

Public Transport Provision

John Lyons

952. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a review of the platform length at Croke Park train station will be undertaken by Irish Rail and National Transport Authority with a view to extending it to improve public transport options to the stadium for matches and other events. [19323/14]

Public Transport Provision

John Lyons

953. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will discuss providing additional park and ride facilities close to Croke Park with Irish Rail and other parties to provide improved public transport options to the stadium for matches and other events. [19324/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

John Lyons

407. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the 5,000 social housing units being delivered each year through a variety of sources, including regeneration, direct construction, leasing and the securing of National Asset Management Agency units. [16716/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

John Lyons

154. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the further expansion of a new funding model for social housing which involves the transfer of housing stock to voluntary housing associations who can use private funding, as was seen recently in the refurbishment of housing stock in association with Fold Ireland in Ballygall, Dublin 11. [15861/14]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

John Lyons

245. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans for a one-stop-shop website for small and medium-sized enterprises to allow access to all information on supporting their business such as access to finance and other Government schemes; and when this website will be completed. [15176/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

John Lyons

574. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will consider a review of the long-term illness scheme to include a wider range of conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15240/14]

Ambulance Service Provision

John Lyons

218. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure a full independent review of emergency ambulance provision in Dublin is undertaken that has representation from fire-based EMS experience as part of the review body. [14417/14]

Schools Data

John Lyons

283. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a feasibility study has been carried out by his Department for a second-level Educate Together school on the north side of Dublin due to the increase in Educate Together primary schools in the north Dublin area and strong support from parents for such second-level provision. [12850/14]

Public Transport Provision

John Lyons

1239. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for further bus rapid transit routes in the greater Dublin area beyond the three draft routes; and if a particular route from the city centre along Ballymun Road through Ballymun to the airport along the route of metro north will be considered. [13020/14]

Litter Pollution

John Lyons

36. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number and location of local authorities that have used the litter enforcement grants to purchase CCTV equipment, enhanced lighting or undertaken other measures to deter anti-social behaviour, graffiti and illegal dumping, particularly in litter black spots; the progress reported by local authorities following on from this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11806/14]

Litter Pollution

John Lyons

42. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress in relation to the litter enforcement grants scheme; his plans to extend the duration and nature of the scheme; if there are any proposals to allow for legal graffiti walls in towns and cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11807/14]

Diaspora Centre Establishment

John Lyons

594. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the proposed national diaspora centre will have an entrepreneurship dimension, seeking to upskill the recent generation of emigrants in order to attract diaspora investment and link members of the diaspora with each other to develop entrepreneurship potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12030/14]

Universal Health Insurance White Paper

John Lyons

459. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if his Department will consider and evaluate a single payer social insurance model, along the lines of those used in France, Germany and Nordic countries before the Government’s white paper on financing Universal Health Insurance is issued [10766/14]

Dormant Accounts Fund Deposits

John Lyons

159. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current amount in the Dormant Accounts Fund; the projects which received funding from the fund last year; and his plans for the fund for this year. [10002/14]

School Curriculum

John Lyons

122. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the draft leaving certificate politics and society course; when he plans to roll it out to schools; the way it will be assessed; the way it will relate to the review of the CSPE programme at junior cycle, in view of the fact that course will no longer be compulsory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8911/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

161. Deputy John Lyons asked the Taoiseach the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department that are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10130/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

358. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the chief executive officers, CEOs, of semi-State companies who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; if it remains his policy that the CEOs of semi-State companies are employed under such contracts; and if it is within the remit of the boards of semi-State companies to offer contracts to CEOs that differ from Hay contract terms. [9599/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

370. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10129/14]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

John Lyons

417. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount returned to the Exchequer in the past five years from unclaimed social welfare payments as part of the social welfare payments contract with An Post. [9600/14]

School Meals Programme

John Lyons

422. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the current budget allocation for the school meals programme; the average funding amount provided to each school in each category of need and the average amount to each student; her plans to review the system for allocating funds to the scheme due to the growing number of students in schools currently operating the scheme and the growing number of new schools availing of the scheme. [9648/14]

Semi-State Bodies

John Lyons

431. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10125/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

444. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10126/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

509. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10128/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

571. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Defence the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10127/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

616. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10124/14]

Primary Care Centre Expenditure

John Lyons

708. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health the total funding allocated for the roll-out of primary care centres in 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9601/14]

Pension Provisions

John Lyons

754. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that employees who transferred out of a company (details supplied) are still considered part of that company’s pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9595/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

761. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10131/14]

Poverty Data

John Lyons

371. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department is taking to prevent food poverty; if she will provide national data on food poverty based on the survey on income and living conditions; and if she will provide these data for the Finglas area of Dublin. [7665/14]

EU Funding

John Lyons

372. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the introduction of a new fund to support the provision of food and consumer products for persons who are the most deprived; if this will have €3.5million in funding from the EU and Exchequer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7666/14]

Postcode Implementation

John Lyons

459. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the introduction of postcodes here; the cost of the introduction of this scheme to the State; and if a decision has been reached on the postcodes for the Dublin area as of yet. [7667/14]

EU Programmes

John Lyons

617. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department is engaged in to prevent food poverty; if his Department will continue to work with measures in this regard following the establishment of a new EU fund administered by the Department of Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7664/14]

Departmental Strategies

John Lyons

160. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if a new communications strategy to increase awareness of State supports for small and medium enterprises has been completed; the costs to the Exchequer of implementing a communications strategy; and if funding has been increased to promote Microfinance Ireland in particular. [4852/14]

Credit Review Office Applications

John Lyons

161. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if there has been an increase in applications to the Credit Review Office since the decision to increase the upper limit of the decline loan amount to €3 million; and the number of applications received overall in 2013 by that office. [4855/14]

National Internship Scheme Data

John Lyons

302. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of JobBridge participants per economic sector based on Nace Rev. 2 codes; and if data are available on the education profile of JobBridge participants per economic sector. [4850/14]

Social Welfare Schemes

John Lyons

303. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if staff are being assigned specifically to meet the demands of employers seeking information on JobsPlus and other schemes during the development of Intreo offices; if there is a specific contact point for employers at each Intreo office; and if sufficient information and printed material are available at each office for employers. [4854/14]

Animal Welfare

John Lyons

496. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cases currently before the courts under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013; the number of prosecutions under the new powers of this Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4885/14]

Garda Operations

John Lyons

508. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a report was received from Garda authorities on the problem of bicycle theft in Dublin and an initiative undertaken recently in the UK; and if such an operation will be given further consideration by An Garda Síochána. [5116/14]

Animal Welfare

John Lyons

556. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of enforcement actions taken by his Department under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 in urban and rural areas; and the number of subsequent prosecutions under the new powers of this Act. [4886/14]

Departmental Funding

John Lyons

760. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is preparing an application to the European Investment Bank for additional transport projects; and if he will submit an application to the EIB to fund the Metro North light rail project or another suitable project for the North Dublin-Fingal corridor. [5399/14]

Job Initiatives

John Lyons

34. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the introduction of the start your own business scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4668/14]

Proposed Legislation

John Lyons

131. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will bring forward legislation to restrict the height of boundary hedges and trees, or any other legislation in this area. [4652/14]

Proposed Legislation

John Lyons

139. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered introducing regulations on tree height and dangerous trees; his plans to provide local authorities with guidelines in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4669/14]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

John Lyons

141. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has any responsibility for testing and inspection of telephone and telecommunications masts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4683/14]

Departmental Funding

John Lyons

173. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will clarify reports that core funding for the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, which is under the aegis of the Child and Family Agency, will cease from 31 March 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4458/14]

Primary Care Centres Provision

John Lyons

184. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the roll-out of primary health care centres around the country; and if he will clarify which centres have been completed and are operational, which are at planning stage and which have not moved on to the planning stage. [4423/14]

Primary Care Centres Provision

John Lyons

185. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if his Department is planning a further roll-out of primary care centres following the completion of the current programme. [4424/14]

Light Rail Projects Provision

John Lyons

806. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a feasibility study will be initiated to give future consideration to extending the Luas cross-city line to other areas without rail links on the north side of Dublin from Broombridge and Phibsborough. [3847/14]

EU Funding

John Lyons

807. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will make applications to the European Transport Infrastructure Programme to fund planned infrastructure projects such as metro north; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3851/14]

Residency Permits

John Lyons

449. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department has given consideration to an earned regularisation scheme for undocumented migrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54217/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

John Lyons

254. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of casual and part-time employees in receipt of social welfare payments such as jobseeker's allowance, jobseeker's benefit and family income supplement; if these figures can be grouped by economic sector according to Nace Rev. 2 codes; if the figures can be grouped according to occupation type, by UK SOC, if possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52615/13]

National Training Fund

John Lyons

93. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for utilising the national training fund in view of recent figures illustrating a large surplus in the fund for 2013. [51296/13]

Departmental Policies

John Lyons

224. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, as part of the school building programme, landscaping and planting of trees is being considered as an important part of this process; if he will encourage schools to have a tree-planting ceremony as part of the opening of new schools; and if he will engage with the Tree Council of Ireland to develop a programme of events and tree planting in newly built schools during National Tree Week 2014. [50365/13]

Noise Pollution

John Lyons

682. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will liaise with the Dublin Airport Authority on the issue of aircraft noise and its effects on residents in the hinterland of the airport. [50495/13]

Tax Rebates

John Lyons

61. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will query a case with the Revenue Commissioners (details supplied) involving a self-employed person who believes they are entitled to an additional rebate due to a period when they had ceased trading and were on sick leave. [49737/13]

Excise Duties Yield

John Lyons

215. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown in excise returns by category and by month from January 2011 to November 2013. [49504/13]

Revenue Commissioners Resources

John Lyons

75. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that any future correspondence from the Revenue Commissioners to property owners is reviewed by the National Adult Literacy Agency or similar body to ensure it is jargon free, in plain English and easily accessible for those with varying literacy levels. [47817/13]

Local Authority Services

John Lyons

274. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will issue guidelines to local authorities to ensure any correspondence to local authority tenants is reviewed by the National Adult Literacy Agency or similar body to ensure it is jargon free, in plain English and easily accessible for those with varying literacy levels. [47818/13]

Property Taxation Collection

John Lyons

38. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will direct the Revenue Commissioners to extend the November deadlines for returning payment submissions for the 2014 local property tax to the end of 2013; and if he will direct the Revenue Commissioners to only process one-off single payment transactions made in cash, credit card, debit card and cheque in March 2014 as will be the case with single debit transactions. [47256/13]

Housing Assistance Payments Implementation

John Lyons

123. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the introduction of the housing assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47389/13]

Trade Relations

John Lyons

113. Deputy John Lyons asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has a dedicated strategy in relation to building bilateral relations with China; if he plans to visit China in the next 12 months; if he has invited the Chinese Premier to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45660/13]

Trade Relations

John Lyons

124. Deputy John Lyons asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total percentage of Ireland’s overall exports accounted for by exports to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46953/13]

Family Income Supplement Appeals

John Lyons

584. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a family income supplement application appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47128/13]

Criminal Assets Bureau

John Lyons

730. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is considering extending further powers to allow the Criminal Assets Bureau to further target suspected criminals operating online. [45690/13]

Criminal Assets Bureau

John Lyons

731. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if further measures will be taken with the Spanish authorities to target suspected Irish criminals and their assets in their jurisdiction; if the Criminal Assets Bureau is liaising with the Spanish authorities to target assets which may have resulted from illegal activities here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45691/13]

Health Services Staff Issues

John Lyons

1051. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if an application for redeployment to another part of the public service will be reconsidered in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45827/13]

Overseas Trade Promotion

John Lyons

74. Deputy John Lyons asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the plans that exist for trade growth with China, including any initiatives to support Irish businesses considering expanding into the Chinese market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45172/13]

Overseas Students Data

John Lyons

105. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Chinese nationals coming here for study over the past four years; his plans to grow this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45174/13]

School Curriculum

John Lyons

106. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Irish post-primary schools teaching Mandarin; if there is a strategy in place to grow this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45175/13]

Visa Applications

John Lyons

185. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the potential for growth for tourist visits from the Chinese market, the current processing times of tourist visas for Chinese visitors; the cost of such a typical tourist visa; if he will provide a cost comparison with a similar visa for Chinese visitors to the UK or the Schengen area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45171/13]

Agrifood Sector Issues

John Lyons

197. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans or initiatives that are in operation or are planned to grow agri-business exports to the Chinese market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45173/13]

Tourism Promotion

John Lyons

229. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase the number of visits by Chinese nationals; if he has a dedicated Chinese tourism strategy; if strategies are employed to raise awareness of Ireland as a tourism destination in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45170/13]

Teaching Council of Ireland

John Lyons

176. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if annual audits are carried out on the annual reports completed by the Teaching Council; the conferences and seminars that have been organised by the Teaching Council in the past two years; the number of publications and articles published by the Teaching Council in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44181/13]

Garda Operations

John Lyons

155. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide information on any Garda operations to prevent the growing problem of bicycle theft in Dublin; if he will engage with senior Gardaí to initiate a special operation similar to Project Cycle Ops in London; and if he will provide statistics on bicycle theft in Dublin for the past three years. [43917/13]

Derelict Sites

John Lyons

69. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if specific funding is allocated to local authorities to demolish unsafe derelict buildings; if any such funding has been allocated to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council; and if further funding is planned to allow derelict sites to be put to a community use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43683/13]

Local Authority Expenditure

John Lyons

84. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of reports that Roscommon County Council spent approximately €739,000 on consultancy fees in 2012, if he will provide an itemised breakdown of the specific consultancy services engaged by each county council in the year 2012; and the amount spent on these consultancy services by local authorities. [43736/13]

Youth Services Provision

John Lyons

65. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students under 16 years who are attending out-of-school units instead of mainstream schools; the number of out-of-school facilities funded by his Department; and the total spend by his Department on these units nationwide. [43292/13]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

John Lyons

134. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities are subject to specific guidelines from his Department regarding the annual servicing of boilers in local authority properties; if any guidelines follow advice from Bord Gáis for property owners to have boilers serviced every year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39919/13]

Passports Data

John Lyons

116. Deputy John Lyons asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of persons in possession of an Irish passport who are not resident here. [38585/13]

Visa Applications

John Lyons

1120. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases in his Department currently awaiting decision based on the Zambrano judgement; and the measures being taken to address the backlog of cases. [38622/13]

Defence Forces Deployment

John Lyons

1135. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Defence which are the banks that currently avail of Army escorts for delivering cash to their bank branches; if he will advise who pays the Army for this service: if he will detail the number of incidents which have occurred during such escorts in the past three years and who is liable for such incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37397/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Lyons

255. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce plain or generic packaging for tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35640/13]

Foreign Adoptions

John Lyons

1012. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that the adoption waiting lists for countries like the Philippines are regularly updated to ensure withdrawals are removed from the list; so as not to hold up places that could otherwise be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34325/13]