Parliamentary questions

Property Taxation Rate

Olivia Mitchell

16. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if the 15% reduction which local authorities are permitted to apply to property taxes collected in their area is a once-off event or, alternatively, if it is envisaged that the 15% reduction can be applied every year, should local authorities so wish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39335/14]

Disability Support Services Provision

Olivia Mitchell

152. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if it is his Department or the Health Service Executive who will carry forward planned proposals to reduce, through mergers, the number of disability service providers; and if he will report on the progress. [38849/14]

Pyrite Issues

Olivia Mitchell

318. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the procedure for amending the scheme under the Pyrite Resolution Act to include home owners living in the council area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, which is not included in the eligibility criteria but where category 2 damage consistent with pyrite heave has been identified; and if he will advise on the way concerned homeowners should proceed. [39103/14]

Pension Levy

Olivia Mitchell

167. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance in view of the €2 billion collected for the State from private pension savings of a relatively small number of persons if he will reverse the decision to extend the levy into 2015 in view of the huge impact it is having on the retirement income of older contributors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37953/14]

National Postcode System Establishment

Olivia Mitchell

574. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the serious reservations of many potential users of the proposed postcode and in view of its almost complete irrevocability once introduced, if he will consider postponing its introduction pending an examination of the extent to which it meets the criteria for a national postcode as defined by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37954/14]

Jobseeker's Allowance Applications

Olivia Mitchell

177. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of unsuccessful jobseeker applicants under 24 years of age whose application was unsuccessful due to the jobseeker's means assessment of parental income at the Nutgrove social protection office, Dublin 14; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37105/14]

HSE Properties

Olivia Mitchell

344. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health his plans to utilise the new facility purchased at Mount Carmel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36570/14]

Medical Card Administration

Olivia Mitchell

447. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the apparently inordinate number of documents that go missing while processing applications for medical cards within the Health Service Executive; if an International Organisation for Standardisation is used to measure the performance of processing of applications within the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37121/14]

Environmental Policy

Olivia Mitchell

549. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider legislation similar to that in the United Kingdom limiting the height of trees in small suburban gardens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36474/14]

Water Charges Administration

Olivia Mitchell

587. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if under legislation Irish Water is permitted to store PPS numbers of children; and if so, if it can be passed on to a third party. [37119/14]

National Postcode System Establishment

Olivia Mitchell

607. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of different proposals that were submitted as part of the tendering process for the postcode system subsequently awarded to Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37102/14]

Services for People with Disabilities

Olivia Mitchell

210. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he has given consideration to providing temporary cover for maternity leave of front line staff in the Health Service Executive's disability sector, particularly in the cases of early intervention services such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy for children as the delay without such intervention can have a very negative result on those who rely on such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36314/14]

Sovereign Debt

Olivia Mitchell

55. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance his position on UN Resolution No. 14 A/68/L.57/Rev.1 toward the establishment of a multilateral framework for sovereign debt restructuring processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36092/14]

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Olivia Mitchell

124. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to reduce the age limit from 24 years to 22 years in the jobseeker's allowance assessment for those living with a parent or a step-parent in the family home, so that parents' income will no longer be considered in the jobseeker's means test after the age of 22 years. [35614/14]

National Internship Scheme Data

Olivia Mitchell

125. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in light of recent statistics on the large number of young people unemployed, her plans to allow young people who are ineligible for jobseeker's allowance by virtue of their parents' income to participate in the JobBridge scheme from age 22 years rather than 24 years, by which time they may be considered long-term unemployed. [35615/14]

Trade Agreements

Olivia Mitchell

215. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress of the negotiation of the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership; his views regarding concerns expressed about the possible undue influence which could be exercised by multinationals; if he will support the current proposals. [35623/14]

Medical Card Applications

Olivia Mitchell

375. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the reissuing of a medical card to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16 whose medical card was withdrawn because of a clerical error on the part of the HSE. [35622/14]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Olivia Mitchell

453. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a site has been identified for the Educate Together school in Stepaside, County Dublin; and when construction will begin. [35600/14]

Teachers' Remuneration

Olivia Mitchell

454. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason primary teachers who qualified in 2012 and entered the payscale in that year are on a significantly higher salary than primary teachers who qualified in 2012 but had been undertaking substitution work in 2011 and therefore entered the pay scale in 2011 (details supplied). [35610/14]

Pension Provisions

Olivia Mitchell

201. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend the approved retirement fund options to pensioners with a personal retirement bond; and his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the issue. [33256/14]

Property Tax Application

Olivia Mitchell

215. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if there is a legislative requirement to pay the difference in local property tax should the sale price of a property turn out to be more than one band above the declared value, as it appears vendors are now being charged for such a difference in value for both 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33395/14]

Tax and Social Welfare Codes

Olivia Mitchell

234. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if any consideration has been given to the unfair treatment of the secondary carer, who is also a major financial contributor to the child, being unable to receive the single person child carer credit when the primary carer chooses to cohabit and is no longer able to relinquish the credit to the secondary carer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33534/14]

Asylum Seeker Accommodation

Olivia Mitchell

642. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that young asylum seekers with opportunities for further education are not deprived of such opportunities due to their forced relocation; and her views on the two cases reported in a newspaper (details supplied) on 30 August 2014. [33926/14]

Firearms Licences

Olivia Mitchell

657. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her examination of key policy, legislative, administrative and other issues relating to firearms licensing will affect the licensing of CCTV monitoring centres that is due to come into effect on 1 November 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34151/14]

Olivia Mitchell

685. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers currently resident in direct provision centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34635/14]

Deportation Orders Data

Olivia Mitchell

686. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of asylum cases determined in each of the last three years that have resulted in the issue of deportation orders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34636/14]

Abortion Legislation

Olivia Mitchell

920. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the changes that are proposed either to legislation and-or guidelines to ensure that a clear pathway of referral for an assessment for a pregnancy termination is established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33496/14]

Abortion Services Provision

Olivia Mitchell

921. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that adequate communication and liaison exists between the Health Service Executive and the Department of Justice and Equality direct provision service to ensure that vulnerable women receive the advice and services they are entitled to under constitutional provision 40.3.3° and subsequent legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33497/14]

Public Transport Subsidies

Olivia Mitchell

1699. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average subsidy per passenger rail journey paid by CIE to Iarnród Éireann in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33811/14]

Medical Card Reviews

Olivia Mitchell

624. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the generic letter requesting further details of savings and investments sent to over-70s undergoing the medical card review is causing much confusion and duplication of documents, as the information needed in each individual case is not specified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30834/14]

Medical Card Reviews

Olivia Mitchell

625. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the reason it is necessary for those over-70s who are in nursing home care under the fair deal scheme to undergo a medical card review based on gross income when their income has already been assessed by his Department and is directly related to the provision of their care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30835/14]

Aviation Policy

Olivia Mitchell

739. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his response to concerns expressed by those in the Irish airline industry regarding the proposal in the draft national policy for aviation which would permit non-EU-USA airlines pick up passengers in competition with EU airlines. [30996/14]

Overseas Development Aid

Olivia Mitchell

31. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will communicate his disagreement with the World Health Organisation proposal which excludes universal access to reproductive health (currently MDG 5B) from its submission for a new health goal for the post-2015 framework; if he will further request that this vital health right is included in the final WHO proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28793/14]

Social Welfare Code

Olivia Mitchell

241. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason jobseekers who take up part-time employment that is under 20 hours over five days a week and not allowed for three days, and who are also within the means test are not able to apply for jobseeker's allowance for the hours not worked, as this could be seen as a disincentive to take up part-time employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28252/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Olivia Mitchell

73. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills when building of a permanent school building for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27474/14]

School Curriculum

Olivia Mitchell

215. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures his Department is taking to ensure that citizenship and human rights education is a priority under the new CSPE junior cycle curriculum at post-primary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27144/14]

Visa Agreements

Olivia Mitchell

474. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the shared visa system between Ireland, China and India also includes Taiwan; if this is not the case can it be extended to include Taiwan in view of the success of previous visa initiatives with that country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26938/14]

European Council Meetings

Olivia Mitchell

156. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures agreed by the task force for the Mediterranean at the June Council of Ministers meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26209/14]

Pensions Levy Yield

Olivia Mitchell

164. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance to detail the total income to the State from the private pension levy in each year of operation to date, including the estimated value for the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25578/14]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Olivia Mitchell

239. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been taken to continue to increase the pupil-teacher ratio in fee paying schools until it reaches 28:1 as suggested in the McCarthy report and causing concern; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25575/14]

Pensions Reform

Olivia Mitchell

329. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Report on Pension Charges 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25579/14]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Olivia Mitchell

562. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce an e-vetting system; the speed with which it will cut the waiting times for persons on a community employment scheme awaiting Garda clearance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25577/14]

International Agreements

Olivia Mitchell

24. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on the 20th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, his views on the current status of the action programme; his plans to ensure its approach is reflected in the post-2015 framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24011/14]

Consular Services Representations

Olivia Mitchell

24. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action that has been taken on the release of an Irish citizen (details supplied) who is imprisoned in Egypt; if further pressure on the Egyptian Government to obtain their release is possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23684/14]

Humanitarian Aid

Olivia Mitchell

67. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if emergency aid has been considered for flood relief in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23137/14]

Mortgage Debt

Olivia Mitchell

115. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that mortgages sold to Lone Star will be covered by the code of conduct for mortgage arrears and any future enactment of it if Lone Star sells on the loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22668/14]

Mortgage Repayments

Olivia Mitchell

162. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the measures that exist for those persons who were sold endowment mortgages in the 1990s and who now, on coming near the end of the mortgage term, have been advised that there will be a major shortfall in the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23235/14]

Mortgage Repayments

Olivia Mitchell

163. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if there are regulations governing endowment mortgage policies; if there is recourse for those who believe they were mis-sold such a policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23236/14]

Legislative Measures

Olivia Mitchell

314. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the emergency legislation, Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts, will no longer be needed and be allowed to lapse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22640/14]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Olivia Mitchell

255. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the average time for those waiting for hip replacement surgery at Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22102/14]

Water Charges Exemptions

Olivia Mitchell

130. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a recommended daily minimum water usage for adults under European health policy and, if so, if he will confirm what that minimum is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21746/14]

Child Abduction

Olivia Mitchell

149. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has communicated to the embassy here, the Government's unhappiness at the negligible response from the Nigerian Government to the abduction of 300 schoolgirls and their possible subsequent sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21226/14]

Motor Tax Collection

Olivia Mitchell

446. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to review the current motor taxation system in view of the fact that there are many more efficient cars on the road now than when the system was introduced and of the penalising effect on those who cannot afford to upgrade their cars to newer models; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21164/14]

Services for People with Disabilities

Olivia Mitchell

595. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if there has been a policy change to no longer provide residential care for children with intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21098/14]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Olivia Mitchell

650. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the number of the 80 additional therapy staff who have been recruited this year as part of the progressing disability services for children and young people programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21507/14]

Departmental Advertising Expenditure

Olivia Mitchell

66. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the advertising spend by each of the agencies under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19794/14]

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Olivia Mitchell

717. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health when a person in (details supplied) in Dublin South will receive orthotic footwear; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18565/14]

School Transport Eligibility

Olivia Mitchell

49. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are no school places available in a local Gaelscoil due to the effects of a sibling policy being in place, if his Department will consider introducing a school bus or a travel grant to enable students to travel to an alternative Gaelscoil further away but within the catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18107/14]

Health Services Provision

Olivia Mitchell

655. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene to ensure invasive ventilation is made available to a motor neurone sufferer (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16559/14]

Autism Support Services

Olivia Mitchell

76. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being made to increase the number of ASD places in mainstream secondary schools in Dublin South; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15722/14]

Disability Support Services Provision

Olivia Mitchell

236. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Health Service Executive’s Progressing Disability Service for Children and Young People programme in Dublin South; when the new network disability teams will be in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15702/14]

Disability Support Services Provision

Olivia Mitchell

237. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of children attending ASD units in Dublin South who are not receiving clinical services; the number of children attending ASD units in Dublin south on waiting lists for clinical services; the estimated waiting time for access to clinical services in Dublin South; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15703/14]

Disability Support Services Provision

Olivia Mitchell

238. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the matter of children attending ASD units in Dublin South who are not receiving clinical therapies such as psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language supports, due to long waiting lists for services in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15704/14]

Irish Water Expenditure

Olivia Mitchell

362. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of the annual payment to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council from Irish Water as determined in the service level agreement between them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15065/14]

Irish Water Administration

Olivia Mitchell

647. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a policy on social affordability measures for vulnerable customers of the new Water Authority have been developed; when they will be available for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12901/14]

Domestic Violence Policy

Olivia Mitchell

735. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will sign and ratify the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12799/14]

Immigration Policy

Olivia Mitchell

748. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if separate Garda National Immigration Bureau arrangements could be made for employed tax-paying persons, many of whom are here as the result of IDA Ireland incentives and are often forced to take several days from work to queue for renewal in view of limited number of renewals dispensed each day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13188/14]

Private Security Authority Inspections

Olivia Mitchell

749. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when it is anticipated that the Private Security Authority will announce a timeframe for the licensing of CCTV monitoring centres and the introduction of the new standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13226/14]

Direct Provision System

Olivia Mitchell

146. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there have been improvements in the waiting time for asylum processing for applicants in direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12273/14]

Asylum Seeker Accommodation

Olivia Mitchell

147. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that basic human rights are being observed in all centres for asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12274/14]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Olivia Mitchell

127. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions that could now be taken to provide a permanent school (details supplied) as the preferred site has been refused planning permission for the second time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11717/14]

Teachers' Remuneration

Olivia Mitchell

95. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is policy that contracts of indefinite duration are only awarded to teachers and tutors up to eligibility to claim State pension; the date on which was this policy was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10659/14]

School Enrolments Data

Olivia Mitchell

301. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the intake capacity of each secondary school in Dublin 16, 18 and 14 in 2014; the projected intake of these schools in the next five years; if he is satisfied that the projected population growth will be adequately catered for in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9518/14]

School Enrolments Data

Olivia Mitchell

302. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form, the number of students attending primary schools in Dublin 16, 18, 14 in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9519/14]

School Enrolments

Olivia Mitchell

303. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 96 of 3 December 2013, the outcome of discussions between his Department and a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16 regarding the school accepting two junior infant classes in September 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9520/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Olivia Mitchell

304. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the progress of the four primary schools in Dublin 16 and 18, listed on the five year programme for schools and planned to progress to construction in 2015/2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9524/14]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Olivia Mitchell

319. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that schools (details supplied) will not be unfairly penalised and deprived of the €100 grant per child due to their initiative in commencing, in line with Government guidelines, a partial book rental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9671/14]

Equality Tribunal Cases

Olivia Mitchell

338. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the two-year waiting time for the hearing of complaints at the Equality Tribunal; his plans to allocate additional resources to the tribunal to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7879/14]

Medical Records

Olivia Mitchell

214. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health what will happen to patients' medical records due to the closure of Mount Carmel Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5998/14]

Pension Levy

Olivia Mitchell

40. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider making those with a pension fund of less than €300,000 a year which would have an approximate payment of €12,000 a year, similar to the non-contributory pension rate, exempt from paying the pension levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4680/14]

VAT Rate Application

Olivia Mitchell

210. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the inconsistency that exists between the VAT Consolidation Act 2010 and the Revenue Commissioners' leaflet on VAT for veterinary services, which is of great concern to the professional dog groomers industry; if he will review the inconsistency and allow professional dog groomers to charge the 13.5% VAT rate which is available to veterinary practices that provide dog grooming services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4145/14]

Water Meters

Olivia Mitchell

553. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is the intention of Irish Water, as reported recently, to charge apartment dwellers on an average use basis rather than a metered basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4137/14]

Building Regulations Amendments

Olivia Mitchell

554. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reconsider the proposed amendment S.I No. 9 of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 which if introduced could discourage the tradition of self-builders here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4147/14]

Tax Code

Olivia Mitchell

84. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider the cases where the loss of the single person child carer credit results in the secondary carer moving into a higher tax band, as the loss of income caused is much larger than €1,650 per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2122/14]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Olivia Mitchell

119. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the revised incremental salary scales will be published to address the imbalance between those who entered the public service since 2011 and those who entered before that date, as referenced in the Haddington Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1929/14]

Pension Fund Fees

Olivia Mitchell

143. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing a statutory limit on the amount of fees that a pension fund can charge as is proposed in the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2087/14]

Banking Operations

Olivia Mitchell

125. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if the debt write-off by Allied Irish Banks to Independent News and Media was sanctioned by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1093/14]

School Funding

Olivia Mitchell

242. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 18 December 2013, when the capitation grant and the ancillary services grant are expected to be merged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1421/14]

School Accommodation

Olivia Mitchell

248. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a temporary site has been sought for the gaelcholáiste to serve the general Ballinteer/Stepaside area that will commence operation in 2014 under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán Ghaeilge, due to the urgency of this matter and the concerns of students, parents and teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1668/14]

Building Regulations Amendments

Olivia Mitchell

509. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider amending S.I. No. 80/2013 - Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 to include architectural technologist in the schedule of those eligible to certify under this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1247/14]

School Funding

Olivia Mitchell

95. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if in order to improve difficult cash flow problems being faced by primary schools, if the capitation grant and the ancillary services grants will be paid earlier in the school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54576/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Olivia Mitchell

235. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address overcrowding and long waiting lists in a school (details supplied). [54183/13]

Middle East Issues

Olivia Mitchell

29. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action that he will take to help avert the looming humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to the closure of its only power point and increased tightening of the blockade of Gaza, making the area as described by UNRWA as quickly becoming uninhabitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53210/13]

Liquor Licensing Laws

Olivia Mitchell

117. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his view on the suggestion that a condition of the granting of drink licences to pubs and restaurants would be the mandatory stocking of non-alcoholic beer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53178/13]

Budget Targets

Olivia Mitchell

121. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the reason neither GNP nor GDP is used as a key denominator to measure State costs in order to receive more accurate readings on public spending key performance indicators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52924/13]

Social Welfare Benefits

Olivia Mitchell

247. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the restrictions on access to benefits and housing to be introduced in the UK, if similar measures will now be required here on 1 January when citizens of both Romania and Bulgaria will have completely free mobility throughout the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53177/13]

Pensions Legislation

Olivia Mitchell

258. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if the changes to the allocation of funds proposed in the pensions Bill could be extended to include funds currently in wind-up but where the funds have not yet been distributed by the time of enactment. [52644/13]

Home Tuition Scheme Administration

Olivia Mitchell

44. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale behind the decision to confine early intervention services for children aged between two and four years with a diagnosis of autism, including the home tuition scheme, to primary school teachers registered with the Teaching Council to the exclusion of psychologists with specific training and experience in working with early childhood autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51983/13]

Economic Data

Olivia Mitchell

33. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Taoiseach if in future, earnings and labour cost reports will continue to use the baseline year 2008 for table No. 1, and throughout the report in view of the fact that for the foreseeable future, progress or otherwise should be measured against the peak year of 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51787/13]

Pensions Levy

Olivia Mitchell

59. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the situation affecting existing employees of Permanent TSB whose insolvent fund was wound up in May last, but who now find themselves part of a defined contribution scheme as a result of bank efforts to reduce its cost by 8% as requested by him, and consequently find their greatly depleted funds are liable for the pension levy, though the fund itself still has all the liabilities of a defined benefit pension for existing retirees; and if he will consider an exemption for those nearing retirement in view of the fact that they meet two of the three requirements for exemption to the tax under the Protection of Employees Employment Insolvency Act 1984. [51339/13]