Parliamentary questions

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Michael Healy-Rae

58. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 242 of 14 May 2013, the reason resources cannot be guaranteed to support enrollment; and the reason the child must wait until they start school [24943/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Joanna Tuffy

59. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any circumstances in which a student grant applicant who is not in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment may be eligible for a special rate grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24973/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Bernard Durkan

60. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the new facilities promised for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the extent of the planning already undertaken; and the number of stages completed; when the project will be ready to go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24978/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

61. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 who was previously refused higher education grant on the basis of their residency status and who became an Irish citizen in 2012, the previous the decision prevents them from ever qualifying for higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24979/13]

Departmental Legal Costs

Sean Fleming

62. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether sufficient progress is being made in reducing the State's legal bill in his Department and any State agencies under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25165/13]

Public Sector Staff Redundancies

Terence Flanagan

63. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a query (details supplied) regarding redundancies in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24798/13]

Flood Prevention Measures

Éamon Ó Cuív

64. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works proposes to carry out works on the Bulkawn River, Ballinrobe, County Mayo, due to the amount of land in this area that is flooding on a regular basis and causing great inconvenience to persons in the area; if remedial works will be carried out at two pinch points on the river namely at the Sportlann in Ballinrobe and at the concrete dam west of the Neale road bridge, which needs to be lowered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24912/13]

EU Directives

Clare Daly

65. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there have been any EU Directives signed into Irish law which alter responsibility for coastal protection. [24927/13]

Flood Relief Schemes Funding

Michael Healy-Rae

66. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a special fund to address and alleviate the flooding that is occurring in a housing estate (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24930/13]

Proposed Legislation

Andrew Doyle

67. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 16 May 2013 regarding the proposed Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill, if he will clarify the current legislative position regarding communications and privilege for papers, emails and documents sent, received and held by members of the Houses of the Oireachtas and their staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24932/13]

Flood Relief Schemes Funding

Tom Fleming

68. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to previous Parliamentary Questions in respect of homes that have been and are at risk of flooding from the Cullavaw river in Rathmore, County Kerry, if he will now make the necessary funding available to protect the homes of those families that are at risk; if officials from the Office of Public Works have investigated the problem on the ground; the action he will take to ensure that the OPW carry out emergency works to avoid further flooding incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24939/13]

Croke Park Agreement Savings

Michael McGrath

69. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department is no longer seeking savings of €300 million on the public sector pay and pensions bill during the remainder of 2013; the required savings now for 2013; the impact any reduction in the required savings may have on the budget deficit targets for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24967/13]

Banking Inquiry

Michael McGrath

70. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if any decision has been taken on the holding of a banking inquiry; his views on this matter; when a decision is expected to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24968/13]

Croke Park Agreement Savings

Bernard Durkan

71. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he expects to achieve the targets identified by the Troika as set out in the Croke Park Agreement and its current revision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25000/13]

Croke Park Agreement Savings

Bernard Durkan

72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he remains satisfied that projected savings in public expenditure remain achievable in the context of the current review of the Croke Park Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25001/13]

Croke Park Agreement Savings

Bernard Durkan

73. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will indicate whether in the context of discussions taking place at the LRC with his Department, he expects to continue to meet the targets set out by his predecessors with the Troika; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25002/13]

Croke Park Agreement Savings

Bernard Durkan

74. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which agreement in principle is likely to be reached in the course of current discussions in respect of achieving savings throughout the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25003/13]

Sale of State Assets

Bernard Durkan

75. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which the disposal of State assets has been examined to date with particular reference to the utilisation of any proceeds for job creation purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25004/13]

Sale of State Assets

Bernard Durkan

76. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will indicate whether it is expected to meet specific targets in respect of disposal if State assets under each heading; the extent to which these issues have been examined in detail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25005/13]

Public Expenditure Targets

Bernard Durkan

77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will indicate the extent to which any alternatives have been examined to meet savings and targets identified by the Troika and agreed by his predecessor in the context of savings or reductions in public expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25006/13]

Croke Park Agreement Savings

Bernard Durkan

78. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which ongoing discussions are taking place with various groups in the public sector in the context of the revision of the Croke Park Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25007/13]

Public Expenditure Targets

Bernard Durkan

79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will indicate, by Department, the extent to which savings as identified in the Troika have been met to date; whether any particular sectors have achieved their targets to a greater extent than others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25008/13]

Croke Park Agreement Savings

Bernard Durkan

80. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will indicate whether all targets identified under the Croke Park Agreement and approved by his predecessors in office remain fully achievable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25009/13]

County and City Enterprise Boards Funding

Peadar Tóibín

81. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total budget allocated and total amount distributed by each county enterprise board for 2007 to 2013; and if he will provide an explanation for allocation of funds to county enterprise boards [24872/13]

Job Creation

Peadar Tóibín

82. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the multiplier effect on the economy for a job supported by IDA Ireland; and the same for a job supported by Enterprise Ireland and the county enterprise boards. [24873/13]

Job Creation

Peadar Tóibín

83. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the cost per job promoted by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and county enterprise boards for each year from 2007 to date in 2013. [24874/13]

Job Creation Data

Peadar Tóibín

84. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of the jobs retained, jobs created and jobs lost by companies supported by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and county enterprise boards. [24875/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

James Bannon

86. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in having an oral hearing which was adjourned, rescheduled in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; the reason for the correspondence from her offices stating that it has been decided to hold an oral hearing, when in actual fact it is an adjournment of an oral hearing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24805/13]

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

87. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria used to assess a person's eligibility for supplementary welfare allowance diet supplement; if the means threshold used in this assessment has not changed since 2007; if she will immediately address this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24808/13]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Tom Fleming

88. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she has taken to address the unacceptable waiting lists for invalidity pension appeals; the timeframe to process these appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24824/13]

Carer's Allowance Delays

Tom Fleming

89. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she has taken to address the unacceptable waiting lists for carer's allowance applicants; the timescale to process these applications; the number of applications received for each of the past three years; the number that were granted, refused and under appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24827/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Martin Ferris

91. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if the continued practice by social welfare staff to refuse family payments based on the habitual residency clause is compatible with EU law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24860/13]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Brendan Griffin

92. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an appeal of a decision on a domiciliary care allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24876/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Bernard Durkan

93. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the amount of rent supplement paid in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in view of the fact that their landlord refuses to decrease the monthly rent paid any further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24888/13]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Ciaran Lynch

94. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in county Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24896/13]

Carer's Allowance Delays

Tom Fleming

95. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on whether it is fair and reasonable for carer's allowance applicants to have to wait up to 12 months to have their claims processed; her views on whether it is fair and reasonable for applicants who have given up their job to care for someone on a full-time basis to have to wait more than 12 months to receive payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24954/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

Bernard Durkan

96. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose landlord has not reduced the rent in accordance with the request from her Department and who is unable to obtain a lower costing rental accommodation due to housing scarcity in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24983/13]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when back to school allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24987/13]

Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme Appeals

Bernard Durkan

100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which an application for mortgage support has been examined and determined in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24988/13]

Employment Rights

Martin Ferris

101. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will state the EU's definition of a migrant worker. [25014/13]

Departmental Legal Costs

Sean Fleming

102. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether sufficient progress is being made in reducing the State's legal bill in her Department and any State agencies under her aegis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25169/13]

Exchequer Returns

Sandra McLellan

103. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht what appropriations-in-aid spending will entail in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24861/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Sandra McLellan

104. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he envisages his Department retaining €210,000 from the EU Presidency through to 2014; if so, if he has already allocated the money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24862/13]

Departmental Staff Training

Sandra McLellan

105. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a breakdown of the expected training and development and incidental expenses with a list of the training and development courses he expects officers in his Department to undergo in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24863/13]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Sandra McLellan

106. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will set out by category and in detail a breakdown of the €124,000 estimated to be spent on consultancy services and value-for-money and policy reviews in the 2013 Estimates, an increase of 164% on the Estimates spend in 2012, providing detail of the additional spend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24864/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Sandra McLellan

107. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the category of office premises expenses, if he will list the individual offices operated by his Department in the State alongside the expenses that they will incur in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24865/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Sandra McLellan

108. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a breakdown of the heritage spend by category of the €1.2 million estimated for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24866/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Sandra McLellan

109. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a breakdown of the estimated expenditure on heritage for 2013 by product and programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24867/13]

Cistí Spreagtha Fáis

Éamon Ó Cuív

110. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cé na tograí Gaeltachta agus Oileánda atá molta ag a Roinn don Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí maidir leis na Cistí Spreagtha Fáis atá á scrúdú ag an Aire sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [24891/13]

Film Industry Tax Reliefs

Andrew Doyle

111. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the tax beneficial arrangements his Department currently operates regarding the TV and film industry here; the financial benefits that are available to studios when producing here; if his attention has been drawn to the tax regime currently operating in Northern Ireland for film production; his views on whether Ireland is competitive in this regard against Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24935/13]