Parliamentary questions

Departmental Strategies

Seán Kyne

115. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the progress made in creating a logistic and inventory management strategy for the public service which will reduce waste, obsolescence and duplication. [3459/13]

Public Service Reform Plan Update

Seán Kyne

116. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if consideration will be given to introducing or appointing a liaison officer or team in each Government Department and public body whose function would be to improve communication and consultation both within and between Government bodies and public bodies to ensure use of resources and best possible service delivery. [3460/13]

Public Services Card

Seán Kyne

117. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the progress made on introducing the use of public service cards as the means for accessing State services. [3461/13]

Public Sector Reform Implementation

Seán Kyne

118. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the progress of the recommendation contained in the Public Service Reform Plan that each Government Department and public body prepare project plans to map out and meet the objectives of the eGovernment strategy. [3462/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Seán Kyne

168. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if NewERA has commenced or completed the assessment of State owned assets which is designated to identify and grasp opportunities to quicken and enhance the roll-out of high speed broadband. [3463/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Seán Kyne

169. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he will, in the context of awarding State investment in cases of market failure regarding broadband provision, monitor and measure the quality and performance of the work carried out by telecommunications companies. [3464/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Seán Kyne

170. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is working with, or will consider working with, the Communications Regulator and other bodies such as the national consumer agency to ensure that a transparent process exists for citizens to voice concerns and complaints in relation to broadband issues, in particular broadband introduced as part of previous State funded or supported programmes. [3465/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Seán Kyne

171. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the focus of the Delivering a Connected Society: National Broadband Plan for Ireland will be placed on those rural areas, such as Connemara, which were either ineligible for inclusion in the earlier National Broadband Scheme or were included but whose citizens are experiencing inadequate, unreliable internet access at present. [3466/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Seán Kyne

172. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will report on the expenditure to date of the €175 million committed to by the State under the Delivering a Connected Society: National Broadband Plan for Ireland. [3467/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Seán Kyne

173. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in acknowledgement of the very welcome progress made by his Department in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, in delivering 100 mbps broadband to schools in counties including Galway, it is technologically feasible to extend the service to homes and businesses near the schools. [3468/13]

Social Welfare Rates

Seán Kyne

322. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to work with the National Consumer Agency, the State agency under its remit, to provide assistance to older citizens in selecting energy products and services in view of the shift in focus of the household benefits package from a units based approach to a credit based one; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3144/13]

Redundancy Payments

Seán Kyne

403. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in view of recent examples of companies entering receivership or examinership, if further consideration can be given to introducing a tiered redundancy rebate scheme based on turnover/company size which would provide a safety net for smaller, indigenous enterprises as well as ensuring adequate provision for employees in the unfortunate event of a company collapsing or downsizing. [3111/13]

Social Welfare Rates

Seán Kyne

404. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to provide assistance to older citizens in receipt of the household benefits package in securing the best value energy package/products in view of the move away from units based approach to a credit based system; and if she plans to work with the National Consumer Agency to achieve this. [3113/13]

Commemorative Events

Seán Kyne

408. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consideration will be given to including the 800th anniversary of the introduction of the Magna Carta Hiberniae, Great Irish Charter, which was the Irish, and only other variation, of the Magna Carta in the Decade of Commemorations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3138/13]

State Bodies Numbers

Seán Kyne

413. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he shares concerns regarding the future of an Údáras na Gaeltachta -run company (details supplied) in County Galway on which many local companies rely; and if consideration will be given to arranging a consultation process with experts in this industry who could provide insight on courses of action which would safeguard the future of other local businesses while building upon the expert growth already evident. [3087/13]

Offshore Exploration

Seán Kyne

426. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the financial amount which accrued to the State in 2012 from the royalties associated with the exploration and development of natural energy sources such as oil and gas in Irish territorial waters. [3044/13]

Offshore Exploration

Seán Kyne

427. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way the royalties which accrue to the State from the operation of energy exploration licences are calculated; when this system was established; and his plans to review same. [3045/13]

Offshore Exploration

Seán Kyne

428. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the financial amounts, in monetary amount and also as a percentage of the overall revenue generated from the exploration fields, that accrued to the State in each year of the past 20 years from royalties earned from the licences granted to develop offshore energy sources in Irish territorial waters. [3046/13]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Numbers

Seán Kyne

666. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the number of citizens included on the long-term illness scheme; and the progress of plans to furnish general practitioner visit cards to persons with illnesses covered by this scheme. [3042/13]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Seán Kyne

667. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of illnesses included under the long term illness scheme [3043/13]

Vaccination Programme

Seán Kyne

671. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 667 of 4 December 2012, the progress made on putting in place supports for those children and their families who developed narcolepsy as a result of side effects from the Pandermix vaccine which was administered to protect against the HINI virus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3112/13]

Cycling Facilities

Seán Kyne

701. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made to date on the development of the two Irish sections of the EuroVelo project, the Atlantic Coast Route and the Capitals' Route which aims to develop cycle tourism across the EU. [3041/13]

Grassland Sheep Scheme Eligibility

Seán Kyne

236. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a payment under the sheep grassland scheme was recouped by his Department in July 2012 having been paid to a person (details enclosed) in County Galway in February 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57378/12]

Tax Rebates

Seán Kyne

189. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to extending the diesel rebate for hauliers, as announced in Budget 2013, to the marine transportation sector in recognition of the boost such a measure would have on the expansion of the industry and the economic benefits which will accrue to local, in particular rural, areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56921/12]

Teaching Qualifications

Seán Kyne

261. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 8 November 2012 if teachers employed in substitute positions and in possession of a Masters Degree prior to 4 December 2011 are entitled to the qualification allowance. [56945/12]

Broadband Services Provision

Seán Kyne

415. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline the steps a citizen can take when attempting to remedy a problem with broadband internet access which has been provided by the telecommunications company awarded the national broadband scheme contract when efforts to resolve the issue with the company have not progressed. [56948/12]

Human Rights Issues

Seán Kyne

127. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in the context of on-going concerns about the human rights of Ugandan citizens who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transexual, his views on the need for an EU-wide approach to prevent any human rights abuses in this area. [54460/12]

Public Sector Pensions Legislation

Seán Kyne

236. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will clarify the situation by which action on reducing or levying substantial State financed pensions is being curtailed on account of past legal interpretation which has placed pensions on a par with property thereby seemingly conferring the same constitutional rights to pensions as exists with property. [54454/12]

Social Insurance Payments

Seán Kyne

334. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given to introducing an option of permitting self-employed persons to voluntarily pay the proportion of PRSI for themselves that is usually paid by employers on behalf of employees and facilitates entitlement to the various supports of the social welfare system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54458/12]

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Seán Kyne

407. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the use of the National Asset Management Agency stock of housing to alleviate the problem of homelessness and on the introduction of social housing. [54452/12]

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Seán Kyne

408. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if consideration has been given to introducing measures to facilitate the transfer of National Asset Management Agency owned or administered housing stock to local authorities in lieu of the non-payment of the developer contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54453/12]

Human Rights Issues

Seán Kyne

468. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the progress of the creation of the new Irish Human Rights Equality Commission. [54455/12]

Legislative Programme

Seán Kyne

469. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm if his Department will be drafting or publishing the heads of a Bill to address the discriminatory effects of Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act which is having a particular adverse impact on members of the teaching profession. [54456/12]

Court Procedures

Seán Kyne

470. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 292 of 10 May 2011, if he has considered the judgement of the case pertaining to jury service by citizens who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and if measures will be introduced to facilitate such citizens in undertaking this important civic duty. [54457/12]

HSE Staff Responsibilities

Seán Kyne

554. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will report on the number of posts for child and family social workers that have been filled in 2012; if she will confirm the number of child and family social workers working in County Galway, including city; and if she will confirm the increase, if any, in the number of social workers nationally since the publication of the Ryan Report. [54451/12]

Tax Code

Seán Kyne

664. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health his views, in view of the increase in obesity and the associated negative health effects on the introduction of a tax on sugar sweetened beverages, some of which contain a person's entire World Health Organisation recommended daily allowance of sugar in one single portion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54446/12]

Calorie Posting on Menus

Seán Kyne

665. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the increasing significance of the obesity issue, consideration will be given to introducing regulations which will make the publication of nutritional information, such as calorie amounts, obligatory on food and beverage menus particularly as many forward thinking restaurants and eateries have already done so thereby disproving the objections of others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54447/12]

Medicinal Products Licensing

Seán Kyne

666. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the progress made of introducing the medical product, Sativex, which is used to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis and which has passed through all stages of the European mutual recognition procedures; and if he will outline when this product may be available to citizens here with MS [54448/12]

Vaccination Programme

Seán Kyne

667. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health when he hopes to announce the support the State will be providing to those children who have been identified by the final report of the National Narcolepsy Study Steering Committee as being adversely affected by the incidence of narcolepsy as a result of a side effect of the Pandemrix vaccine administered for the H1N1 flu virus, otherwise known as Swine 'Flu, particularly as the announcement of supports has been delayed on account of a number of factors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54449/12]

Vaccination Programme

Seán Kyne

668. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health following approval of the new 4CMenB vaccine, which is developed by pharmaceutical company Novartis, by the European Medicines Agency, when it is envisaged the vaccine will be granted a licence for use in this State and also if consideration is being given to introducing a vaccination programme on account of the potential transformative benefits this vaccine has in fighting meningitis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54450/12]

Railway Stations Upgrade

Seán Kyne

696. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a report on the progress made on the new train station at Oranmore, County Galway. [54459/12]

Motorised Transport Grant Eligibility

Seán Kyne

268. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if the criteria pertaining to the motorised transport grant will be re-examined with a view to permitting applications from parents of children with mobility limiting conditions particularly in view of the fact that the grant guards against social exclusion and is particularly relevant and necessary for more rural areas which do not have the same access to public transport. [53670/12]

Public Transport Provision

Seán Kyne

280. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the process by which advertisements are cleared for use on publicly owned public transport services; the steps a person can take if they believe an advertisement to not be suitable for use on publicly financed transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53672/12]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

Seán Kyne

66. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm when the code of conduct on mortgage arrears will be amended to reflect the new mortgage arrears resolution strategy recently put in place by the Central Bank of Ireland; and if he will indicate the likely timeframe for same. [53170/12]

Money Advice and Budgeting Service Issues

Seán Kyne

134. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection if a specialist unit of the Money Advice and Budgetary Service could be established which would provide an enhanced mortgage arrears information and advice service and would in effect provide the borrower with the ongoing support required which will undoubtedly increase in necessity the provisions of the personal insolvency legislation. [53276/12]

Personal Insolvency Act

Seán Kyne

183. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he expects the recently established Personal Insolvency Service to issue guidelines on what reasonable household expenses and the house income threshold will be in relation to those citizens who access various mechanisms as outlined in the Personal Insolvency Bill. [53160/12]

Legal Aid Application Numbers

Seán Kyne

194. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to establishing a new service similar to that of the Civil Legal Aid Service which would provide support to those who require access to the provision under the personal insolvency legislation but who are unable to fund independent support and advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53277/12]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Seán Kyne

223. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the procedures in place to ensure that facilities such as beds and rooms are available for persons and their families travelling from the west to Crumlin Children's Hospital, Dublin, for day treatment [53171/12]

Student Grant Scheme Delays

Seán Kyne

92. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, in consideration of the delays being experienced by the Student Universal Support Ireland application process which is having an adverse effect on the student assistance fund, the fund can be augmented, as a matter of urgency, in order that the crucial support that it provides to students can be safeguarded for the complete academic year [52090/12]

Higher Education Courses Provision

Seán Kyne

93. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills in recognition of the recent completion and additions of new infrastructure to many of the State supported universities and IT's if a framework exists or will be drawn up to utilise these facilities for short courses, adult learning, skills courses and so forth which would operate outside of normal college hours; and if it is recognised that the revenue raised by such diversification - already a feature of privately owned and run third level institutions could greatly ease the financial pressure on our State supported universities and their full-time students. [52091/12]