Parliamentary questions

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Clare Daly

277. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm or deny that a report was done for the National Council for Special Education and his Department pre-2005, since the assumption is that they have used some guideline or report to base their recommendations based on the working hours of the 4,000 schools in the country, since his Department was responsible for the generation of the report, which has been used under appendix 5 of Sp. Ed. 01/05, since the NCSE did not have such information, or had come into effect. [7974/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Clare Daly

278. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the name of report used by his Department and the National Council for Special Education for creating Sp. Ed. 01/05, appendix 5, or request the NCSE to release the report which it used as the guideline based on the working hours of the 4,000 schools in the country, under the Freedom of Information Act; and if not, if he will provide a valid reason for same. [7975/14]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Nicky McFadden

279. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be approved in view of the fact that the applicant has provided proof of independent residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7976/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Paul Connaughton

280. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when it is anticipated that construction work will begin on school projects (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7986/14]

School Transport Provision

Bernard Durkan

281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the availability of school transport for the child of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8026/14]

School Staffing

Dara Calleary

282. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the immediate allocation of two assistant principal posts to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8126/14]

Education and Training Boards Staff

Joe Higgins

283. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the contradiction between the reply to the parliamentary question (details supplied) where it was indicated that the maximum point on the pay scale at which resource persons were employed by the City of Dublin Education and Training Board was point three. [8143/14]

Parliamentary Questions

Charlie McConalogue

284. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 64, 65 and 66 of 5 February 2014, the date by which he expects to be in a position to provide the information; if there is a specific timeframe within which his Department undertakes to answer questions if it is unable to meet the normal parliamentary deadlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8178/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Dara Murphy

285. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding students' autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes in respect of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8185/14]

Schools Amalgamation

Eric J. Byrne

286. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify a situation regarding schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8201/14]

School Staffing

Michael McGrath

287. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the decision to withdraw a legacy teaching post for the 2014-15 school year from a primary school (details supplied) in Cork city in view of the exceptional challenges the school is facing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8208/14]

Home-School Liaison Scheme

Róisín Shortall

288. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the home school community liaison allocation to each of the second level schools in Dublin 9 and Dublin 11 areas. [8219/14]

Summer Works Scheme Eligibility

John Halligan

289. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason colleges of further education are not now eligible to apply to his Department for funding under Circular 59/2013; when and the reason their eligibility ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8225/14]

School Enrolments Data

Catherine Murphy

290. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the intake capacity of each primary school in Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth, Kilcock and Clane in 2014; the projected intake capacity of each of these schools in the next five years; if he is satisfied that projected population growth will be adequately catered for in the northern Kildare area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8255/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Paul Connaughton

291. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway, was awarded the 100% adjacent rate maintenance grant plus 100% fees and has now been told that he is not entitled to fees for this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8256/14]

School Transport Provision

Brendan Griffin

292. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the school bus at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry will make the pick up and drop off at a safer location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8283/14]

Teacher Training Provision

Seán Kyne

293. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress on the plans to introduce a Gaeltacht scholarship scheme for primary school teachers to attend intensive Gaeilge courses in the Gaeltacht as envisaged in the 20-year strategy for the Irish language. [8320/14]

Teacher Training Provision

Seán Kyne

294. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the portion of time spent by trainee teachers in the Gaeltacht. [8321/14]

School Staffing

Brendan Griffin

295. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an English as an additional language post will be retained by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8333/14]

Emergency Works Scheme Funding

Martin Ferris

296. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will make funds available to repair storm damage to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry. [8359/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

297. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the number of new school buildings that are at or near completion; the position of replacement of prefabs throughout the country; the future plans in meeting the demographic demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8378/14]

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Michael McGrath

298. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify if all branches of the Civil Service within his Department are applying Department policy that staff progress on incremental salary scales on the basis of a single point per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8681/14]

State Bodies

Shane Ross

299. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills whether he is aware of any official bodies under the aegis of his Department which subscribe to the daily inflation data for Ireland collected by a company (details supplied); if so, the cost of this service; if the data will be made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8695/14]

Insurance Coverage

Kevin Humphreys

300. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he expects the memorandum of understanding to be agreed with insurance companies that are licensed here to provide flood cover to home owners and businesses where flood defences have been built by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7689/14]

Drainage Schemes Status

Éamon Ó Cuív

301. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if compensation was ever paid for loss of income in the Claregalway Cregmore area, County Galway, by the Office of Public Works under the arterial drainage schemes due to flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7747/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Michael McNamara

302. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set out the options identified by his Department in terms of State investment in flood defences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8148/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Michael McGrath

303. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the recent flooding in Cork City, his plans for major flood relief work in the city; when he expects this work to proceed; the funding that is in place for this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8289/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Tom Fleming

304. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he and his officials met officials from Kerry County Council during his recent visit to County Kerry, where he inspected some of the areas affected by flooding, storm damage, high tides, coastal erosion and so on; if he will confirm the level of co-operation between the Office of Public Works and Kerry County Council in respect of the crisis; the number of meetings that have taken place and the plan of action to assist these communities and persons who have suffered greatly as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7560/14]

Departmental Staff Career Breaks

Barry Cowen

305. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the number of staff in his Department currently on a sabbatical or career break broken down by 0 to six months, six to 12 months, one year to two years, two to three years, four to five years and five years plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7633/14]

Departmental Staff Sick Leave

Barry Cowen

306. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the total number of uncertified sick days taken by employees in his Department and the average uncertified sick days per employee taken; the total certified sick days taken by employees; the average certified sick days per employee; the total sick days taken by employees; and the average total sick days and median overall sick days per employee in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [7649/14]

Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure

Barry Cowen

307. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the total spending on flood defences on an annual basis from 2000-13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7729/14]

Insurance Coverage

Barry Cowen

308. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to give details on the progress that has been made between his Department and the insurance industry on information exchange on investment on flood defences; the timeline for their completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7730/14]

Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure

Barry Cowen

309. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline the total amount planned to be spent on flood defence in 2014, 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7731/14]

Flood Risk Assessments

Barry Cowen

310. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set out the expected date of the completion of the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, studies; if he will allocate additional resources to the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7732/14]

Public Sector Pensions

Pearse Doherty

311. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the basis on which he has written to the pension committee at North-South bodies to inform them of a change in the pension scheme rules; the connection between this change and the Haddington Road agreement; if he has had any communication with any trade unions regarding this change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7742/14]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Brendan Griffin

312. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to detail his plans for further economic stimulus programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7809/14]

Office of Public Works Projects

Brendan Griffin

313. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on works at Derrynane House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7812/14]

Security Checks

Noel Harrington

314. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if any of his departmental or ministerial offices have been swept for electronic or any other type of surveillance or bugging equipment since coming to office in March 2011; the reasons for this check; the results of this check; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7898/14]

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Seán Fleming

315. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will list any new organisations or agencies established in his Department since 9 March 2011; the role and functions and the annual operating budget for these organisations or agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7949/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Michael Healy-Rae

316. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding funding to build an embankment to prevent flooding in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7959/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Brian Walsh

317. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of maintenance and flood prevention works undertaken by the Office of Public Works in the past 12 months on the Bulkawn River, Ballinrobe, County Mayo, including locations adjacent to the Neale Road bridge near the hotel on the Kilmaine Road; and if he will outline plans for works to be undertaken at these locations in 2014. [7978/14]

Public Sector Staff Sick Leave

Seán Fleming

318. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the regulations for the new sick pay arrangements in the public service will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8004/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Terence Flanagan

319. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline the financial support that will be given to Dublin City Council to address the potential risk of flooding around the River Naniken in Dublin North-East constituency ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8008/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Terence Flanagan

320. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the implementation of the 2005 Royal Haskoning report on flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8009/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

Seán Fleming

321. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to give details on the value of contracts entered into by the State, its agencies and public bodies which went to contractors in Northern Ireland, the rest of the UK, other EU countries and to countries outside the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8010/14]

Insurance Coverage

Terence Flanagan

322. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will confirm the level of engagement he has had with the Irish Insurance Federation regarding flood protection measures that are being implemented nationwide; if he will ensure that the federation is aware of improvements that have been made so that householders are not being denied home insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8045/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

Andrew Doyle

323. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline the number and value of public procurement contracts, above and below the EU threshold requirements, which were issued to foreign companies from 2008 to 2012, inclusive. [8046/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Michelle Mulherin

324. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 284 of 26 November 2013 regarding flooding of the River Deel, Crossmolina, County Mayo, if the consultant's report has been completed and assessed by the Office of Public Works; if he has received same; the stage the cost benefit analysis has reached; when it is expected to be complete; when he expects further flood mitigation measures to be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8072/14]

Public Park Access

Ciara Conway

325. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to reopen Mount Congreve Gardens, County Waterford, to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8127/14]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Finian McGrath

326. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider putting in place a system whereby applicants for positions advertised on publicjobs.ie could be given a more substantive response to their application and the reasons for non-progression to the next stage; if he will consider a ranking system for unsuccessful applicants in order that they could receive feedback on their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8158/14]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Michael McGrath

327. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 243 of 11 February 2014, if he will clarify if all branches of the civil service in his Department are applying Department policy that staff progress on incremental salary scales on the basis of a single point per annum. [8237/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Eoghan Murphy

328. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will provide information on the pedestrian and railway bridge at Lansdowne Road in terms of the development of new flood defences along the River Dodder; if the height of the bridge was considered in these plans in terms of contributing to past flooding; and the way this is to be addressed in the current defence works. [8267/14]

Haddington Road Agreement Implementation

Dara Calleary

329. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if proposals have been forwarded for grade rationalisation with a view to restructuring grades in each grade of the public sector by 2014 as per workforce restructuring paragraph 3.11 of the Haddington Road agreement; if not, the reason for same; if this will be backdated to 1 January 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8324/14]

Public Sector Staff Data

Eoghan Murphy

330. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of persons employed by the State as of 31 December 2013, broken down by Civil Service, local authorities, State bodies, semi-State bodies, State agencies, quasi autonomous non-governmental organisation, executive and Defence Forces. [8330/14]

State Bodies

Shane Ross

331. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as far as he is aware if any official bodies under the aegis of his Department subscribes to the daily inflation data for Ireland collected by a company (details supplied); if so, the cost of this service; if the data will be made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8704/14]

Unfair Dismissals

Finian McGrath

332. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will clarify the statute of limitation under the Unfair Dismissals Act; and if this position can support the case of a person being awarded a settlement by the Employment Appeals Tribunal, EAT, and a circuit order of enforcement on 7 June 2011 (details supplied). [7569/14]

Departmental Staff Career Breaks

Barry Cowen

333. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form, the number of staff in his Department currently on sabbatical or career break broken down by 0 to six months, six to 12 months, one year to two years, two to three years, four to five years and five years plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7631/14]

Departmental Staff Sick Leave

Barry Cowen

334. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form, the total number of uncertified sick days taken by employees in his Department and the average uncertified sick days per employee taken; the total certified sick days taken by employees; the average certified sick days per employee; the total sick days taken by employees; and the average total sick days and median overall sick days per employee in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [7647/14]

Job Creation

Brendan Griffin

335. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the rate of job creation in County Kerry; if his attention has been drawn to the Industrial Development Agency record in County Kerry; the action he has taken on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7771/14]

Foreign Direct Investment

Brendan Griffin

336. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding County Kerry's status for grant aid for foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7772/14]

Financial Services Regulation

Pearse Doherty

337. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether an accounting policy (details supplied) may be interpreted by banks as an opportunity to delay the recognition of losses; and his further views on whether this is not in accordance with, IAS 8.10 which states that management must observe prudence when making a subjective judgement on the determination of whether a loss event has or has not occurred. [7785/14]

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]

Security Checks

Noel Harrington

339. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any of his departmental or ministerial offices has been swept for electronic or any other type of surveillance or bugging equipment since coming to office in March 2011; the reasons for this check; the results of this check; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7896/14]

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Seán Fleming

340. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will list new organisations-agencies established in his Department since 9 March 2011; the role and functions and the annual operating budget for these organisations-agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7947/14]

Industrial Development

Derek Nolan

341. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if IDA Ireland is satisfied with the provision and capacity of manufacturing and office space in Galway city and county such as is necessary to attract further inward investment to the area; if the IDA is considering the building of its own facilities for subsequent sale or lease so as to increase capacity; the location of any such developments and the status and progress of any such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8073/14]

Employment Rights

Pearse Doherty

342. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the requests and observations addressed to him by the International Labour Organisation; and the replies he sent to each request and observation. [8079/14]

Employment Rights

Pearse Doherty

343. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of requests and observations the International Labour Organisation has addressed to him regarding compliance with social and labour standards since March 2011. [8080/14]

Job Creation Targets

Ciara Conway

344. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on his Department's progress in relation to job creation in County Waterford; if he will provide an update on plans by the Industrial Development Agency to build an advanced manufacturing facility in Waterford City; if he will list in tabular form and by year for each of the last five years, the number of IDA visits to Waterford city and to Waterford county; the number of IDA jobs created for each of those years; the number of IDA jobs lost for each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8123/14]

Job Creation Targets

Ciara Conway

345. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on his Department's progress in relation to job creation in County Waterford; the number of Industrial Development Agency visits to Waterford city and to Waterford county; the number of IDA jobs created for each of those years; the number of IDA jobs lost for each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8124/14]

Job Creation Data

Ciara Conway

346. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details on companies in County Waterford, including company names, number of jobs created and type of support received that have received support from his Department for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8125/14]

Land Issues

Patrick O'Donovan

347. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on plans that have been put in place for lands in County Limerick which are owned by Shannon Development; the expected legal position of those lands into the future; the safeguards and protective measures he envisages to ensure that the lands are put to the best possible use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8147/14]

EU Directives

Finian McGrath

348. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he proposes to transpose the EU Sharps Directive under the Health and Safety Act; if he will provide a timeframe for its transposition; the practical measures that have been put in place to ensure speedy implementation of the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8155/14]

County and City Enterprise Boards Abolition

Seán Kyne

349. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, in the context of the development of the new local enterprise offices which will provide directed and targeted supports for businesses and entrepreneurs, the specific needs of Gaeltacht and businesses and potential businesses operating through the Irish language will be addressed by LEOs, particularly by LEOs with jurisdiction over areas with Gaeltacht areas. [8326/14]

Enterprise Ireland Expenditure

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

350. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total spending by Enterprise Ireland, broken down by Enterprise Ireland and its subsidiary organisations, each county enterprise board, Dublin Business Innovation Centre, Cork Business Innovation Centre, Galway Business Innovation Centre and so on, on external consultants in the years 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8355/14]

Consultancy Contracts

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

351. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the names of each consultant-consultancy paid over €25,000, the EU public tender threshold limit, by Enterprise Ireland and its subsidiary organisations in 2012 and 2013; if the tenders for these jobs were ever published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8356/14]

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Michael McGrath

352. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will clarify if all branches of the Civil Service within his Department are applying Department policy that staff progress on incremental salary scales on the basis of a single point per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8685/14]

State Bodies

Shane Ross

353. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation as far as he is aware if any official body under the aegis of his Department subscribes to the daily inflation data for Ireland collected by a company (details supplied); if so, the cost of this service; if the data will be made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8702/14]

Pensions Reform

Clare Daly

354. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms of reference of the ad hoc group that she is chairing in relation to pensions in the State sector. [7465/14]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

James Bannon

355. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application for the back to school grant was denied in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7876/14]

Humanitarian Assistance Scheme

Michael McGrath

356. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of residents and tenants of certain locations in Cork city and county (details supplied) which were flooded in June 2012 have since received any funding out of the flood relief fund established. [8036/14]

Departmental Programmes

Patrick O'Donovan

357. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale and the basis on which the allocation from Pobal to an organisation (details supplied) for 2014 was determined; if Pobal has taken into consideration the limitations that these reductions will place on the organisation to effectively deliver its service commitments; the scope for the matter to be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8103/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

358. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the current rent caps for rent allowance for each council area in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8151/14]

Household Benefits Scheme

Michael Moynihan

359. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the hardship the decision to discontinue the telephone allowance is causing to the persons affected, particularly those who have had to disconnect their landlines because of this cut and accordingly have to cancel their home alarm systems which require a telephone line; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7513/14]

Disability Allowance Appeals

John McGuinness

360. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a disability allowance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow in view of the fact the person is waiting for an operation and unable to work; if further assistance will be given to the person relative to the person's mortgage difficulties; if she will expedite a response. [7530/14]

Social Welfare Appeals

John McGuinness

361. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding social welfare payments due to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if correspondence relating to benefits submitted by the person has been considered; and if the person is due an increase in benefit and arrears. [7531/14]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

John McGuinness

362. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if domiciliary care allowance has been approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [7541/14]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

John McGuinness

364. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider correspondence dated 18 January 2014 submitted to her office in the names of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if she will approve the request based on the decision already issued and the plans they have made based on that decision from her Department. [7568/14]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

365. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review a decision to refuse an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7575/14]

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Applications

Bernard Durkan

366. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if supplementary welfare allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, who has no income and has two dependent children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7584/14]

Local Employment Service

Eric J. Byrne

367. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will be obliged to put the provision of local employment services and jobs clubs, currently provided by a range of community and voluntary organisations, out to public tender from 2015 onwards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7587/14]

Departmental Staff Career Breaks

Barry Cowen

369. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form, the number of staff in her Department currently on a sabbatical or career break broken down by zero to six months, six to 12 months, one year to two years, two to three years, four to five years and five years plus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7634/14]

Departmental Staff Sick Leave

Barry Cowen

370. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form, the total number of uncertified sick days taken by employees in her Department and the average uncertified sick days per employee taken; the total certified sick days taken by employees; the average certified sick days per employee; the total sick days taken by employees; the average total sick days and median overall sick days per employee in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [7650/14]

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]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

Kevin Humphreys

373. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 90 of 5 February 2014, when the person concerned will be contacted regarding a back to education allowance by officials in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7668/14]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

374. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date in respect of a review for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7705/14]

Live Register Data

Willie O'Dea

375. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection her estimate of the number of persons on the live register who previously worked in construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7711/14]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Bernard Durkan

376. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress in respect of a review of eligibility for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who submitted further medical evidence in December 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7712/14]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

377. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date in determination of application for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7743/14]

Work Placement Programmes

Éamon Ó Cuív

378. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons employed in each local authority under the new Gateway local authority work placement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7781/14]