Parliamentary questions

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

102. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category; if the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24612/13]

Schools Building Projects Administration

Joe Higgins

103. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress his Department has made in eliminating the problem of work arising from his Department's school building project falling into the hands of the black economy as detailed in correspondence to him from a person (details supplied) [24675/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Joe Higgins

104. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respond positively to the calls of parents of children with Down syndrome to amend the Special Education Circular 02/05 to include Down syndrome as a low incidence disability and allocate maximum resource hours for children with Down syndrome. [24677/13]

Education and Training Provision

Tom Fleming

105. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a petition (details supplied) and the rational submission contained in this petition especially in view of the fact that literacy and numeracy are in the Programme for Government and the request that this be given priority on the FET (Solas) Bill 2013 is very logical and practical; if he will revise the draft to ensure that these vital issues are included in the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24686/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Róisín Shortall

106. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 283 of 14 May 2013, if he will identify the location and role of the 55 persons who are earning in excess of €200,000; and the reason in each case the public sector pay cap has not been applied to them. [24726/13]

State Examinations

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

107. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a student (details supplied) in County Kildare, undertaking their leaving certificate, who had, due to their learning difficulties, a full time special needs assistant at primary level and throughout secondary school, has been denied a reader and an exemption from grammar and spelling at the impending leaving certificate examination, when such a derogation has been provided to the student up to and including their mock leaving certificate; the reason that the student has only recently been told that they must now attempt the leaving certificate without any of these facilities, which they had come to rely upon; if he will review the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24743/13]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Seán Kyne

108. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the additional workload of the teachers and staff of Gaeltacht schools and Gaelscoileanna, particularly in view of the role such schools play in protecting and promoting our national language is taken into account in the determination of pupil-teacher ratios. [24750/13]

School Accommodation

Seán Kyne

109. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline his Department's procedures for collecting and maintaining data on capacity in the primary school network such as the number of classrooms in use and spare and if he is concerned at the under-utilisation of classrooms in city-based schools exemplified by the case of one school in Galway city in which six of the twelve classrooms are currently not being used. [24751/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Finian McGrath

110. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on a school (details supplied) in Dublin 13 and plans for their new school. [24760/13]

Lease Agreements

Finian McGrath

111. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on a lease agreement (details supplied) [24761/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Catherine Murphy

112. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the numbers of capital work contracts for school buildings and school extensions that have gone to successful tender for 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the companies that were awarded the contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24771/13]

Student Support Schemes

Catherine Murphy

113. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if triage procedures exist in relation to Student Universal Support Ireland grant applications; if he has encountered cases similar to a case where eligibility for a course was erroneously confirmed in writing to the applicant; if so, the steps he has taken to ensure the process eliminates the possibility of such errors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24791/13]

Schools Building Projects Administration

Joe Higgins

114. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made in eliminating the problem of work arising from his Department's school building project falling into the hands of the black economy as detailed in a letter to him from a person (details supplied) [24793/13]

Property Tax Assessments

Kevin Humphreys

115. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list in tabular form of all residential properties and address, operated or owned by the Office of Public Works which were liable for the local property tax; the valuation decided on for each property; and the amount of local property tax liable for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24523/13]

Property Tax Assessments

Kevin Humphreys

116. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the valuation the Office of Public Works decided on for Áras an Uachtaráin and any other associated residential properties for the purposes of the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24524/13]

Property Tax Assessments

Kevin Humphreys

117. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the valuation the Office of Public Works decided on for Farmleigh and other residential properties in the estate for the purposes of the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24525/13]

Property Tax Assessments

Kevin Humphreys

118. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the valuation the Office of Public Works decided on for Ardilaun Lodge, St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, for the purposes of the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24526/13]

Banking Inquiry

Michael Healy-Rae

119. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline the type of banking inquiry that will be proposed; if it will done in an Oireachtas-style committee setup and, therefore, not be a vastly expensive inquiry putting an additional burden on the already hard-pressed taxpayers of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24674/13]

Freedom of Information Requests

Andrew Doyle

120. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he is taking to ensure that Freedom of Information requests are answered within the statutory period and to ensure that statistics are provided in a timely matter to the Information Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24734/13]

Croke Park Agreement Review

Charlie McConalogue

121. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is any group representing retired public servants at the ongoing Croke Park 2 negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24503/13]

Public Sector Staff

Patrick O'Donovan

122. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons dismissed or removed from the public service due to failure to perform duties or negligence in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24548/13]

Public Sector Pensions Expenditure

Patrick O'Donovan

123. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views of retired Taoisigh and Government Ministers in receipt of State pensions with second incomes from public sources; if he has plans to reduce these pensions and pensions to other former politicians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24553/13]

Public Sector Pensions Expenditure

Michael McGrath

124. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the planned cuts to public service pensions in excess of €32,500 per annum; if there will be a pro rata reduction of the pensions paid to surviving spouses; if the pension reductions will be also refunded in a number of years time under the proposed new pay agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24559/13]

Public Sector Staff Career Breaks

Joanna Tuffy

125. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are any proposals to introduce incentivised career breaks to the wider civil service, including education, similar to the scheme being offered to employees and those in organisations/bodies funded by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24574/13]

National Procurement Service Framework Agreements

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

126. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has considered the impact of the introduction of tendering of school supplies on small and medium enterprises in Ireland vis-à-vis UK suppliers, which do not pay VAT here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24579/13]

Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses

Mary Lou McDonald

127. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of all public procurement contracts which contain local employment or social clauses. [24605/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

128. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category; if the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24619/13]

Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale

Michael Healy-Rae

129. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will abandon the attempt to raise, a relatively small amount of money in relation to the total that could be accrued from selling of the States forestries and its crop of timber; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24744/13]

National Monuments

John Halligan

130. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a full list of national monuments in State care that are closed due to renovations or lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19428/13]

Public Procurement Regulations

Catherine Murphy

131. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which the Public Procurement (Frameworks Agreements) circular 06/12 will be used by his Department; if he has considered the way in which any investment made under the procurement process might deliver work for companies based here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24769/13]

Job Creation

Michael McGrath

132. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons to date that have received payments under the Connect Ireland initiative; the total amount that has been paid out; the largest payment to a person; the estimated number of jobs that have been created under the initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24740/13]

Action Plan for Jobs

Thomas P. Broughan

133. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs that have been created by the Action Plan for Jobs since the introduction of that policy; and the effect, if any, the policy has had on creating employment in the domestic economy. [24565/13]

Research and Development Funding

Finian McGrath

134. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will support the I-LOFAR Project that promotes science, education, rural development and tourism, and innovation and university links (details supplied). [24572/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

135. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category, and whether the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24617/13]

Economic Competitiveness

Bernard Durkan

136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which his Department continues to monitor the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector here with particular reference to the need to effectively compete with other economies throughout Europe and globally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24772/13]

Economic Competitiveness

Bernard Durkan

137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which his Department has identified issues affecting the competitiveness of the manufacturing and service sectors here; the extent to which any imbalances can be addressed by way of utilisation of innovation, science and technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24774/13]

Job Creation Data

Bernard Durkan

138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which the indigenous sector has featured in job creation in each of the past four years to date; the number of jobs created through small and medium enterprises and foreign direct investment respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24776/13]

Job Creation

Bernard Durkan

139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which he and his Department have identified any major issues of concern to those creating employment indigenously or by way of foreign direct investment; the extent to which it has been found possible to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24777/13]

Job Creation

Bernard Durkan

140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which innovation, science and modern technology have featured in the context of new jobs created in the economy in each of the past three years to date; the extent to which further opportunities exist in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24778/13]

Job Creation

Bernard Durkan

141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he and his Department have been in a position to address any concerns expressed by the business sector with particular reference to the retention of existing jobs and the creation of new employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24779/13]

Economic Competitiveness

Bernard Durkan

142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which the manufacturing and service sectors here have managed to access EU grant aid incorporating science and innovation technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24780/13]

Economic Competitiveness

Bernard Durkan

143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he has received communication from the manufacturing and service sectors in regard to renting costs with particular reference to the impact of upward only rent reviews; the extent to which this issue has been identified as a serious impediment to job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24783/13]

Job Creation Data

Bernard Durkan

144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if known, the extent to which unemployed with various skills and educational levels, have succeeded in accessing employment in each of the past four years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24784/13]

Economic Competitiveness

Bernard Durkan

145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he is satisfied of the ability of industry here to continue to compete with the competition in domestic and export markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24785/13]

Youth Unemployment Measures

Bernard Durkan

146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects to be in a position to address the issue of youth unemployment in this jurisdiction and throughout Europe in the short and medium term; the degree to which she expects any specific targets to be met in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24781/13]

Job Creation Data

Bernard Durkan

147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons previously on the live register who obtained and have retained employment in each of the past three years to date, in the private and public sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24782/13]

Social Insurance

James Bannon

148. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for persons who may not have sufficient PRSI contributions due to breaks in employment, for home-makers who worked in the home, for those who took a break from employment to care for family members and now find themselves without sufficient PRSI contributions to obtain the State pension transition, due to be abolished in January 2014 for new applicants reaching 65 on or after January 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24534/13]

Fodder Crisis

Patrick O'Donovan

150. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she or officials in her Department have engaged with representatives of the farming organisations and officials of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to assess the impact of the recent fodder crisis on those in receipt of farm assist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24556/13]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Tom Fleming

152. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24578/13]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Nicky McFadden

153. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24585/13]