Parliamentary questions

Property Tax Administration

John Lyons

164. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify with the Revenue Commissioners the reason residents in certain estates (details supplied) who were issued with an unfinished housing estates waiver for the household charge in 2012 are now being issued with non-payment letters from the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will instruct the Revenue Commissioners to make contact with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to clarify the waiver list. [20873/14]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

John Lyons

337. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is aware of reports that former Dublin Airport Authority workers who are deferred members of the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme residing in the UK will be given protection of their full pension entitlements; if her Department will examine this issue and clarify the reason a similar arrangement could not be introduced for the majority of deferred members in this State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20876/14]

Unfinished Housing Developments

John Lyons

449. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department will clarify that certain estates (details supplied) were issued with unfinished housing estates waivers in 2012 in respect of the household charge; and if his Department can communicate this information to the Revenue Commissioners as householders are being issued with non-payment letters from the Revenue Commissioners for this charge despite the waiver. [20874/14]

Social Insurance

John Lyons

98. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the implications for the PRSI system from the introduction of universal health insurance; if citizens will continue to pay PRSI in the same fashion when UHI is introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20635/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

John Lyons

105. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the office of Government procurement will place a greater emphasis on long-term benefits to the economy when awarding procurement contracts; and if this can include the benefit of job creation to local communities and the benefits to smaller companies from splitting contracts between several companies. [20439/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

John Lyons

106. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the office of Government procurement will give further consideration and assistance to groups of smaller Irish companies bidding for procurement contracts as a group due to the benefits to the economy and local job creation arising from such contracts. [20440/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

John Lyons

110. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the role his Department has in supporting Irish companies in bidding for public procurement contracts; if small and medium enterprises in particular are being offered support in grouping together to make joint bids for contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20443/14]

Action Plan for Jobs

John Lyons

111. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the implementation of the small business innovation research pilot programme announced in the Action Plan for Jobs 2014; and if local authorities are being encouraged to make full use of the scheme. [20444/14]

Industrial Relations

John Lyons

112. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the proposed revised legislative framework regarding registered employment agreements following publication of a draft framework document in February 2014 and subsequent consultations with stakeholders. [20455/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

John Lyons

140. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if guidelines, circulars or directives will be issued to local authorities to ensure Irish companies are always considered before any local authority procurement contracts are awarded; and if greater consideration will be given to the benefits to local communities in terms of job creation arising from such considerations. [20441/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

John Lyons

141. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities will be issued with new guidelines in awarding procurement contracts for library schemes whereby Irish companies are actively encouraged to submit bids for contracts and are given every consideration before contracts are awarded. [20442/14]

Tax Code

John Lyons

148. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to tax reliefs for management company fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20035/14]

Anti-Social Behaviour

John Lyons

11. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number, geographic distribution and use of joint policing committees in tackling anti-social behaviour; if additional resources have been provided to the Garda, particularly for community policing in tackling anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19069/14]

Crime Prevention

John Lyons

18. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in tackling cyber-crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19068/14]

Social Welfare Appeals

John Lyons

371. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19437/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

John Lyons

412. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on the reopening of the Royal Canal towpath from Jones Road to Drumcondra Road which has been closed for nine months due to flooding damage; if the timeline for works to be completed by Waterways Ireland is still prior to summer 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19489/14]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

John Lyons

864. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health the implications for the PRSI system from the introduction of universal health insurance; if citizens will continue to pay PRSI in the same fashion when UHI is introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19334/14]

Public Transport Provision

John Lyons

952. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a review of the platform length at Croke Park train station will be undertaken by Irish Rail and National Transport Authority with a view to extending it to improve public transport options to the stadium for matches and other events. [19323/14]

Public Transport Provision

John Lyons

953. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will discuss providing additional park and ride facilities close to Croke Park with Irish Rail and other parties to provide improved public transport options to the stadium for matches and other events. [19324/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

John Lyons

407. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the 5,000 social housing units being delivered each year through a variety of sources, including regeneration, direct construction, leasing and the securing of National Asset Management Agency units. [16716/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

John Lyons

154. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the further expansion of a new funding model for social housing which involves the transfer of housing stock to voluntary housing associations who can use private funding, as was seen recently in the refurbishment of housing stock in association with Fold Ireland in Ballygall, Dublin 11. [15861/14]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

John Lyons

245. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans for a one-stop-shop website for small and medium-sized enterprises to allow access to all information on supporting their business such as access to finance and other Government schemes; and when this website will be completed. [15176/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

John Lyons

574. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will consider a review of the long-term illness scheme to include a wider range of conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15240/14]

Ambulance Service Provision

John Lyons

218. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure a full independent review of emergency ambulance provision in Dublin is undertaken that has representation from fire-based EMS experience as part of the review body. [14417/14]

Schools Data

John Lyons

283. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a feasibility study has been carried out by his Department for a second-level Educate Together school on the north side of Dublin due to the increase in Educate Together primary schools in the north Dublin area and strong support from parents for such second-level provision. [12850/14]

Public Transport Provision

John Lyons

1239. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for further bus rapid transit routes in the greater Dublin area beyond the three draft routes; and if a particular route from the city centre along Ballymun Road through Ballymun to the airport along the route of metro north will be considered. [13020/14]

Litter Pollution

John Lyons

36. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number and location of local authorities that have used the litter enforcement grants to purchase CCTV equipment, enhanced lighting or undertaken other measures to deter anti-social behaviour, graffiti and illegal dumping, particularly in litter black spots; the progress reported by local authorities following on from this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11806/14]

Litter Pollution

John Lyons

42. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress in relation to the litter enforcement grants scheme; his plans to extend the duration and nature of the scheme; if there are any proposals to allow for legal graffiti walls in towns and cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11807/14]

Diaspora Centre Establishment

John Lyons

594. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the proposed national diaspora centre will have an entrepreneurship dimension, seeking to upskill the recent generation of emigrants in order to attract diaspora investment and link members of the diaspora with each other to develop entrepreneurship potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12030/14]

Universal Health Insurance White Paper

John Lyons

459. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if his Department will consider and evaluate a single payer social insurance model, along the lines of those used in France, Germany and Nordic countries before the Government’s white paper on financing Universal Health Insurance is issued [10766/14]

Dormant Accounts Fund Deposits

John Lyons

159. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current amount in the Dormant Accounts Fund; the projects which received funding from the fund last year; and his plans for the fund for this year. [10002/14]

School Curriculum

John Lyons

122. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the draft leaving certificate politics and society course; when he plans to roll it out to schools; the way it will be assessed; the way it will relate to the review of the CSPE programme at junior cycle, in view of the fact that course will no longer be compulsory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8911/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

161. Deputy John Lyons asked the Taoiseach the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department that are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10130/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

358. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the chief executive officers, CEOs, of semi-State companies who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; if it remains his policy that the CEOs of semi-State companies are employed under such contracts; and if it is within the remit of the boards of semi-State companies to offer contracts to CEOs that differ from Hay contract terms. [9599/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

370. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10129/14]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

John Lyons

417. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount returned to the Exchequer in the past five years from unclaimed social welfare payments as part of the social welfare payments contract with An Post. [9600/14]

School Meals Programme

John Lyons

422. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the current budget allocation for the school meals programme; the average funding amount provided to each school in each category of need and the average amount to each student; her plans to review the system for allocating funds to the scheme due to the growing number of students in schools currently operating the scheme and the growing number of new schools availing of the scheme. [9648/14]

Semi-State Bodies

John Lyons

431. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10125/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

444. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10126/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

509. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10128/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

571. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Defence the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10127/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

616. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10124/14]

Primary Care Centre Expenditure

John Lyons

708. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health the total funding allocated for the roll-out of primary care centres in 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9601/14]

Pension Provisions

John Lyons

754. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that employees who transferred out of a company (details supplied) are still considered part of that company’s pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9595/14]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Lyons

761. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10131/14]

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]

Postcode Implementation

John Lyons

459. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the introduction of postcodes here; the cost of the introduction of this scheme to the State; and if a decision has been reached on the postcodes for the Dublin area as of yet. [7667/14]

EU Programmes

John Lyons

617. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department is engaged in to prevent food poverty; if his Department will continue to work with measures in this regard following the establishment of a new EU fund administered by the Department of Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7664/14]

Departmental Strategies

John Lyons

160. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if a new communications strategy to increase awareness of State supports for small and medium enterprises has been completed; the costs to the Exchequer of implementing a communications strategy; and if funding has been increased to promote Microfinance Ireland in particular. [4852/14]