Parliamentary questions

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Mattie McGrath

810. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the backlog which currently exists in progressing applicants of the fair deal scheme into suitable nursing home/residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42190/14]

Irish Water Administration

Mattie McGrath

1024. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify who precisely has ownership of Irish Water in view of the fact that it is listed as a private company limited by shares; if he will list the shareholders of Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41518/14]

Widow's Pension Eligibility

Mattie McGrath

112. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will revise and reduce the total number of weekly PRSI contribution payments which must be paid to qualify for the widow-widowers and the surviving civil partner’s contributory pensions which has been increased from 156 to 520, and if not, the reasons for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39792/14]

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments

Mattie McGrath

119. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department are engaged upon to reduce the crisis in obtaining suitable accommodation caused by the reductions in supplementary welfare rent allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39793/14]

Civil Registration Legislation

Mattie McGrath

125. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the authority under which the Registrar General acted to set aside the powers vested by legislation in the Supreme Court to appoint a commissioner for oaths to take any affidavit, affirmation, statutory or other declaration, acknowledgment, examination and attestation, for the purpose of any court in this jurisdiction or for the registration of any instrument, when the Registrar General refuses to allow that commissioner for oaths to take a solemn declaration from both parties to a civil marriage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40203/14]

Education Fees

Mattie McGrath

500. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the AONTAS community education network campaign for a fee waiver for independently managed community education providers for Quality and Qualifications Ireland as she has the discretion to do under section 80 of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Education and Training Act 2012; if not the reasons for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39777/14]

Job Creation

Mattie McGrath

16. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the work being carried out by Enterprise Ireland in relation to the renewal of employment opportunities following the closure of a plant (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39095/14]

Nursing Home Services

Mattie McGrath

158. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application under the fair deal scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39555/14]

Orthodontic Service Waiting Lists

Mattie McGrath

201. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 576 of 26 March 2013 and the recommendations of the Health Service Executive report commissioned to establish the changes that are necessary to improve orthodontic treatment nationally, if he will review the reasons a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary has to wait another year before an orthodontic appointment arises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39209/14]

Third Level Facilities

Mattie McGrath

270. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the lack of third level opportunities to access third level education in Tipperary town; if her attention has been further drawn to plans to extend the LIT campus to Tipperary town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39222/14]

Leader Programmes Administration

Mattie McGrath

342. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the managerial structure of the Leader programmes and if he will indicate to whom the south Tipperary development company chief executive officer is answerable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39231/14]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Mattie McGrath

124. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application under the fair deal scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has been approved for funding under the scheme; when the funding will be provided for the applicant; the reason it takes so long between approval and allocation of grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38597/14]

Departmental Funding

Mattie McGrath

276. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Muintir na Tíre plans to make the position of national co-ordinator of community alert redundant; if this redundancy been agreed with both the Department and the programme partner, An Garda Síochána; her plans to continue funding the post of the national co-ordinator and the five regional development officers going forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37800/14]

Garda Operations

Mattie McGrath

298. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the options available to a person to claim financial compensation following damage to property caused by gardaí in the execution of a search warrant on the person's property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38142/14]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Administration

Mattie McGrath

524. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the non-principal private residence tax penalties and charges; the options open to property owners who cannot afford to meet the charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38297/14]

Water Charges Administration

Mattie McGrath

526. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to direct Irish Water to split fairly the water allowance allocation between separated parents who have joint custody of their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37658/14]

Water Charges Administration

Mattie McGrath

566. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding liability for payment of water charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38272/14]

Bus Éireann Services

Mattie McGrath

21. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress of Bus Éireann's obligations under the Disability Act 2005 which envisages that the entire scheduled service coach fleet here will have been replaced by wheelchair accessible coaches by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36749/14]

Public Transport

Mattie McGrath

30. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding that has been provided in the last three years to upgrade public rail and bus transport to accommodate wheelchair users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36750/14]

International Agreements

Mattie McGrath

92. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the propriety of signing and ratifying the 3rd Optional Protocol of the UNCRC without the approval of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37254/14]

Referendum Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

326. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 186 of 7 November 2012, if he will provide a further breakdown of the costs associated with the children's referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36923/14]

Coroners Service

Mattie McGrath

10. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details on the amount the Coroners Court in County Tipperary has received over the past three years in terms of funding for staff and facilities; the training such staff have received in order to sensitively engage with families in view of the nature of their work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35384/14]

Equality Issues

Mattie McGrath

26. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide assurances that section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2011 which allows denominational schools to protect their religious or ethical ethos will not be rescinded or abolished; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35385/14]

Water Meters

Mattie McGrath

491. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a legal situation (details supplied) in respect of local authority or county council liability for injuries sustained relating to public accidents involving Irish Water meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35304/14]

Water Charges Administration

Mattie McGrath

31. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will use his authority under the Water Services Act 2013 and issue a water charges policy direction to the Commission for Energy Regulation in relation to the matter of exemptions from water charges for those households in areas affected by the presence of hard water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34337/14]

Motorised Transport Grant Eligibility

Mattie McGrath

765. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to renew the motorised transport grant scheme which is currently suspended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34617/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Mattie McGrath

783. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will place chronic obstructive pulmonary disease commonly known as COPD on the list of long-term critical illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33017/14]

Drug Treatment Programmes Funding

Mattie McGrath

800. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to ensure that the budget for the drugs initiative will be protected from further disproportionate cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33092/14]

Voluntary Sector Funding

Mattie McGrath

1473. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the organisations, groups, advocacy services and so on that received funding from Pobal for 2013 to 2014 and the amounts received by same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33013/14]

Fisheries Protection

Mattie McGrath

1625. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will review his decision to indefinitely close the River Suir to snap net fishermen from 2014 onwards; his reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32922/14]

Garda Commissioner Retirement

Mattie McGrath

3. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach the role he or his office or Department played in communicating with former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan immediately prior to his resignation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16083/14]

Credit Availability

Mattie McGrath

208. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the loan amount the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, has advanced to Irish small and medium-sized enterprises; the amount of funding the SBCI has received from the German Development Bank, KfW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29761/14]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Mattie McGrath

552. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the Memorandum of Understanding that is due to be reached between Irish Water and local authorities as it relates to the provision of repair and maintenance of damaged water and/or sewerage pipes within the boundaries of areas previously under the responsibility of local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29832/14]

Rural Transport Programme

Mattie McGrath

797. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed by the rural transport programme who will be made redundant due to the restructuring of the programme into the 18 transport co-ordination units; the redundancy package that is being offered to those staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29721/14]

Garda Station Refurbishment

Mattie McGrath

132. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the proposed relocation of Clonmel Garda station to a new site; if the new site has been purchased; when she expects the relocation to take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28580/14]

Departmental Reports

Mattie McGrath

151. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to his obligations under Part 3 section 20(4) to (7) of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, if such a report has been written; the date on which he will publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28567/14]

Enterprise Ireland Funding

Mattie McGrath

218. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of assistance his Department or any agency in his Department has given to the operations of a company (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the current challenges facing the workforce there including an attempt to impose annualised hours and the continuation of a pay freeze over the past five years; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28305/14]

Bord Gáis Privatisation

Mattie McGrath

278. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the costs associated with the change of name of Bord Gáis Éireann to Ervia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28315/14]

Rural Development Programme Projects

Mattie McGrath

361. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposed entry criteria for upland farmers in relation to the GLAS scheme in the rural development programme; the justification for same and his response to those farmers who recently protested against the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28306/14]

Health Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

585. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the criteria and conditions under which public patients are prioritised for treatment in private facilities and if private clinics/hospitals reserve the right to treat their own patients/clients ahead of the public patients regardless of the public patients level of medical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28495/14]

Garda Investigations

Mattie McGrath

74. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the status of the investigation-independent inquiry into the murder of Fr. Niall Molloy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26691/14]

Northern Ireland Issues

Mattie McGrath

87. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the report submitted to her predecessor by the Omagh victim support group; if she will agree to meet representatives of the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26689/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Mattie McGrath

395. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made on the review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended in 2002; his views on the need to ensure retention of Part V as an essential option in providing housing to the large numbers of people waiting for social housing and in overcoming social segregation; the role he envisages not-for-profit housing bodies will play in Part V provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27261/14]

Health Insurance Prices

Mattie McGrath

175. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the increases in VHI premiums over the past two years and the justifications for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26200/14]

Irish Water Funding

Mattie McGrath

100. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline exactly the sequence of events since 3 December 2013 in relation to the funding and contract signing for Burncourt-Fethard regional supply scheme, specifically when the contract was signed between Irish Water and the designated tender company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25308/14]

Insurance Industry Regulation

Mattie McGrath

190. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the date on which he became aware that Setanta Insurance was in financial difficulty; the measures he took or intends to take to protect the interests of Irish insurance holders who have lost considerable sums of money since the collapse of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25978/14]

Schools Building Contractors

Mattie McGrath

46. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the new pyrite scandal affecting a newly built school in Balbriggan, County Dublin, that may have to be demolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24911/14]

Legislative Programme

Mattie McGrath

53. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the Construction Contracts Act has not been implemented three years after the Government promised to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24915/14]

Pyrite Issues

Mattie McGrath

106. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to 30 newly constructed houses that have already been identified to be demolished because of a new pyrite problem in the concrete blocks used in their construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24912/14]

Pyrite Issues

Mattie McGrath

107. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason his Department has not introduced new regulations on the quarries producers, the industry who caused the previous pyrite problem and now the same industry which are, in some cases, still supplying contaminated products three years later in the form of contaminated blocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24913/14]

Pyrite Issues

Mattie McGrath

108. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he and his Department are aware of a new pyrite problem regarding concrete products and if so, if the companies involved have notified his officials and have they taken any action in that regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24914/14]

Pyrite Issues

Mattie McGrath

109. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the construction industry is going to be severely effected with the latest new pyrite problem; if payments to sub contractors and cash flow is going to be an issue for the contractors involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24915/14]

Departmental Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

139. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach the amount spent by his Department each year for the past three years on bottled water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24579/14]

Departmental Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

292. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount his Department and its agencies spent on taxis in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24580/14]

Departmental Banking

Mattie McGrath

419. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of banking charges paid by his Department since 2011; the breakdown of these charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24581/14]

Driver Licences

Mattie McGrath

588. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the agreement on the mutual recognition of driver licences between Ireland and Ontario that he recently announced was nearing completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24558/14]

Job Initiatives

Mattie McGrath

6. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his Department's response to the loss of jobs in a company (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if he has established the proposed task force to deal with this matter; and if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23807/14]

General Medical Services Scheme Administration

Mattie McGrath

201. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed outline of the services that a person is entitled to when in receipt of a full medical card and general practitioner only card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23838/14]

Autism Support Services

Mattie McGrath

55. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the State's current statutory obligations regarding the provision of educational services for children and young adults clinically diagnosed with autism and Asperger's syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23439/14]

Courts Service

Mattie McGrath

102. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide information on the number of digital audio recordings requested by litigants in 2013 and the revenue derived from those transactions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23416/14]

Courts Service

Mattie McGrath

103. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide information on the number of digital audio recordings requested by judges for their own use and the costs of this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23417/14]

Courts Service

Mattie McGrath

104. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide information on the total cost of the digital audio recordings system to the State in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23418/14]

Legal Services Regulation

Mattie McGrath

105. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider making it easier and less expensive to access digital audio recordings in order to protect citizens' legal rights and simply the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23419/14]

Courts Service

Mattie McGrath

106. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason that transcription work and the typing is carried out in a Third World country in the Far East when Irish jobs could be created at lower cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23420/14]

Autism Support Services

Mattie McGrath

115. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the State's current statutory obligations in relation to the provision of psychological, psychiatric and all other relevant services for children and young adults clinically diagnosed with autism and Asperger's syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23439/14]

Autism Support Services

Mattie McGrath

116. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the resources that are available on a Health Service Executive regional basis to families who have children or members diagnosed with autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23440/14]

Autism Support Services

Mattie McGrath

117. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the courses of action open to parents and families who have children or members diagnosed with autism and who wish to seek redress for the State's failure to adhere to its minimum statutory obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23441/14]

Proposed Legislation

Mattie McGrath

118. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans in relation to accepting the provisions outlined in the Autism Bill 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23442/14]

Autism Support Services

Mattie McGrath

119. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his view regarding the resources available within the health care system to deal with clinically assessing whether or not a child or adult has a condition on the autism spectrum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23443/14]

School Staffing

Mattie McGrath

197. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of small schools countrywide that are in a similar position to a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary which lost a teacher because it was one pupil short of the required number of 86 needed for next September; the financial benefit of this to the Exchequer; if there was a freeze on the pupil-teacher ratio for the 2014-2015 year, what it would cost the Exchequer; the maximum pupil-teacher ratio for small schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22198/14]

Departmental Offices

Mattie McGrath

352. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a file relating to a decentralisation project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22187/14]

Local Authority Functions

Mattie McGrath

502. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland regarding the Local Government Reform Act 2014 and in particular to that part of the Act abolishing town and borough councils which the AMAI was statutorily obliged to represent, relied heavily on legal opinion of one person (details supplied); if he will as guardian for public expenditure and reform confirm that the above mentioned senior counsel is the one and the same councillor of the Labour Party sitting on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; if he will confirm that the AMAI a statutory body receiving public funds sought the required three quotations for this legal advice; the other persons who tendered for the advice project; the selection-elimination processes that were used to award the project to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22167/14]

Local Government Reform

Mattie McGrath

503. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the person who was President of The Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland in October 2012 when the document Putting People First was published; if he will document all of the correspondence, discussions, minutes of meetings and so on that took place between his Department, and the AMAI since October 2012 to date relating to the Local Government Bill 2013, Local Government Act 2014 and the document Putting People First with the abolition of borough and town councils, if he will confirm that conforming with its own constitution that the AMAI, also abolished, must and has or will be repatriating all of its assets to the respective abolished local authorities; if he will confirm the current assets of AMAI; if the Revenue Commissioners are satisfied with the wind up of AMAI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22168/14]

Homelessness Strategy

Mattie McGrath

513. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of children and families currently availing of emergency accommodation in south Tipperary; the types of that accommodation hostels, hotels, bed and breakfasts; the amount her Department has spent in providing emergency accommodation in south Tipperary since the Government's term of office began; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23237/14]

Water Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

519. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the works contract for the Burncourt/Fethard regional water supply scheme has been signed and if not the reason for same; when work will commence in view of the fact that it is approximately six months since the funding for the scheme was approved by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22223/14]

Building Regulations Amendments

Mattie McGrath

541. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the existing statutory position relating the self-building of their own homes by those who wish to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22567/14]

Defence Forces Ceremonies

Mattie McGrath

581. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 502 of 15 April 2014, the person who made the decision for the military ceremonial element to be removed from the church on the basis that it was no longer considered appropriate and the criteria used to determine the nature of what is or is not appropriate; and if he will expand further on what exactly is meant by the term inclusive; if there any consultation between his Department and Army personnel in arriving at this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22576/14]

Hospital Services

Mattie McGrath

809. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when and the way in which he and the Health Service Executive provide funding to clear the backlog of a waiting list for bariatric surgery in Loughlinstown weight management clinic and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22683/14]

Hospital Services

Mattie McGrath

810. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when will he honour his commitment to ensure that the waiting list for bariatric surgery is reduced to one year and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22684/14]

Local Authority Finances

Mattie McGrath

469. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the exact levels of debt on local authority accounts for unfunded capital projects including land purchases and housing loans in south and north Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21298/14]

Pensions Reform

Mattie McGrath

108. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale behind recent changes to the qualifying age for old age pensions; if she will outline further changes her Department is planning over the lifetime of the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20670/14]

Firearms Licences

Mattie McGrath

154. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the attempts by An Garda Síochána to ban a number of classes of firearms; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a judge (details supplied) recently took the unusual step of issuing a lengthy written judgment regarding firearms, the contents of which raise a great many serious questions for the Garda; his assessment of the risks identified in that written judgment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20464/14]

Roadworthiness Testing

Mattie McGrath

217. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide exemptions from roadworthiness tests to pre-1980 vintage veteran vehicles as he has provided for pre-1980 vintage cars and motor caravans; the reasons vintage veteran vehicles were excluded from exemptions despite numerous public submissions on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20463/14]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Mattie McGrath

356. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on the status of the bilateral adoption agreement between Russia and Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20003/14]

Garda Station Refurbishment

Mattie McGrath

22. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his position regarding the suitability of the current Garda station in Clonmel, County Tipperary as an adequate structure to facilitate the effective delivery of a modernised and fully resourced Garda barracks; his plans to respond to requests to re-situate the Garda station to Kickham Army barracks, Clonmel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19294/14]

Northern Ireland Issues

Mattie McGrath

28. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline any draft or preliminary conclusion he has reached regarding the report submitted to him by the Omagh victim support group especially relating to the call for a independent cross-Border public inquiry; if he will meet the representatives of the families in view of the numerous assurances that they would be engaged in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19295/14]

Ministerial Meetings

Mattie McGrath

584. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will agree to meet the families of the Omagh victim support group; if he will support the call for a full cross-Border public inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16082/14]

Hospital Beds Data

Mattie McGrath

852. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide clarification regarding hospitals charging the VHI for hospital bed use despite the fact that a significant number of patients never actually obtain the use of a bed but are subjected to the use of a hospital trolley alone for the duration of their treatment and stay at the hospital; if any methodology for billing purposes exists which takes note of the number of patients who have had to receive treatment on trolleys without admission to a ward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19290/14]

Road Traffic Legislation

Mattie McGrath

957. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the proposed changes to be introduced under the Road Traffic Bill (No. 2) 2013, specifically the changes envisioned in relation to penalty points disqualification for new learner or novice drivers and increase in penalty points for different offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19448/14]

Revenue Commissioners Powers

Mattie McGrath

164. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether it is appropriate for senior revenue officials in Waterford Revenue to attempt to block this Deputy, as a public representative, from acting as a legitimately appointed mediator between a limited company (details supplied) and the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17318/14]

Inland Waterways Development

Mattie McGrath

374. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the review of all issues relating to the ongoing management of lakes in Muckross Park, Killarney, in particular its boating activities, has been completed; the position regarding the issuing of mooring permits and licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17272/14]

Commemorative Events

Mattie McGrath

502. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the reason for the change in protocols for the 1916 commemoration in Arbour Hill; particularly the decision to discontinue the tradition of providing a guard of honour for the commemoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17335/14]

Departmental Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

18. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money paid by his Department for consultancy or any other type of accounting or auditing work to PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG in the past two and a half years; the names of the reports received and the dates on which they were commissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16085/14]

Small and Medium Enterprises Debt

Mattie McGrath

33. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on any consultation that has taken place between Professor Morgan Kelly and the Central Bank in view of Professor Kelly's recent comments on the relationship between banks and the debt in the small and medium enterprise sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16084/14]

Water Quality

Mattie McGrath

360. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his position regarding the ongoing difficulties caused by the presence of hard-water that are being experienced by residents of Clonmel North County Tipperary; if he will provide assurances that such residents who are affected will have necessary exemptions from any water tax costs which they would ordinarily incur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16873/14]

Vaccination Programme

Mattie McGrath

263. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he intends to recommend the introduction of the vaccine for Meningitis B, Bexsero, in view of the recent spike in the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15937/14]

Irish Water Appointments

Mattie McGrath

379. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he at any time perceived a serious conflict of interest arising over the practice of senior local authority executives, active or retiring, transferring to the new utility company, Irish Water, on substantial new salaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15272/14]

School Curriculum

Mattie McGrath

419. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 752 of 25 March 2014 if he will elucidate just what he means by religious schools having to provide full and accurate factual information on the matter to students and the way such a view would impact denominational schools that may hold the view that same-sex marriage does not constitute marriage at all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15231/14]

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Mattie McGrath

498. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of persons currently awaiting orthodontic treatment with the Health Service Executive in south Tipperary; the waiting times for these persons to receive treatment; if he will provide a breakdown of the funding allocated for orthodontic treatment; the number of patients per orthodontist in south Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14718/14]

Animal Breeding Regulations

Mattie McGrath

147. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the reported increase in the numbers of persons hospitalised for dog bites; the steps he is taking to ensure the public safety under the Control of Dogs Act 1998 regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14681/14]