Parliamentary questions

Afforestation Programme

Willie Penrose

162. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for afforestation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; if same will now be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39038/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Willie Penrose

238. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has only been approved for €255 of the non-adjacent maintenance grant, despite the fact that the joint income of their parents less universal social charge is €42,800 and if same can be reviewed [36573/13]

School Staffing

Willie Penrose

239. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath, if he will set out the number of students attending and the number of resource teachers and special needs assistances at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36579/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Willie Penrose

240. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath, who in 2011 completed a Level 8 Degree in Business Studies and in September 2012 commenced a FETAC Level 5 Pre-Nursing Course that finished in May 2013 and as a result has now applied for a Level 8 Mature applicant General Nursing in Athlone Institute of Technology, would be entitled to a higher education grant in the circumstances, plus they have worked part-time and hope the registration and tuition fees will be paid for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36580/13]

Bus Éireann Services

Willie Penrose

1217. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review and revise the recently announced changes to route 115, which includes the bus transport service from Mullingar to Dublin (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35506/13]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Willie Penrose

134. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath against the refusal of an invalidity pension claim will be determined and if same will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34098/13]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Willie Penrose

304. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33070/13]

Pension Provisions

Willie Penrose

326. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the entitlements available to a person who will be 66 years of age in January 2015 and who would normally qualify for an old age pension; if she will state what payment system will now be implemented to fill this gap year arising from the new system of pension payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33397/13]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Willie Penrose

327. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider removing the habitual residence condition as a requirement for eligibility for carer's allowance for persons returning here to provide full-time care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33398/13]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Willie Penrose

393. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate whether his Department has studied comprehensively the recent decision of An Bord Pleanála in the Straboy Wind Energy Limited application; the decision made therein; and in particular the comments which indicated that the wind energy guidelines are totally inadequate in respect of the issuance of guidance concerning noise generated by such turbines and they fail to comply with European law in relation to NEIA to assess the issue in the context of the impact on human beings and their failure to carry out the appropriate assessment in relation to the impact on lives and public health and the clear and fundamental failure to analyse sensitivity, actual health effects and the potential effects of infrasound and any necessity for greater constraint relevant to vulnerable receptors; if he will indicate the steps his Department is taking to address these serious shortcomings as outlined in the said decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33342/13]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Willie Penrose

394. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate the person who has been appointed to undertake the review of the wind energy guidelines 2006, which pertain to the erection of industrial wind turbines, and who would task the job of reviewing the submissions made in respect thereof in February 2013; if he will indicate when a draft review of the said guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33343/13]

Single Payment Scheme Appeals

Willie Penrose

455. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath against the non-payment of single farm payment which is due to them will take place; if same will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33345/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Willie Penrose

536. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health his plans to publish the results of the consultation process which ended on the 16 January 2013 and which sought the views of the public and stakeholders into proposals from the European Commission on a new Tobacco Directive; if he will confirm the reason these results have not been published to date, as the overwhelming majority of submissions received were opposed to a number of specific measures proposed therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33339/13]

Anti-Social Behaviour

Willie Penrose

189. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate if there are any proposals to strengthen anti-social behaviour provisions whereby persons renting are causing disturbance, annoyance and nuisance to their neighbours in both private and local authority estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32854/13]

Irish Water Establishment

Willie Penrose

167. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in the context of the establishment of Irish Water, liabilities incurred by local authorities in the provision of public water supplied to communities will be transferred to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32428/13]

Money Laundering

Willie Penrose

210. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if in the context of the changes proposed in respect of anti-money laundering requirements for the purchase of prize bonds, if he will explore the achievement of a better balance in respect of the proposals, between the need for appropriate AML requirements, and convenience for ordinary customers who wish to purchase prize bonds as gifts and that AML identification requirements would only apply to the purchase of prize bonds over €100 in value, rather than the proposed limited of €25; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31754/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Delays

Willie Penrose

163. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in relation to the disallowance of a claim for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31413/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Delays

Willie Penrose

164. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in relation to the disallowance of a claim for domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31414/13]

Local Authority Housing Issues

Willie Penrose

194. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of funding that has been provided to local authorities to carry out upgrading of the local authority housing stock to include OPD's and other houses in the possesion of the local authority and in particular if he will indicate under the job stimulus programme the amount that has been allocated to each local authority, to enable them to carry out such improvement and upgrading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31411/13]

Closed Circuit Television Systems

Willie Penrose

221. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is any grant aid available to residents' associations or other local community groups to assist them in the procurement of mobile CCTV units, which would be suitable to aid in the detection of crime, petty or otherwise; if same could be considered as an important tool to assist the Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31412/13]

National Educational Psychological Service Administration

Willie Penrose

291. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to expedite an application for a psychological assessment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30633/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Willie Penrose

299. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to have a young person (details supplied) in County Westmeath assessed immediately by a clinical psychologist in view of the fact that the person is now in an early intervention unit for autism and it has been indicated that the person requires urgent diagnosis and continuous therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30743/13]

Personal Insolvency Practitioners

Willie Penrose

81. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to remove the application of VAT to the rates charged by insolvency practitioners who are employed to deal with serious debt situations by persons whose finances warrant their appointment in view of the fact that the charging of VAT to this necessary work is unwarranted in the context of a Government approved debt resolution regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28623/13]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Willie Penrose

101. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he is giving consideration to amending the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 which would permit patients to claim reimbursement for physiotherapy expenses incurred by such patients when they self refer; if same will be brought forward in the October Budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29299/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Willie Penrose

151. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give a comprehensive assurance that a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath which caters for students with a profound intellectual disability will continue to do so; if consideration is being given to providing additional accommodation for these students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29298/13]

Judicial Council Legislation

Willie Penrose

357. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Judicial Council will be placed on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28935/13]

Sentencing Policy

Willie Penrose

384. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action he intends to take in response to the recent report from the Law Reform Commission on mandatory sentencing and other issues; if he is considering the recommendations made therein and especially the requirement to place the Parole Board on an independent statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29003/13]

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Willie Penrose

194. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the level and nature of assistance available from his Department for a young farmer less than 30 years old who has commenced drystock heifer and sheep farming and who rents approximately 40 acres of land and has attained the necessary educational qualifications by way of attending the relevant courses and being awarded the appropriate certificates; if such a person can now apply to the National Reserve to secure vital entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28351/13]

Child Care Services Regulation

Willie Penrose

201. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the changes she is proposing for the regulation of child care provided here including the reform of the inspection system, the linkage of grants and subsidies to the quality of childcare provided, the implementation of a sanction regime and the provision of significant investment in the National Early Years Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28350/13]

Schools Amalgamation

Willie Penrose

243. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills his position regarding an application by two primary schools (details supplied) in County Westmeath to amalgamate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26787/13]

Schools Designation

Willie Penrose

330. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to expedite a decision in relation to an application for change of status in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath which would permit this school to become a co-ed vertical school from September 2013; if in view of the correspondence to date, this application can be finalised together with a decision on the applications for accommodation for the ASD preschool class and girl's toilet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28032/13]

European Investment Bank Loans

Willie Penrose

834. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has consulted with the European Investment Bank with a view to securing the availability of low interest rate funding from this institution which would assist farmers in re-organising their farm debts in order to deal with significantly increased overdrafts and merchant debt arising from the feed crisis; if appropriate submissions have been made to enable such a loan scheme to be utilised for working capital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28031/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Willie Penrose

997. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to have a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath admitted to Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27539/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Willie Penrose

998. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to have a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath admitted to Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27540/13]

Medical Card Applications

Willie Penrose

999. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath was refused a medical card; if he will set out in detail the exact income which has been assessed in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27541/13]

Youth Work Projects Funding

Willie Penrose

260. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that the organisations that are involved in youth work, for which funding is vital, and for which funding has already been cut by 30%, should not be subject to further and additional expenditure adjustments in light of a reduction of 10% forecast for 2014; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that if Big Brother, Big Sister programme, which is an extremely important youth mentoring programme, incurs further funding losses, it will eventually close, despite being an extremely cost-effective programme which is volunteer led; if she will ensure that no further cuts are implemented in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26584/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Willie Penrose

297. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to have a person (details supplied) in County Longford admitted to Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26582/13]

Tax Code

Willie Penrose

162. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure in the October budget to retain the VAT rate on restaurants and other key areas in the tourism industry at nine percent, which since he introduced it in 2011 has seen more that 6,000 new employment contracts issued and significantly more promised which is important in the context of economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25304/13]

Property Tax Exemptions

Willie Penrose

211. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the exemptions available to a person who has purchased a house for their child who has a severe disability, including autism and schizophrenia and other medical issues, in terms of the local property tax; if such a person will be entitled to the exemption in respect of this dwelling house which was purchased specifically to facilitate and accommodate their child because of their medical issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25930/13]

Irish Land Commission

Willie Penrose

589. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide maps of an area of bog (details supplied) in County Westmeath which was under the auspices of the Irish land Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25932/13]

Mobility Allowance Decision

Willie Penrose

694. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health when the review group report into the mobility allowance and motorised grant schemes will be finalised; the steps being taken to put in place an appropriate scheme to implement the principles of the said schemes which are essential for advanced participation by persons with disabilities in society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25929/13]

Property Tax Exemptions

Willie Penrose

168. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he will indicate that in the context of where a person has a business, and is paying rates and also has living accommodation over the said business premises, if he will confirm that such persons are exempt from having to pay the residential property tax charge, where in the context commercial rates are already being paid in terms of the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23867/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Willie Penrose

364. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will indicate the status of an application for a replacement primary school (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [24495/13]

Hospital Services

Willie Penrose

641. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the potential regarding plans for the development of the new rehabilitation unit in the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23993/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Willie Penrose

161. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23081/13]

Pensions Reform

Willie Penrose

375. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will take steps to review the rules applicable to pension payments, whereby in a pension fund wind-up situation, existing pensioners retain their full entitlements, but workers who had not yet retired lose virtually all of their entitlements; if she will ensure that such workers are properly catered for in wind-up situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23048/13]

European Court of Justice Rulings

Willie Penrose

376. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in view of the recent ECJ judgment in regard to the Waterford Crystal workers' pension entitlements, she will take steps to put in place an appropriate scheme to protect workers' pension rights when an employer becomes insolvent and the relevant pension fund to which contributions had been made is in deficit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23049/13]

Ministerial Correspondence

Willie Penrose

394. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will confirm having received a letter from an organisation (details supplied); if the leasing agreement required therein will be expedited and finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23046/13]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Willie Penrose

343. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will take steps to expedite an application for agri-environment options scheme payment due to a farmer (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21436/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Willie Penrose

98. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the eligibility to a higher education grant, when a person has applied for and been awarded a grant to pursue a degree course but was unable to complete first year and in October 2013 wishes to change to an alternative course; if they will be considered eligible for a grant in October 2013; if he will outline the eligibility criteria regrading same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21051/13]