Parliamentary questions

Forestry Sector

Patrick O'Donovan

855. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has consulted with his UK equivalent on the spread of Chalara Fraxinea amongst trees in the UK; if he has measures in place to protect the Irish Forestry industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47419/12]

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Patrick O'Donovan

922. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his view on the need to extend the period of time for the cutting of rushes, to enable farmers to comply with rushes control criteria for their single farm payment, following their inability to access their land due to water logging and the inclement weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48319/12]

Home Care Packages

Patrick O'Donovan

1147. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the names of the commercial companies that provide home care packages to those persons approved by the Health Service Executive; the total cost of home care packages in 2011; the amount paid to each company; the number of hours provided by each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48367/12]

Home Care Packages

Patrick O'Donovan

1148. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the safeguards in place to ensure that those persons in receipt of home care packages from private providers are actually receiving the service that the State is paying for; the way the State guarantees that these persons providing the home care are properly qualified; in view of the fact that the State is the funding agency, is there a State complaints mechanism in place where people in receipt of home care can make complaints; the mechanism in place to terminate a contract between the State and a home care provider; what constitutes a breach leading to a discontinuation of the arrangement between the State and home care provider; if the State has ever terminated an arrangement for the provision of home care with an individual provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48370/12]

Road Improvement Schemes

Patrick O'Donovan

1223. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the need for his Department to reinstate, partially or wholly, the local improvement scheme in order to remediate the damage caused to roads due to the inclement weather of this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48214/12]

DNA Database

Patrick O'Donovan

38. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the proposed establishment of a DNA database; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46311/12]

Medical Card Drugs

Patrick O'Donovan

257. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the medical card cover for protein drinks in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46816/12]

Corporation Tax

Patrick O'Donovan

140. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance the number of companies registered to pay corporation tax here with one employee or less; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45788/12]

Nitrates Usage

Patrick O'Donovan

408. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to extend the deadline for the spreading of slurry and fertilisers past the 31 of October, in view of the seriously wet weather that the country has experienced since he announced the extension of the deadline in September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46649/12]

Household Charge Collection

Patrick O'Donovan

423. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to allow those on a low income to pay the household charge in smaller instalments by convenient methods, like by budget card/bill pay; if his attention has been drawn to the numbers willing to pay the charge by this method as they are unable to come up with the lump sum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45852/12]

Upward Only Rent Reviews

Patrick O'Donovan

464. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider the holding of a referendum to amend the Constitution to address any impediments that might exist in relation to upward only rent reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45711/12]

Medicinal Products Supply

Patrick O'Donovan

465. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider the introduction of measures where banks, financial institutions, and or credit card providers will provide details of transactions leading to the purchase of prescription drugs from online or internet sources, to an Garda Síochána in an effort to reduce the uncontrolled sale of these products and to detect those persons engaged in the purchase and distribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45742/12]

Structured Court Settlements

Patrick O'Donovan

466. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to bring forward any proposals that will lead to changes in the implementation of the scheme that will take into consideration the individual circumstances, and life expectancy of the person involved in view of (details supplied0; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45754/12]

Visa Applications

Patrick O'Donovan

500. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a decision will be made on a visa application for a person (details supplied). [46058/12]

State Airports

Patrick O'Donovan

41. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the separation of Shannon Airport form the Dublin Airport Authority; the progress that has been made at Shannon to attract new routes to the airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44954/12]

Road Network

Patrick O'Donovan

67. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details on the need for a bypass of Adare, County Limerick; the progress that has been made on this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44960/12]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Patrick O'Donovan

99. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance if there are any tax reliefs available for a person paying the nursing home fee contribution for their spouse who is in a nursing home under the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45472/12]

Industrial Development

Patrick O'Donovan

157. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he will introduce legislation on the changes in responsibility for Shannon Development and the way it is expected that the change will affect the promotion and use of lands in County Limerick that are currently in the ownership of Shannon Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45519/12]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Patrick O'Donovan

196. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding Garda vetting applications in respect of an association (details supplied) in County Limerick. [45441/12]

Tax Rebates

Patrick O'Donovan

100. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 189 of 9 October 2012, if he will confirm the amount of and reason for the refund payment made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford on 15 February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45364/12]

Tax Rebates

Patrick O'Donovan

101. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the amount of and reason for refund payment made to a person (details supplied) in Country Wexford on 14 February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45365/12]

School Curriculum

Patrick O'Donovan

230. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider a change to the current leaving certificate that would allow fifth year students studying higher level maths to take the ordinary level maths paper at the end of fifth year and to have that factored into their leaving certificate results in the event that they fail the higher level paper, in an effort to reduce the number of students that revert to ordinary level in the immediate run up to their exam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44079/12]

School Transport Provision

Patrick O'Donovan

237. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the assistance available to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford since the changes to school transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44207/12]

Fuel Allowance Applications

Patrick O'Donovan

302. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford was refused fuel allowance when the additional income is well under the weekly threshold; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44112/12]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Patrick O'Donovan

319. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal and when it is likely that a decision may be made on same. [44488/12]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Patrick O'Donovan

662. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for cataract operations for persons in County Limerick; if he will request the Health Service Executive to prioritise older persons on the scale of their visual impairment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44584/12]

Health Services Staff Issues

Patrick O'Donovan

665. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if there will be recruitment by the Health Service Executive of social workers in the HSE South/HSE West or any other HSE areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44593/12]

Housing Grant Payments

Patrick O'Donovan

134. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the progress being made by each of the relevant local authorities on their allocations for housing aid for older people and mobility aid grants; if local authorities have allocated their entire allocation for 2012; if the budget for 2011 is exhausted; if he has plans to recoup unspent allocations from those local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43874/12]

Redundancy Payments

Patrick O'Donovan

138. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 814 of 18 September 2012, the position regarding a redundancy claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; when payment will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43623/12]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Patrick O'Donovan

211. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the position regarding an agri environment option scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [43803/12]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Patrick O'Donovan

162. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding a request for a refund under a Med 1 claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43035/12]

Tax Rebates

Patrick O'Donovan

189. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding a request for a refund under Med1 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43431/12]

Leader's Allowance Issues

Patrick O'Donovan

288. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to bring forward an audit regime for the expenditure of the leader's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42908/12]

Employment Appeals Tribunal

Patrick O'Donovan

304. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42674/12]

Employment Support Services

Patrick O'Donovan

313. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that schools are receiving requests from third parties asking them not to comply with the jobbridge programme; the action she has taken to address this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42806/12]

Proposed Legislation

Patrick O'Donovan

561. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if, having considered the issue of the illegal purchase of prescription drugs on the internet, he will consider introducing regulations to obtain information from the banking sector on the use of credit or debit cards through internet sites on the same, purchase and supply of prescription drugs with a view to securing prosecutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43273/12]

Proposed Legislation

Patrick O'Donovan

676. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to the purchase of prescription drugs on internet websites, he will consider introducing regulation to detect through the banking and credit care sector details of those purchasing and selling prescription drugs through mail order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43274/12]

Proposed Legislation

Patrick O'Donovan

52. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to bring forward legislation or regulations to control debt management agencies and advisors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41255/12]

Unemployment Data

Patrick O'Donovan

130. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current unemployment figures for an area (details supplied) in County Limerick; the number of persons that are long-term unemployed and over 25; the break down between male and female.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42390/12]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Patrick O'Donovan

176. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will provide confirmation of the total area aid paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in 2010; the amount paid to the herd owner and the amount paid to any other parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42147/12]

School Transport Eligibility

Patrick O'Donovan

182. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if further to correspondence from this Deputy (details supplied) if he will provide a definition of traversable; his views on whether the word traversable should only be applied to those roads that can be travelled by buses; his views on whether using routes that cannot be travelled by buses is appropriate for the purposes of calculating distances to the nearest school; his further views on whether selecting routes on that basis meets the intent of his Department's requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41854/12]

Public Sector Reform Review

Patrick O'Donovan

219. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 164 of 25 September 2012, if he will provide details of the days referred to in his reply that were referred to as historical based local leave arrangements such as for example festival and race days; if he will provide details of the days which were agreed to by his Department and the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41576/12]

Inland Fisheries Issues

Patrick O'Donovan

343. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will arrange to have a detailed reply compiled.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41354/12]

Telecommunications Services Provision

Patrick O'Donovan

353. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the cost of installing a Metropolitan Area Network cable for broadband services in Newcastle West, County Limerick; the operating structure of the MAN; the numbers of businesses and others whose broadband service is provided in Newcastle West through the MAN.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41876/12]

Legal Aid Application Numbers

Patrick O'Donovan

412. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 164 of 20 September 2012 if he will provide a breakdown of practitioner's earnings (details supplied). [41336/12]

Commemorative Events

Patrick O'Donovan

446. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Defence his policy and that of the Defence Forces for the attendance of the Sliabh na mBan at community events and a list of events that the Sliabh na mBan has been in attendance at since its refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41872/12]

Ports Development

Patrick O'Donovan

595. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if State owned port authorities receive grant assistance from Fáilte Ireland or any other public source, for the purpose of marketing their port as a destination for cruise liners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41334/12]

National Procurement Service Savings

Patrick O'Donovan

77. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details in tabular form by sector of the savings that have been made by the National Procurement Service since it was established; the way in which he envisages further savings being made this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40757/12]

EU Funding

Patrick O'Donovan

69. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he has made an application to the European Institute for emergency funding to assist farmers in the aftermath of severe and harsh weather conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40047/12]

Public Sector Reform Review

Patrick O'Donovan

164. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if privilege days still exist in the civil service; if so, if these privilege days date back prior to independence such as a day off to celebrate the Sovereign's birthday and Empire Day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40130/12]