Parliamentary questions

Fuel Rebate Scheme

Willie Penrose

82. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if, in respect of budget 2013 whereby an excise rebate was announced on diesel for haulage companies to come into effect on 1 July 2013, he will indicate that same applies to passenger transport companies and particularly those involved in the coach and bus operation businesses; if in this context that the rebate definition would have to include the carriage of passengers by a motor vehicle of category M2 of category M3 as defined in Council Directive 70/156/EEC; if he will consider ensuring that the said rebate is extended to bus and coach companies in the forthcoming Finance Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57605/12]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Willie Penrose

116. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the eligibility criteria and the circumstances in which a person who has made an application for a higher education grant may secure the top-up grant; if in this context, where the person's parent is in receipt of one-parent family payment and also works earning approximately €10,620 per annum and is in receipt of maintenance of cost to €10,000, if such a person may obtain the top-up grant; if maintenance is classified as income for the purpose of assessment of the top-up grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57603/12]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Willie Penrose

120. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the tardiness of payments by the new structure, Student Universal Support Ireland, in respect of determining a person's eligibility for higher education grants, if persons could be paid at least half of the sum due under the said grant, as these grants will not be paid until December/January in respect of moneys, to which they are entitled in November; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57686/12]

National Internship Scheme Numbers

Willie Penrose

155. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath was classified as an adult dependant, but who in fact could have afforded a social welfare payment in their own right is not allowed to participate under the jobbridge initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57604/12]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Willie Penrose

161. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for a social welfare appeal hearing of the refusal of an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57687/12]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Willie Penrose

162. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for a social welfare appeal hearing of the refusal of an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57688/12]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Willie Penrose

163. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for a social welfare appeal of a refusal of an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath [57689/12]

Garda Stations Closures

Willie Penrose

221. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the proposals to close rural Garda stations is implemented, the procedures that will be used to ensure that the Garda stations and the lands surrounding them are made available to community and voluntary groups; if the various development associations may make an application to take control of the said stations for local and community projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57602/12]

Spent Convictions Legislation

Willie Penrose

486. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the spent conviction Bill-Act in the context of dealing with records for minor criminal offences committed a number of years previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56745/12]

Social Workers Register

Willie Penrose

191. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to reduce the proposed annual registration for social workers from €295 to a more realistic level, which would be commensurate with registration fees which are levied and payable by professionals with similar qualifications; if same will be reviewed in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56182/12]

Bullying in Schools

Willie Penrose

207. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the action plan on bullying will be published and if he will indicate his intention to pursue the recommendations therein to confront this serious issue; if he will make a statement on the matter. [55659/12]

School Staffing

Willie Penrose

208. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional teachers that will be recruited in both the primary and secondary school sectors in 2013; where these teachers will be allocated across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55660/12]

Broadband Services Provision

Willie Penrose

209. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills when second level schools in counties Longford and Westmeath will receive high speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55661/12]

Renewable Energy Generation Issues

Willie Penrose

286. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he will take to permit a full and comprehensive environmental assessment for the renewable action plan, which will allow for full public participation and which would examine all aspects of the said plan with a mechanism to facilitate appeal disputes to be heard by the courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55611/12]

Local Authority Housing Rents

Willie Penrose

315. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the transfer of long term rent supplements recipients and the payments associated therewith to local authorities and if the process of allowing rents to be deducted at source and paid over to local authorities has been examined and progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55658/12]

Homelessness Strategy

Willie Penrose

316. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when his policy statement on homelessness will be published and if it will focus upon a housing led approach to deal with this important issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55663/12]

Mobility Allowance Appeals

Willie Penrose

534. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appeal for mobility allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55662/12]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Funding

Willie Penrose

409. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he will take to enable local authorities to utilise the mortgage to rent scheme whereby persons in significant areas with their SDA loans with the local authority can voluntarily surrender possession of their home to the local authority who lent them the money and be permitted to continue to reside in the family home as a social housing tenant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54545/12]

Court Orders

Willie Penrose

464. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he is taking to introduce legislation to enable periodic payments be made in respect of personal injuries awards in catastrophic injuries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54346/12]

School Transport Provision

Willie Penrose

113. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that a shortfall due to a family (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53659/12]

Road Projects Contracts

Willie Penrose

269. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received an application for funding from Westmeath County Council in respect of a project (details supplied); if same will be approved without delay because of its importance in terms of safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53662/12]

Jobseeker's Allowance Applications

Willie Penrose

128. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53141/12]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Willie Penrose

114. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for domiciliary care allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; if same will now be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51963/12]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Willie Penrose

120. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a review of a decision in relation to an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52050/12]

School Meals Programme

Willie Penrose

140. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will set out the criteria used in the determination of pupils' entitlement in the context of the school meals programme operated by community colleges in the vocational education committee sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50762/12]

Public Sector Staff Issues

Willie Penrose

95. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will furnish a schedule of employment progress by calendar year since the Croke Park Agreement commenced for Government Departments and their agencies in tabular form; if he will make a statement in cases where the percentage figures in the agencies seem to exceed those for their parent Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49003/12]

Defence Forces Reserve Review

Willie Penrose

162. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Defence if he will confirm that he received a value for money report from the Reserve Defence Forces; when same will be published in view of the fact that it appears that loyal members of the Reserve Defence Forces have been left in limbo and are unaware of the proposals regarding same; if he will arrange a meeting between the representative body of the Reserve Defence Forces and his officials to discuss same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49002/12]

Property Taxation Application

Willie Penrose

230. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if in the context where people have a number of apartments where they are compelled to pay the home tax levy on each apartment and the household charge on each apartment, if he will consider allowing these as illegitimate deductible expenses as charges on the business, particularly when the holding of such properties are pure business with no other source of income available to the person who owns them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47954/12]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Willie Penrose

587. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the position, whereby a person who is in receipt of widow's contributory pension, can participate on a community employment scheme; if such participation will affect their entitlement to the widow's contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48563/12]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Willie Penrose

592. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48635/12]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Willie Penrose

871. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite an application for single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath which is being held up due to the digitalisation process notwithstanding that this persons lands and maps were digitalised in 2011 which led to this payment being made in 2011; the reason more moneys are now being expnded in a redigitalisation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47733/12]

Hospital Staff

Willie Penrose

1141. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health when a podiatrist will be appointed to Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath, as was recommended by the Health Service Executive in 2011; if same will now proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48343/12]

Planning Issues

Willie Penrose

178. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans review the planning acts and regulations to ensure that the principles of public participation in environmental decision making is enshrined therein, in accordance with the terms of the Aarhus Convention 1998, which was ratified here in June and in particular in the context of the avalanche of wind farm applications throughout the country where consultation with citizens is mandatory under the said convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46788/12]

Planning Issues

Willie Penrose

437. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding persons who wish to register their objection to An Bord Pleanála in relation to the erection of wind farms in their geographical areas; if an Bord Pleanála will facilitate an oral hearing to such persons, in order to ensure they have an opportunity to be heard and express their concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46340/12]

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Willie Penrose

560. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46258/12]

Tourism Ireland Expenditure

Willie Penrose

716. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason Tourism Ireland which has purchased Ireland.com are shutting down the email address by 7 November 2012, which will result in chaos for subscribers who have numerous contact details built up over the years, and who now find themselves with just a three week notice period in which to deal with this unanticipated turn of events; if the closing down date of the 7 November 2012, will be extended to the 31 December 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46341/12]

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Willie Penrose

247. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will take steps to have an application for area aid granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45073/12]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options

Willie Penrose

383. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will confirm that he has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in relation to relocation to a suitable alternate bog, which is in close vicinity to this person's home; and if steps can be taken to advance this matter whereby the person concerned is interested in relocation and not compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44926/12]

IDA Site Visits

Willie Penrose

107. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency sponsored visits to Mullingar, Athlone and Longford on an annual basis since 2009; the number of those visits that ultimately led to a positive decision by the visiting industrialists to locate an industry in any of these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42249/12]

Property Management Company Issues

Willie Penrose

161. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality under the Multi Unit Development Act 2011, if it is possible for individual residential houses, which do not have common areas, such as green space, communal hallways or corridors, which prevail in apartment blocks, to unilaterally take steps to resign from the membership of a management company, whereby they feel that they do not derive any benefit from their membership thereof and if the Act facilitates such an option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42129/12]

Army Barracks Closures

Willie Penrose

170. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Defence if he will make available the lands and buildings at Columb Barracks, Mullingar, County Westmeath for the benefit of State and Semi State and for community groups; if he is prepared to discuss the acquisition of same by such groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42250/12]

Army Barracks Closures

Willie Penrose

171. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Defence the amount expended to date by his Department in providing security at Columb Barracks, Mullingar, County Westmeath; if the necessary security is still being provided at this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42252/12]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Applications

Willie Penrose

290. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he has devised a method by way of a loan scheme or otherwise to enable elderly people to purchase outright their houses under the tenant purchase scheme when many such persons are already paying rents which exceed their likely monthly repayments under the tenant purchase scheme but who because of their age and or their reliance upon social welfare payments are being denied the possibility of pursuing their wish to purchase the said houses; if same can now be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40456/12]

Tax Code

Willie Penrose

66. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the tax position of a person who is aged 74 years and is a widow and in receipt of approximately €20,000 per year, with no other allowance other than the PAYE allowance an appropriate credit in respect thereof and has no other income other than the amount specified therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39653/12]

Tax Code

Willie Penrose

338. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he has concluded the public consultation process on dealing with the rules pertaining to tax exiles; and the considerations he will take to change these rules to ensure they are more stringent. [38939/12]

Noxious Weeds

Willie Penrose

1425. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he has issued instructions to local authorities and other State bodies, to ensure they comply with their obligations and duties under the Noxious Weeds Act 1936, as amended; and if so, the response there has been to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38940/12]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Willie Penrose

230 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in relation to the review that has taken place concerning the fair deal scheme; when same will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34095/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Willie Penrose

438 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline in detail the budget was for children and families within the Health Service Executive for 2009, 2010, 2011, and to date in 2012; and if she will assure all concerned that the HSE is not now engaged in reducing the budget and resources for children and families in advance of the establishment of the new agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33595/12]

Jobseeker’s Benefit

Willie Penrose

390 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the proposed changes in the eligibility criteria for jobseeker’s benefit as set out in budget 2012; when it is envisaged that these proposed changes will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32459/12]

Special Areas of Conservation

Willie Penrose

400 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will outline the level of consultation and discussions he has had with the EU and the Commission in relation to ensuring that areas designated as national heritage areas are not subject to such restrictions that could inhibit persons from harvesting turf for their own use, and in particular that his Department would progress these discussions to a definitive conclusion, which would facilitate persons to utilise these areas for turf cutting without restriction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32201/12]