Parliamentary questions

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Tom Fleming

194. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue on a student grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55541/12]

Teacher Training Provision

Dara Calleary

195. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify that the future of the Bachelor of Education in Home Economics provided at a college (details supplied) in County Sligo is secure and that no decision will be made to relocate the programme. [55590/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Michelle Mulherin

196. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a Student Universal Support Ireland grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if payment will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55592/12]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Micheál Martin

197. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the proposed second level school at Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, Dublin 24; if any decision has now been taken in respect of the management of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55593/12]

Student Grant Scheme Delays

Andrew Doyle

198. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a comprehensive update on the processing of first-time student grant applications by Student Universal Support Ireland including such applications that are still in backlog or under query; the payments issued thus far and the current situation in terms of clearing the backlog that still exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55619/12]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Patrick Nulty

199. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision to refuse a student grant to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 from a socially disadvantaged area will be reviewed as a matter of urgency; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the college is demanding that the student pay €2250 by 9 December which they and their family cannot afford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55622/12]

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Pat Deering

200. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of special needs assistants employed in pre-school settings; if these are included in the overall national cap of 10,575; his views on whether those SNAs employed in pre-school setting should be excluded from the national cap only relates to primary and secondary level. [55625/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Micheál Martin

201. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the building of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55646/12]

School Management

Micheál Martin

202. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the differences in board structures for community schools and community colleges; the nominating bodies for board positions; the number of positions ascribed to each nominating body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55649/12]

School Staffing

Micheál Martin

203. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of chaplains in Dublin post primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55650/12]

School Staffing

Micheál Martin

204. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the Dublin schools that have lost the service of a career guidance counsellor; the Dublin schools that are sharing the service of a career guidance counsellor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55651/12]

School Curriculum

Micheál Martin

205. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken to address the matter of teenage suicide in Dublin post primary schools; his views on whether wellness is a topic that ought to be provided for at second level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55652/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Micheál Martin

206. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the proposals his Department have for the school site at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55653/12]

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]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

210. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on a Student Universal Support Ireland application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; when first payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55673/12]

Heritage Sites Issues

Michael McCarthy

211. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of the various Office of Public Works tourism and heritage sites in West Cork along with their corresponding footfall figures for the four quarters in 2011 and 2012 separately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55119/12]

Office of Public Works Expenditure

Terence Flanagan

212. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount that has been spent to date on the Office of Public Works book One History; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55141/12]

Capital Programme Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

213. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to the publication of the White Paper on 30 November 2012, if he will provide an explanation for the variance between forecast voted capital spend in 2012 of €3.411 billion compared with budget of €3.6 billion. [55392/12]

Office of Public Works Projects

Micheál Martin

214. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current or planned works being undertaken at Rathfarnham Castle Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55647/12]

Public Procurement Contracts Tenders

Eoghan Murphy

215. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the percentage of Government contracts in his Department that were awarded to non-Irish companies in the three years 2009 to 2011 inclusive; and the percentage of these that went to EU companies in that period. [55257/12]

Office of Public Works Properties

Ciara Conway

216. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the twelve remaining horticultural staff in permanent employment maintaining the gardens at Mount Congreve Estate, County Waterford; if the Office of Public Works has plans to take part in the management of the estate gardens in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55274/12]

Coastal Protection

Clare Daly

217. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funding applied for by Fingal County Council in relation to coastal protection works in its administrative area, broken down by geographical location; and amount sought and awarded per annum since 2000. [55291/12]

Sale of State Assets

Denis Naughten

218. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the disposal of non-strategic public utilities; his plans to retain control of critical infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55413/12]

Public Services Provision

Mary Lou McDonald

219. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 4 December 2012, if he will provide a list of all new services across his Department that have been tested for external service delivery since March 2011. [55436/12]

Office of Public Works Properties

Patrick Nulty

220. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on plans by the Office of Public Works to restrict access to Chesterfield Avenue, Phoenix Park, at the weekends; if he will take into account health and safety issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55627/12]

Ministerial Remuneration

Dessie Ellis

221. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount former Minister Roisín Shortall TD was paid in severance when she stood down as Minister. [55629/12]

Retail Sector Issues

Eoghan Murphy

222. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has any jurisdiction over store opening hours, for example Sundays or on St. Stephen's Day. [55612/12]

Job Initiatives

Paudie Coffey

223. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to bring together local and regional employment agencies and the private sector in a formalised structure to target the weaknesses in particular regions on an ongoing basis to help to tackle the unemployment crisis in different regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55059/12]

National Internship Scheme Numbers

Peadar Tóibín

224. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland client businesses that use the JobBridge scheme; and the numbers employed under this scheme by client companies. [55128/12]

Work Permit Applications

Finian McGrath

225. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Employment Permit Act. [55180/12]

Building Regulations Application

Clare Daly

226. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 27 November 2012, the reason he believes that the National Standards Authority of Ireland has no role in the ongoing monitoring of the unit (details supplied); and the remedy available to those who purchased and installed the units. [55292/12]

Employment Permit Legislation

Dominic Hannigan

227. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to amend the Employment Permit Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55310/12]

National Lottery Funding Applications

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

228. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason a project (details supplied) in Dublin 8 was informed by the county enterprise board that they do not qualify for funding from the National Lottery in respect of their restoration project. [55328/12]

Public Services Provision

Mary Lou McDonald

229. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 4 December 2012, if he will provide a list of all new services across his Department that have been tested for external service delivery since March 2011. [55434/12]

EU Directives

Peadar Tóibín

230. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he has taken to ensure that all Government Departments have fully implemented the Agency Workers Directive and are fully compliant with the protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act. [55550/12]

Clothing Imports Issues

Finian McGrath

231. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his policy regarding importation of sandblasted denim; and his plans to ban the importation of same. [55563/12]

Farm Assist Scheme Applications

Martin Ferris

232. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for farm assist in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [55066/12]

National Internship Scheme Numbers

Simon Harris

233. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made to put in place a national graduate and apprentice internship scheme as outlined in the Programme for Government 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55076/12]

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Jim Daly

234. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made in relation to the setting up of a community involvement scheme that will allow for people in receipt of job seeker's allowance to participate in community work such as maintaining roadside vergers and general maintenance of community resorts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55205/12]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Brendan Griffin

235. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [55056/12]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Finian McGrath

236. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [55064/12]

Social Welfare Code Issues

Robert Troy

237. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of assistance that is available to self employed and returning emigrants, if they find themselves unable to find alternative employment or if their businesses are not sustainable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55098/12]

Family Income Supplement Applications

Bernard Durkan

238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for family income supplement in respect of a person (details suppplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55165/12]

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Robert Dowds

239. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if the amount due on the mortgage every month can be used to offset rental income for the purposes of claiming means tested social welfare payments, in particular jobseeker's allowance. [55224/12]

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the jobseeker's allowance payment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, who is now working maximum one day per week; the amount the applicant is receiving per week in respect of this payment and the way this figure was reached; if she will re-examine the arrears that were issued in the case and set out the way in which they were calculated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55229/12]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Bernard Durkan

241. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date in respect of determination of an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare and their application for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55233/12]

National Internship Scheme Numbers

Clare Daly

242. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will explain the way an organisation (details supplied) was able to employ a number of jobbridge workers while at the same time moving to dismiss nine full time workers; and the action she will take regarding same. [55238/12]

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Peter Mathews

243. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue in respect of an appeal for jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55270/12]