Parliamentary questions

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Bernard Durkan

154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an appeal for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24588/13]

Mortgage Interest Relief Application

Bernard Durkan

155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for mortgage interest relief in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24590/13]

Departmental Strategies

Eoghan Murphy

156. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the work her Department is doing to close the welfare trap (details supplied). [24591/13]

Disability Allowance Payments

Eoghan Murphy

157. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering making the disability payment to Irish citizens portable across the EU when persons leave Ireland to work within the EU (details supplied). [24593/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

158. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the target of her Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category and whether the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in her Department that it represents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24620/13]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Tom Fleming

159. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24676/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Jim Daly

161. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will make any exception to the application criteria for rent allowance; if she has considered that having to be on the local authority housing list is posing a problem for many persons that have properties in their name and have been surrendered to the bank thus leaving these persons homeless but also ineligible for local housing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24687/13]

Family Income Supplement Expenditure

Michael Creed

162. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the impact that withdrawal of one parent family payments will have on those parents who are in the work-force and in receipt of family income supplement; if she will ensure that their level of FIS entitlement will be reviewed immediately on the withdrawal of their one parent family payment rather than the annual review which is presently the case; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in most such cases entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance as an interim measure is not an option where earnings will put them over the rate for adult and dependent children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24712/13]

Jobseeker's Benefit Appeals

Emmet Stagg

163. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in determining an appeal for suspending jobseeker's benefit with particular reference to an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and when the appeal will be determined. [24755/13]

Proposed Legislation

Seán Kyne

164. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate the progress made on preparing and enacting legislation in order that families of Irish citizens who die abroad can obtain an Irish death certificate or a document of equal validity and significance. [24756/13]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Peter Mathews

165. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 692 of 16 April, 2013 and 115 of 8 May 2013 if a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 has been accepted; the basis for the appeal have been received and the date on which a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24770/13]

Public Services Card Provision

Seán Kyne

166. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the roll-out of the new public services card; if this will be on a national, regional or scheme basis; and if her Department will be establishing new centres to furnish members of the public with the card in as efficient and timely manner as possible. [24788/13]

Disability Allowance Applications

James Bannon

167. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for disability allowance will be decided on in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24790/13]

Inland Waterways Development

Brendan Smith

168. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the feasibility study that has been underway for some time in relation to the proposed extension of the Erne Navigation from Belturbet to Killykeen and Killeshandra; when this study will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24538/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

169. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category and if the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24608/13]

Digital Archiving

Andrew Doyle

170. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he and his officials are taking regarding the archiving of digital media outlets for future keeping; if his attention has been drawn to the best practice exercised in other EU member states; if he will detail the plans his Department have to keep up with industry practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24733/13]

National Monuments

Maureen O'Sullivan

171. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress made on the handing of the old Houses of Parliament buildings on College Green to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24749/13]

Natural Gas Grid

Michael Healy-Rae

172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he is taking regarding a proposal for County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24742/13]

Television Licences Data

Patrick O'Donovan

173. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of television licenses purchased in 2010, 2011 and 2012; the total amount raised in television licences in each of those years; if he considered carrying out a value for money examination of the television licence process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24547/13]

Sale of State Assets

Charlie McConalogue

174. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans regarding any potential sale of Bord Gáis Energy; if he will be able to keep the company within State ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24589/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

175. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category and if the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24610/13]

Radio Broadcasting

Clare Daly

176. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views regarding efforts to silence and censor online radio stations through targeted intimidation; and his plans to deal with this issue. [24737/13]

Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report

Kevin Humphreys

177. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received the report from the Boundary Commission on the Local Elections; if so when he intends to publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24531/13]

Planning Issues

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

178. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the options for persons who have near expiry planning permission in County Monaghan and who seek an extension in view of the economic climate; if he has considered an interim measure to facilitate these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24539/13]

Local Government Reform

Tom Fleming

179. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on proposals from the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland and the AMAI advocacy to ensure that the proposed municipal districts councils, as proposed in the Putting People First, will have the function and financial independence to enable them to continue the main core of their town council work, with Maynard status, and enable them to represent the eighteen of these new municipal areas in a real and meaningful way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24543/13]

Local Government Reform

Brian Stanley

180. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the €5 - 9 million savings that is maintained will arise from Putting People First with the merger of Waterford City and County Councils under the headings payroll, tendering, procurement, services and other. [24581/13]

Local Government Reform

Brian Stanley

181. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the cost of implementing the merger of Waterford City and County Councils. [24582/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

182. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the target for each county council separately regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category in each county council; if that target is being achieved in each county council; the total number of employees in that category in each county council currently; the percentage of the total workforce in each county council this represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24606/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

183. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category; whether the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24613/13]

Unfinished Housing Developments

Pearse Doherty

184. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to his statement that up to 200 housing estates in the State may be bulldozed, if he will outline the prior consideration that will be given to offering the estates for sale subject to conditionality including that the estates be made habitable within a specified period of time. [24702/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

185. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the target for each town council separately regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category; if the target is being achieved in each town council; the total number of employees in each town council currently and the percentage of the total workforce in each town council that this represents, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24711/13]

Seanad Elections

Andrew Doyle

186. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider amending legislation in order that soft copies of forms can be obtained by interested organisation without express written request for nomination forms, in order to be considered as a nominating body for the five vocational panels that elect members to Seanad Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24736/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

187. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total target for each city council separately regrading employment of persons with disabilities in the special category; if that target is being achieved in each city council; the total number of employees in each city council currently and the percentage of the total workforce in each city council that this represents, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24754/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Michael Lowry

188. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being faced by those engaged in the now discontinued shared ownership scheme; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that countless families across County Tipperary and indeed the country who engaged in this scheme are facing significant financial difficulty due to the fact that the rent on the council owned portion of their home has increased exponentially; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that as a result they are making little progress in the purchase of their home; if he will amend the Housing Act 2009 to resolve this issue; if he will consider allowing these persons to convert to a loan on their full property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24757/13]

Property Tax Exemptions

Catherine Murphy

189. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of estates that have been listed for taking in charge following their removal from the property tax exemption list; his definition of substantially complete in relation to unfinished estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24768/13]

Crime Prevention

Dominic Hannigan

190. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps the Gardaí are taking in an area (details supplied) in County Meath to reduce crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24507/13]

Prison Accommodation Provision

Patrick O'Donovan

191. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details in tabular form by prison, detention centre or institution of the amount spent on decorating accommodation spaces for prisoners in each centre during 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24532/13]

Asylum Applications

Tom Fleming

192. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for subsidiary protection and an application for humanitarian leave to remain in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24544/13]

Garda Station Closures

Michael McCarthy

193. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the current status of a Garda Station (details supplied) in County Donegal; if there is a threat to its existence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24558/13]

Road Traffic Offences

Thomas P. Broughan

194. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos 462, 463 and 464 of 14 May 2013, the reason more than 85,000 drivers avoided conviction and penalty points after having been summoned to court for failure to pay a fixed charge penalty notice within 56 days of receipt of the notice in the years 2011 and 2012; the reasons recorded in the files retained by the Courts Services following those appearances for the offences not resulting in a conviction of the drivers involved; and if he will provide, in tabular form on the basis of the various districts administered by the Courts Service, a breakdown of the numbers summoned to court for failure to pay a fixed charge penalty notice within 56 days of receipt of the notice; the numbers of drivers summoned to court for this reason; and the number of such drivers who were convicted. [24563/13]

Road Traffic Offences

Thomas P. Broughan

195. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will instruct An Garda Síochána to give additional attention to an area (details supplied) in Dublin 13; the number of fixed penalty notices that were issued at this location in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013. [24564/13]

Citizenship Applications

Damien English

196. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a decision will issue on an application for citizenship in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24597/13]

Domestic Violence Policy

Thomas Pringle

197. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider the implementation of a domestic violence offenders register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24600/13]

Magdalene Laundries Fund

Mary Lou McDonald

198. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the date by which Mr. Justice Quirke will report back to him with recommendations regarding the Magdalene Laundries Fund and accompanying matters. [24601/13]

Magdalene Laundries Fund

Mary Lou McDonald

199. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the elderly Magdalene Laundries surviving women living in the US seeking to meet with Mr. Justice Quirke who due to ill health and or financial restraints have been unable to travel and in such instances have been told that they can only be accommodated if they are in a position to travel to Dublin at their own cost; the actions he will take to facilitate these women in providing them with an opportunity to set out their experience to Mr. Justice Quirke. [24602/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

200. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category; whether the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24618/13]

Garda Corruption

Joe Higgins

201. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on allegations contained in correspondence (details supplied) sent to all Deputies alleging wrongdoing in County Mayo. [24679/13]

Civil Bills

Michael Creed

202. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has any concerns regarding the validity of civil bills issued where the Court Services facilitated the stamping of blank documents which were subsequently used in the issuance of civil bills and where the stamping date pre-dates the incidents referred to in the civil bill; his views on the validity of such civil bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24713/13]

Prison Accommodation Costs

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

203. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of every person imprisoned in a jail here on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. [24716/13]

Community Service Orders

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

204. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of every person on community service on a hourly and weekly basis. [24717/13]