Parliamentary questions

VAT Rate Application

Nicky McFadden

145. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Finance if the VAT rate of 9% for restaurant and catering services, hotel and holiday accommodation, admissions to cinemas, theatres, certain musical performances, museums and art gallery exhibitions, fairgrounds or amusement park services, the use of sporting facilities, hairdressing services, and printed matter will be maintained; if he will acknowledge the significant role this VAT rate plays in developing the food, tourism and hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36797/13]

Banking Sector Regulation

Nicky McFadden

211. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Finance if a system of auditing banks is in place to ensure that they are delivering on lending promises and targets; the body that oversees such an audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37901/13]

Services for People with Disabilities

Nicky McFadden

381. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered the policy recommendations set out by the National Council for Special Education in its Policy Advice Paper on the Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Ireland, November 2011; how many of the main recommendations relating to early intervention and school age years have been adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38275/13]

Public Procurement Regulations

Nicky McFadden

452. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures taken by his Department to reform regulations and procedures in relation to public procurement in order to make it easier for Irish small and medium enterprises to gain access to public contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37904/13]

Proposed Legislation

Nicky McFadden

458. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a register for all lobbyists will be introduced; the way the introduction of such a register will contribute to a more open and transparent Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38274/13]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Nicky McFadden

484. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if targeted measures will be introduced to increase working capital in small and medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36854/13]

Job Creation Data

Nicky McFadden

517. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new jobs that have been created in the digital gaming sector here in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37900/13]

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Nicky McFadden

540. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures taken by her Department to allow those who avail of temporary work opportunities to return to social welfare protection in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36819/13]

Arts Plan

Nicky McFadden

750. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures taken by his Department in conjunction with the Arts Council to protect the State's investment in regional arts infrastructure, particularly in the midlands region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38272/13]

Post Office Network

Nicky McFadden

801. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has considered the Irish Postmasters' Union 2012 Report on The Future of the Post Office Network in Ireland; the measures that can be taken at Government level to support the continuation of the post office network here; if he has consulted with the Board of An Post on potential service contracts that might be available to the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37909/13]

Register of Electors

Nicky McFadden

921. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a voter registration drive will be launched nationally in conjunction with local authorities and community groups in order to promote active citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37906/13]

Unfinished Housing Developments Data

Nicky McFadden

922. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline, in tabular form, the amount of funding that has been allocated to local authorities in counties Westmeath and Longford to date to address urgent public safety issues on unfinished housing estates; the number of developments in each county that have had safety works carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37907/13]

Unfinished Housing Developments Data

Nicky McFadden

923. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of unfinished housing developments in counties Longford and Westmeath that have had issues resovled and have had site resolution plans drawn up since the establishment of the national co-ordination committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37908/13]

Fire Service

Nicky McFadden

924. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a timeframe for the roll-out of a new computer-aided mobilisation project system for handling fire service emergency calls; the way the system will improve the fire service's call-taking and mobilisation service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37912/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Nicky McFadden

925. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of leasing arrangements that have been established between Westmeath County Council, Longford County Council and the National Asset Management Agency to make properties available for the purpose of social housing; the number of persons in counties Westmeath and Longford that have been adequately housed as a result of these agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37914/13]

Waste Management

Nicky McFadden

947. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on progress being made in implementing the resource opportunity waste management policy, particularly in relation to keeping costs down for the consumer and waste enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38276/13]

Garda Operations

Nicky McFadden

990. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the number of Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems currently operational in counties Longford and Westmeath; if funding will be made available for the installation of further CCTV systems in the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36804/13]

Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes

Nicky McFadden

1092. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the range of rehabilitative programmes, counselling and psychology services available in the prison service to sex offenders; if participation in and completion of such programmes are mandatory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37902/13]

Immigration Policy

Nicky McFadden

1093. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress being made to reform the immigration, residency and asylum systems, particularly in relation to introducing a statutory appeals system and improving transparency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37952/13]

Residency Permits

Nicky McFadden

1112. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of subsidiary protection and leave to remain applications that were approved in July and August 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38422/13]