Parliamentary questions

Building Regulations Amendments

Eric J. Byrne

285. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding SI 9 of 2014, Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10792/14]

Energy Prices

Eric J. Byrne

151. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the price to consumers of gas, particularly in view of the long cold wet winter this year and that working families and vulnerable elderly people are finding it impossible to meet the costs of heating their homes and flats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10036/14]

Consumer Protection

Eric J. Byrne

52. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify a situation regarding Bank of Scotland (Ireland) and its loan book, customers of this bank have been informed that the Bank of Scotland (Ireland) have sold off a portion of its loan book to an American Company, Apollo, in view of this fact the protection that will be afforded to Bank of Scotland (Ireland) mortgage holders here from the Central Bank of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9820/14]

Student Support Schemes

Eric J. Byrne

300. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding student grants. [9463/14]

State Properties

Eric J. Byrne

541. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will designate a liaison person from the prison service who will liaise with Dublin City Council and local residents on the derelict site owned by them at the corner of SCR and Kilmainham Road; the position regarding the site, detailing planning permission, works carried out on the site, future plans with timelines and design-tender briefs prepared for the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9415/14]

Adoption Legislation

Eric J. Byrne

629. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding adoption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9611/14]

EU Agreements

Eric J. Byrne

15. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the Swiss referendum result on limiting the free movement of citizens from the EU; the position Ireland will adopt at European Council level and proposals at EU level in response to the Swiss decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7999/14]

Northern Ireland Issues

Eric J. Byrne

32. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on developments on the Haas proposals; and if the Irish and British Governments are considering intervention to advance progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8000/14]

Schools Amalgamation

Eric J. Byrne

286. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify a situation regarding schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8201/14]

Local Employment Service

Eric J. Byrne

367. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will be obliged to put the provision of local employment services and jobs clubs, currently provided by a range of community and voluntary organisations, out to public tender from 2015 onwards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7587/14]

Trade Agreements

Eric J. Byrne

258. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the free trade agreement between Ireland and Canada; what it entails; if he will clarify a matter regarding this agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6278/14]

Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility

Eric J. Byrne

303. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exception will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 regarding an exceptional needs payment to cover expenses related to a continuous cardiac monitor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6442/14]

Overseas Missions

Eric J. Byrne

13. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the number of Irish personnel that are serving with the UNDOF mission in Syria; their roles and the duration of their tours of duty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5562/14]

Foreign Conflicts

Eric J. Byrne

16. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the outcomes of his high level meetings in Ramallah and Israel on his trip to the Middle East; if he will provide an update on the current difficulties in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5563/14]

Local and Community Development Programme Planning

Eric J. Byrne

122. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if future rounds of the local community development programme or Leader programmes will be subject to a competitive tendering process; if so, will private for profit companies be eligible to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5939/14]

Immigrant Investor Programme Applications

Eric J. Byrne

46. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications that have been received and approved for the immigrant investor programme and the start-up entrepreneur programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5247/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Eric J. Byrne

294. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the situation regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4141/14]

Household Benefits Scheme

Eric J. Byrne

361. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale behind the removal of the free telephone allowance from the household benefits package; if it is envisaged that this payment will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3546/14]

Public Transport Provision

Eric J. Byrne

692. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a nitelink and air coach service in respect of an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2800/14]

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility

Eric J. Byrne

342. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria used to qualify for payment for supplementary welfare allowance; the amount that is actually spent on items such as these; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55296/13]

Tourism Industry

Eric J. Byrne

925. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the Dublin Tourism Office, which was run in the old church in St. Andrew's Street by Fáilte Ireland; the plans to replace the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55407/13]

Tourism Industry

Eric J. Byrne

926. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy on the tourism offices in Dublin for Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland, specifically at St. Andrew's Church, Dublin; the reason these services are being discontinued; whether there is now an emphasis being placed on private operators and tour guides as opposed to public bodies, such as those referred to; whether Fáilte Ireland will have to carry the burden of complaints of consumers using these private operators; to outline the relationship between Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourism Board; to outline any plans to develop tourism facilities in the area of Dublin City Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55410/13]

Residency Permits

Eric J. Byrne

448. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his position in relation to an earned regularisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54178/13]

Property Taxation Collection

Eric J. Byrne

37. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the number of house owners who applied to have their local property tax deducted from their social welfare payments but cannot avail of this option because their personal income is too low and they may not have been advised of this and now find themselves in arrears, through no fault of their own, with their local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53490/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Eric J. Byrne

56. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a Student Universal Support Ireland grant appeal. [53246/13]

Property Taxation Application

Eric J. Byrne

38. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding property tax in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6W. [50947/13]

Enterprise Support Schemes

Eric J. Byrne

304. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the various different types of funding available for start-up business and specifically targeted funding for new enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50173/13]

Fuel Allowance Eligibility

Eric J. Byrne

207. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding fuel allowance in respect of a persons (details supplied) in Dublin 8; if she will grant same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48106/13]

Departmental Properties

Eric J. Byrne

298. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the person who receives the income from the billboards placed on the site in the control of the prison service at the junction of Old Kilmainham Road and South Circular Road; the future plans for this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48207/13]

National Lottery Funding Applications

Eric J. Byrne

454. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding funding for a project (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48031/13]

Child Care Services Provision

Eric J. Byrne

111. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 122 of 23 October 2013, if he will clarify the situation regarding the provision of crèche facilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47413/13]

Family Support Services

Eric J. Byrne

79. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements available to a person as a single, separated parent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47239/13]

Social Welfare Schemes

Eric J. Byrne

477. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the way the implementation of DSP's new programme JobPath will impact the current funding of the existing local employment service, LES, and the continued employment of existing staff that deliver this vital service; the timeframe in which LES contracts with the partnership companies will run in 2014 and 2015; and if the Department's position on the LES is becoming aligned with city councils and county councils under the area partnership companies. [45868/13]

State Bodies Expenditure

Eric J. Byrne

92. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Finance his views on the multiple independent procurement of research grant management software by agencies under the control of his Department and the total cost to the taxpayer of these systems; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the same supplier has supplied all but one of these systems and that all are compliant with European Commission standards on the exchange of research information and are all capable of being integrated into one grant management system, as has been done in the US and the UK with the consequent savings that produces; the reason, despite the existence of a national research platform report, no progress has been made on the implementation of an integrated national research platform; and if his attention has been drawn to the consequent diversion of resources in research bodies HEs and others to the management of these multiple systems and away from the proper good governance of public resources spent on research. [45566/13]

Research and Development Funding

Eric J. Byrne

117. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the multiple independent procurements of research grant management software by agencies under the control of his Department and the total cost to the taxpayer of these systems; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the same supplier has supplied all but one of these systems and that all are compliant with European Commission standards on the exchange of research information and are all capable of being integrated into one grant management system, as has been done in the US and the UK with the consequent savings that produces; the reason, despite the existence of a national research platform report, no progress has been made on the implementation of an integrated national research platform; and if his attention has been drawn to the consequent diversion of resources in research bodies, HEs and others to the management of these multiple systems and away from the proper good governance of public resources spent on research. [45567/13]

Research and Development Funding

Eric J. Byrne

120. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the multiple independent procurements of research grant management software by agencies under the control of his Department and the total cost to the taxpayer of these systems; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the same supplier has supplied all but one of these systems and that all are compliant with European Commission standards on the exchange of research information and are all capable of being integrated into one grant management system, as has been done in the US and the UK with the consequent savings that produces; the reason, despite the existence of a national research platform report, no progress has been made on the implementation of an integrated national research platform; and if his attention has been drawn to the consequent diversion of resources in research bodies, HEs and others to the management of these multiple systems and away from the proper good governance of public resources spent on research. [45565/13]

Research and Development Funding

Eric J. Byrne

127. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the multiple independent procurements of research grant management software by agencies under the control of his Department and the total cost to the taxpayer of these systems; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the same supplier has supplied all but one of these systems and that all are compliant with EU Commission standards on the exchange of research information and are all capable of being integrated into one grant management system as has been done in the US and the UK with the consequent savings that produces; the reason despite the existence of a national research platform report, no progress has been made on the implementation of an integrated national research platform; if his attention has been drawn to the consequent diversion of resources in research bodies, HEs, and others to the management of these multiple systems and away from the proper good governance of public resources spent on research. [45564/13]

Research and Development Funding

Eric J. Byrne

170. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the multiple independent procurements of research grant management software by agencies under the control of his Department and the total cost to the taxpayer of these systems; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the same supplier has supplied all but one of these systems and that all are complaint with EU Commission standards on the exchange of research information and are all capable of being integrated into one grant management system as has been done in the US and the UK with the consequent savings that produces; the reason despite the existence of a National Research Platform Report, no progress has been made on the implementation of an integrated national research platform; if his attention has been drawn to the consequent diversion of resources in research bodies HEs and others to the management of these multiple systems and away from the proper good governance of public resources spent on research. [45569/13]

Research and Development Funding

Eric J. Byrne

193. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the multiple independent procurements of research grant management software by agencies under the control of his Department and the total cost to the taxpayer of these systems; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the same supplier has supplied all but one of these systems and that all are complaint with EU Commission standards on the exchange of research information and are all capable of being integrated into one grant management system as has been done in the United States and the United Kingdom with the consequent savings that produces; the reason despite the existence of a national research platform report, no progress has been made on the implementation of an integrated national research platform; and if his attention has been drawn to the consequent diversion of resources in research bodies HEs and others to the management of these multiple systems and away from the proper good governance of public resources spent on research. [45570/13]

Research and Development Funding

Eric J. Byrne

269. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Health his views on the multiple independent procurements of research grant management software by agencies under the control of his Department and the total cost to the taxpayer of these systems; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the same supplier has supplied all but one of these systems and that all are complaint with EU Commission standards on the exchange of research information and are all capable of being integrated into one grant management system, as has been done in the US and the UK, with the consequent savings that produces; the reason despite the existence of a national research platform report, no progress has been made on the implementation of an integrated national research platform; and if his attention has been drawn to the consequent diversion of resources in research bodies HEs and others to the management of these multiple systems and away from the proper good governance of public resources spent on research. [45568/13]

Child Care Services Provision

Eric J. Byrne

112. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the provision of crèche facilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44919/13]

Deer Hunting

Eric J. Byrne

135. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the shooting licences available to persons to stalk deer in the Dublin-Wicklow mountains. [45323/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Eric J. Byrne

125. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 2 October 2013, when a decision will be made regarding the appeal; if this appeal will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42628/13]

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Eric J. Byrne

182. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale behind a decision not to award a payment to a person (details supplied); if this decision may be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41235/13]

Marriages of Convenience

Eric J. Byrne

185. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his position regarding sham marriages, especially in relation to citizens from Latvia and Pakistan; if there are statistics available for offenders from these and other countries involved in this practice; the steps being taken at national and European level to eradicate this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40217/13]

HSE Properties

Eric J. Byrne

244. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm what the Health Service Executive plans to do with a site which it recently bought (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40177/13]

Nursing Home Services

Eric J. Byrne

1299. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Health the appropriate legal minimum ratio of nursing staff to patients in nursing homes; the minimum standard of care as set by his Department in nursing homes; if any consideration is being given to a continuity of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36996/13]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Eric J. Byrne

336. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) was refused a grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34490/13]

Oireachtas Members' Remuneration

Eric J. Byrne

108. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reasons behind the payment of a whips allowance to the Socialist Party and the People Before Profit Alliance in view of the fact that both of these parties only have one member in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33989/13]

Oireachtas Members' Remuneration

Eric J. Byrne

109. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number and names of all Deputies in Dáil Éireann who receive the independent leader's allowance; the amount they receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33990/13]