Parliamentary questions

Adult Education

Derek Keating

58. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are already excellent back to school and back to college courses available via vocational education committees and community colleges of education; if he will consider reviewing his policy and developing a major programme of course development particularly for those who are on the long-term unemployment register or for those who find themselves at home due to various circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12002/13]

International Summits

Derek Keating

13. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Taoiseach the benefits to this State of next year's G8 Summit taking place in Enniskillen; the role that he will play; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53908/12]

International Summits

Derek Keating

14. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Taoiseach in view of the announcement made by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who confirmed that the next G8 Summit will be held in Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, if he will comment on the impact of the announcement that next year's G8 Summit will take place in Enniskillen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53909/12]

Garda Transport Provision

Derek Keating

40. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to replace and upgrade the Garda transport fleet; the condition of the fleet when he took office; the provision that was made to upgrade the fleet by the previous Administration; if he is satisfied that Garda patrol cars and other vehicles are safe to be used on our roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5653/13]

Hospice Services

Derek Keating

215. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will outline, in detail and in tabular form, the number of cases for the Newcastle area, which incorporates all of Brittas, Blessington Road and City West, that Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross has provided a service for in the past ten years up until December 2012 that involved home care, and end-of-life care, who died at home and, separately, who died under the care provided in Our Lady's Hospice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6146/13]

Hospice Services

Derek Keating

216. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health If he will outline, in detail and tabulated format, the number of cases for the Newcastle area, which incorporates all of Newcastle, Brownstown, Aylesbury, up to Hazelhatch and the borders of Kildare and Wicklow, that Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross has provided a service for in the past ten years up until December 2012 which involved home care, and end-of-life care, who died at home and, separately, who died under the care provided in Our Lady's Hospice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6147/13]

Hospice Services

Derek Keating

228. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in detail and tabular format, the number of cases for the Lucan area, County Dublin, which incorporates all of Lucan, Adamstown, Strawberry Beds and Foxdene, that Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross have provided a service for in the past ten years up until December 2012 which involved home care, and end-of-life care, who died at home and, separately, who died under the care provided in Our Lady's Hospice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6300/13]

Hospital Services

Derek Keating

229. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in detail and tabular form, the number of cases from the Lucan area, County Dublin, which incorporates all of Lucan, Adamstown, the Strawberry Beds and Foxdene, that St. James's Hospital, Dublin, has provided a service for in the past ten years up until December 2012 which involved home care, and end-of-life care, who died at home and, separately, who died under the care provided in St. James's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6301/13]

Hospital Services

Derek Keating

230. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will outline, in detail and tabular format, the number of cases from the Newcastle area, which incorporates all of Newcastle, Brownstown, Aylesbury, up to Hazelhatch and the borders of counties Kildare and Wicklow, that St. James's Hospital, Dublin, has provided a service for in the past ten years up until December 2012 which involved home care, and end-of-life care, who died at home and, separately, who died under its care in St. James's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6302/13]

Hospital Services

Derek Keating

231. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in detail and tabular form, the number of cases for the Rathcoole and Saggart areas, Dublin, which incorporates Brittas, Blessington Road and City West, that St. James's Hospital, Dublin, has provided a service for in the past ten years up until December 2012 which involved home care, and end-of-life care, who died at home and, separately, who died under its care in St. James's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6303/13]

Hospital Services

Derek Keating

232. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in detail and tabulated format, the number of cases for the Lucan area, which incorporates all of Lucan, Adamstown, Strawberry Beds and Foxdene, that Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, has provided a service for in the past ten years up until December 2012 that involved home care, and end-of-life care, who died at home and, separately, who died under its care in Connolly Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6304/13]

Hospital Services

Derek Keating

233. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in detail and tabular form, the number of cases for the Newcastle area, which incorporates all of Newcastle, Brownstown, Aylesbury, up to Hazelhatch and the borders of Kildare and Wicklow, that Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, has provided a service for in the past ten years up until December 2012 which involved home care, and end-of-life care, who died at home and, separately, who died under its care in Connolly Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6305/13]

Hospital Services

Derek Keating

234. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in detail and tabular form, the number of cases for the Rathcoole and Saggart areas, which incorporates Brittas, Blessington Road and City West, that Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, has provided a service for in the past ten years up until December 2012 which involved home care, and end-of-life care, who died at home and, separately, who died under its care in Connolly Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6306/13]

Hospital Services

Derek Keating

235. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in detail and tabular form, the number of cases for the Rathcoole and Saggart areas, which incorporates Brittas, Blessington Road and City West, that Tallaght Hospital has provided a service for in the past ten years up until December 2012 which involved home care, and end-of-life care, who died at home and, separately, who died under its care in Tallaght Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6307/13]

Hospital Services

Derek Keating

236. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in detail and tabulated format, the number of cases for the Newcastle area, which incorporates all of Newcastle, Brownstown, Aylesbury, up to Hazelhatch and the borders of Kildare and Wicklow, that Tallaght Hospital has provided a service for in the past ten years up until December 2012 which involved home care, and end-of-life care, who died at home and, separately, who died under its care in Tallaght Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6308/13]

Hospital Services

Derek Keating

237. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in detail and tabulated format the number of cases for the Lucan area, which incorporates all of Lucan, Adamstown, Strawberry Beds and Foxdene, that Tallaght Hospital has provided a service for in the past ten years up until December 2012 which involved home care, end of life care, who died at home, who died at home and who died under their care in Tallaght Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6309/13]

Home Care Packages

Derek Keating

190. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the homecare package for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [4712/13]

Dental Services Provision

Derek Keating

191. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the position regarding dental treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [4713/13]

Exceptional Needs Payments

Derek Keating

150. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Social Protection following the recent circular directive SWA 1/02013 issued on 11 January 2013 regarding supplementary welfare payments that were traditionally paid around the period of Holy Communions and Confirmations as an Exceptional Needs payment for those less well off, if she will outline the amount of money that will be saved in relation to this decision; if she will consider the way the impact of such a decision can be reversed including whether it may have been made on the basis of a State grant for a religious service and, if this is so, if she will confirm the basis of this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3919/13]

Departmental Contracts

Derek Keating

180. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the tender for the payment of entitlements on behalf of her Department; when a decision will be made in relation to the awarding of this contract; if she will take into consideration the impact on jobs, convenience and professional standards that are currently being provided by An Post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3918/13]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Derek Keating

389. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in reaching a decision on an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3813/13]

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Derek Keating

42. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether a national mentoring strategy has benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3184/13]

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Derek Keating

46. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to develop a national mentoring strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3183/13]

Tax Code

Derek Keating

211. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Finance his plans to maintain the reduced rate of VAT introduced as part of the jobs plan into 2014. [2502/13]

Vaccination Programme

Derek Keating

636. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if, following on from his recent reply in relation to Narcolepsy, he will outline his plans to address the needs of the many cases that are now emerging; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, in the Dublin Mid-West constituency alone, there are a significant number of chronic cases who are awaiting his report to assist them in addressing this crisis in which they find themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2860/13]

Economic Policy

Derek Keating

30. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Finance his views on the achievements that his Department has realised since he presented Budget 2011/2012 regarding the economic circumstances he inherited; if he will outline his policies which will ensure that recovery is achieved from our current economic circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1770/13]

Departmental Budgets

Derek Keating

62. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Finance the achievements that he has realised since Budget 2011/2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1771/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Derek Keating

15. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to address the problems arising from the decision taken by Belfast City Council and the flying of flags in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1724/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Derek Keating

20. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions that are taking place between his Department, the Northern Ireland Office and the British Government to address the new crisis in relation to the decision taken by Belfast City Council and the flying of flags in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1723/13]

Care of the Elderly

Derek Keating

60. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the number of designated community-based social workers who are employed full-time to protect the elderly in the Dublin Mid-West Constituency of Lucan, Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Saggart, Newcastle and Palmerstown; would the Minister outline the timeframe from when a disclosure is reported to the Health Service Executive of a suspected abuse of an elderly person which will be dealt with by a designated social worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56969/12]

Tuberculosis Incidence

Derek Keating

66. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a group of GPs in Dublin recently raised money and brought a mobile TB monitoring unit to the city and carried out random research and to their shock discovered that there was a significant increase in Tuberculosis and particularly an increase in the number of multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that prime time TV carried an extensive programme in which Professor Keane of St. James’s Hospital expressed concern and alert at the rise in Tuberculosis and the fact that there were only a small number of isolation units to treat multi-drug resistant TB; if he will address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56968/12]

Judicial Pay

Derek Keating

287. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following the resignation of a convicted District Judge (details supplied), a Judge found guilty of attempting to deceive a client, if he will outline the salary that the Judge was in receipt of; the length of time that they were paid as a District Judge and if resignation entitlements such as pension, gratuity, lump sum or any other payment including severance was awarded upon resignation; if the Judge is in receipt of a pension while in custody; if the Judge will receive a pension when released from prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56746/12]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Derek Keating

662. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the basis on which a decision has been made to stop the breast check programme for those aged 64 years of age and over; if he will explain the reason this is not being made available to women of this age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56970/12]

Defence Forces Reserve Strength

Derek Keating

10. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Defence the current numbers of the Reserve Defence Forces based in Dublin; his plans to expand the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54642/12]

Defence Forces Reserve Training

Derek Keating

18. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Defence the number of Reserve Defence Force members who attend on a regular basis for training from the Lucan, Clondalkin, Palmerstown, Newcastle, Rathcoole and Saggart areas of County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54643/12]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Derek Keating

72. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills following his budget announcement of 2013 and his Department’s decision in relation to a teacher-student ratio of 1:19 in PLCs and colleges of further education, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this decision will result in the loss of five teachers in Inchicore College of Further Education and approximately 50 to 55 teachers in the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee colleges, and impact in terms of the success rate in institutes of further education and the vocational education committees in providing access to those who have been long-term unemployed or even disadvantaged in their own education some 20 to 30 years ago and now seek an opportunity to retrain, re-educate and seek a second chance of career development; if he will examine this decision and its impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55776/12]

Courts Staff

Derek Keating

92. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the resignation of convicted District Court judge (details supplied), a judge found guilty of attempting to deceive an elderly client, if he will outline the salary that the judge was in receipt of; the length of time they were a Justice of the District Court; if their resignation entitles them to any pension, gratuity, lump sum payment, severance or any other such payment from the Courts Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54351/12]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues

Derek Keating

99. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider introducing a free flow traffic management programme under the auspices of the Garda Traffic Corps; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the main N4 and N7 motorways regularly have minor incidences which lead to delays at extremely busy commuter times particularly in the morning and the effect that this is having on commuters getting to work, commerce and indeed shopping in the city area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54350/12]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Derek Keating

178. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in place to provide for the needs of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder as they progress from primary school to secondary school in the Dublin West area in 2013/2014 and beyond (details supplied). [55298/12]

Animal Welfare Issues

Derek Keating

412. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review procedures to ensure the welfare of animals particularly stray horses who regularly have to be herded by the Garda in the Dublin mid-west area of Clondalkin, Rathcoole and Saggart and other surrounding areas; if the Animal Health and Welfare Bill will apply to the stabling of loose horses to keep them safe until the authorities deal with them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55505/12]

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Derek Keating

5. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Taoiseach if he will extend a formal invitation of a state visit to the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, in view of next year's G8 summit taking place in Enniskillen; and if he will make a statement on the matter [52458/12]

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Derek Keating

6. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Taoiseach his views on extending a formal invitation for a State visit to the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama; and if he will make a statement on the matter [52459/12]

Fire Service Issues

Derek Keating

106. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of chief fire officers or acting chief fire officers throughout the State; the salaries that they are paid; the benefit in kind that they receive such as transport, expenses and allowances; if he is planning, as a matter of efficiency, to merge chief fire officers; his views on whether there is a need for a national chief fire officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54286/12]

School Services Staff

Derek Keating

199. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that staff who are employed in private colleges such as a college (details supplied) in Dublin 6, who are required to make a contribution to the superannuation pension system which is currently being held on deposit by the college yet they are not allowed yield the benefit of it because of the decision by him; if he will advise on this matter and if he thinks this is just; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54115/12]

Judicial Pay

Derek Keating

231. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline in tabular form the name and office that a judge retired from, the pension that they are in receipt of, the lump sum that was paid to the judge on their retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53911/12]

Waste Management Regulations

Derek Keating

399. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to problems with the standards of service being provided by private operators who have replaced local authorities in relation to refuse collection; his plans for licensing; the standards that will apply across the board in contracts offered to private operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53801/12]

Waste Management Regulations

Derek Keating

400. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to regulate private operators who are now currently replacing the local authority refuse collection service here; if he has received many complaints in relation to a private operator company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53803/12]

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Derek Keating

550. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost to the State of experts (details supplied); the persons' salaries for the past five years; if she will outline in tabular form all those other experts who have been engaged by her Department, their salaries, benefits, expenses and costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54126/12]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Derek Keating

132. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the sports capital programme and the number of applications received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52679/12]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Derek Keating

365. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied). [52304/12]