Parliamentary questions

Public Health Policy

Gerald Nash

257. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health his views on the need to introduce legislation to regulate the growing tattoo industry; if it is his intention to do so in the interests of public health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10121/14]

Community Development Projects

Gerald Nash

460. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of engagement his Department will have with the ILDN and the CCMA in terms of developing proposals around any successor programme to the Local and Community Development Programme; in regard to the Leader programme and in relation to a general operating framework setting out working arrangements between LCDCs and local development companies, if he is concerned that no meetings have taken place between his Department and stakeholders since September of 2013 despite an agreement to develop proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9133/14]

Child Care Services Provision

Gerald Nash

667. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the child care supports available to lone parents participating in Springboard courses; if she will extend eligibility under child care education and training supports to those parenting alone who are on springboard courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8139/14]

VAT Rebates

Gerald Nash

152. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider providing opportunities for the coach travel sector to reclaim VAT on fuel on the purchase of second-hand coaches and parts and tyres essential to the operation of the sector's business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6535/14]

Public Procurement Contracts Expenditure

Gerald Nash

579. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health the monetary value of a contract awarded to a company (details supplied) for a particular piece of work; the daily rate paid for this work; the amount spent to date; the overall value of the contract; when it is expected to be completed; if a full public tendering process was utilised for the selection process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6289/14]

Garda Complaints Procedures

Gerald Nash

146. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will establish with the Garda Commissioner the number of individual members of An Garda Síochána who have referred complaints through the Garda confidential procedure for each year since the inception of the procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4493/14]

Hospitals Building Programme

Gerald Nash

584. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the refurbishment works at St. Joseph's, Ardee, County Louth; when same will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2295/14]

School Meals Programme

Gerald Nash

180. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that school canteens providing meals on school premises are adequately regulated; his Department's current responsibilities in terms of the regulation of the school canteens system-service; if he is considering any new regulations in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55239/13]

IDA Site Visits

Gerald Nash

318. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency client or potential client visits that were made by the IDA to Drogheda, County Louth, in the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; if the IDA will engage in developing a regional manufacturing base or advance units in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1259/14]

IDA Site Visits

Gerald Nash

319. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency client or potential client visits that were made by the IDA to County Louth in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1260/14]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Gerald Nash

769. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive intends to increase the number of intermediate care beds at a facility (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55450/13]

Ambulance Service Response Times

Gerald Nash

804. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if the National Ambulance Service is satisfied that it has sufficient resources to operate the ambulance service in the Drogheda area to the accepted international standard in terms of emergency response times; if the service is satisfied that the resources available in Drogheda are analogous to those available in similar scale population centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1016/14]

Betting Legislation

Gerald Nash

161. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance when he expects the Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013 to pass all Stages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54226/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Gerald Nash

195. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider adding illness benefit to the list of qualifying payments for the special rate student grant as outlined in schedule 2 of the student grant scheme 2013 - Statutory Instrument No. 159 of 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53859/13]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Data

Gerald Nash

400. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form, the number of persons who have registered and paid the non-principal private residence charge in each of the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013, with the total number of properties involved. [54003/13]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Data

Gerald Nash

401. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form, the number of persons who registered late and paid the non-principal private residence charge in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013, with the total number of properties involved. [54004/13]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Data

Gerald Nash

402. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form, the total amount received in respect of non-principal private residence for 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013, analysed by the year to which it referred and the amount of interest and penalties collected. [54005/13]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Data

Gerald Nash

403. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an estimate by his Department of the level of non-compliance with the non-principal private residence for each of the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 and the likely level of the charge outstanding. [54006/13]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Data

Gerald Nash

404. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a statistical analysis for 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 of the number of persons who have paid the non-principal private residence, by the number of housing units owned. [54007/13]

Departmental Properties

Gerald Nash

464. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Defence the organisation that purchased a site (details supplied) in the ownership of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53773/13]

Pension Provisions

Ged Nash

125. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider allowing for partial encashment of PRSAs in certain limited circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52484/13]

Universal Social Charge Exemptions

Ged Nash

127. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will give consideration to providing an exemption to the universal social charge in cases where medical expenses are greater than taxable income, particularly for residents of nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52562/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Ged Nash

181. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the development of a new school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52630/13]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Ged Nash

302. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to the budget announcement, when extra staff will be appointed to assist with Garda vetting; the number of extra staff that will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51779/13]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

92. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he intends to bring legislation forward on collective bargaining rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50870/13]

Orthodontic Service Waiting Lists

Ged Nash

188. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth for orthodontic service; if an exact date cannot be provided the length of time this person may expect to wait for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50902/13]

Fire Safety

Ged Nash

461. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if current legislation permits a business premises to continue to operate, pending obtaining a fire safety certificate or in the case of an ongoing appeal to An Bord Pleanála in respect of a refusal to grant such a certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50187/13]

Maternity Services

Ged Nash

582. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an explanation for the large variance between emergency caesarean rates on Mondays and Wednesdays, compared to Saturdays as reflected in an ESRI report 2011; the course of action the Health Service Executive is taking to address the growing rates of caesarean sections which stood at 50% in some maternity units during the summer months of 2013 in the case of first-time mothers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50194/13]

School Transport Provision

Ged Nash

243. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no public transport under the school transport scheme is available to students from Drogheda attending a school (details supplied) in County Louth; if efforts will be made by the relevant authorities to provide such transport in this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49152/13]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

278. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections undertaken by NERA to date in 2013 in respect of the enforcement of REA rates of pay at school construction sites; the locations of such inspection visits by county; the number of cases of non-compliance identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49342/13]

National Internship Scheme Data

Ged Nash

364. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have participated in the JobBridge internship programme to date broken down by county; the number who have progressed to paid employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49563/13]

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Ged Nash

399. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department, in consultation with Inland Fisheries Ireland, has completed a review of the provisions of the Fisheries Acts dating back to 1959, with particular reference to the licensing regime; if IFI has made any particular recommendations on future licensing regimes for all types of angling in respect of any proposed legislation; if he will confirm that the Government will not introduce a general angling permit, or rod licence by any other name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49185/13]

Orthodontic Service Provision

Ged Nash

634. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive intends to engage an additional orthodontist in County Louth to address waiting lists for orthodontic treatment for under 18s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48881/13]

Orthodontic Service Waiting Lists

Ged Nash

635. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form, waiting time periods for orthodontic treatment for under 18s in County Louth for the years 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48882/13]

HSE Agency Staff Data

Ged Nash

703. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the total number of agency staff engaged at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012 in porter services, nursing grades, maintenance and cleaning; if he will provide in tabular format the total cost per annum under each of these headings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49445/13]

Hospitals Expenditure

Ged Nash

704. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health the costs associated with transportation relating to the laundry service at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, within the hospital campus and from the hospital to facilities at Navan and Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49446/13]

Living City Initiative

Ged Nash

85. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider designating Drogheda, County Louth under the terms of the living city initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48009/13]

Tax Credits

Ged Nash

86. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider including in the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 requirements around improvements to energy efficiency under the tax rebate on home improvements scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48010/13]

Tax Exemptions

Ged Nash

87. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will bring the eligibility criteria for the relief scheme for the long-term unemployed, 15 months in receipt of certain social welfare payments, in line with the eligibility criteria for the back to work enterprise allowance 12 months in receipt of certain social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48011/13]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Ged Nash

36. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will include Drogheda and Dundalk, County Louth, in the living cities initiative in the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47222/13]

Seniors Alert Scheme Issues

Ged Nash

122. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has secured additional funding for the seniors community alert scheme for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47383/13]

Tax Credits

Ged Nash

146. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that provision will be made in the forthcoming finance Bill to ensure that the single parent tax credit may be utilised by the parent with joint custody who earns the lower amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45629/13]

Water Meters Installation

Ged Nash

652. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the commencement date and targeted completion timescale for the programme of water meter installations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45708/13]

Leader Programmes Funding

Ged Nash

680. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an appeal against a decision not to grant final approval for a Leader funding application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; when a decision will be made on the appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46360/13]

Symphysiotomy Report

Ged Nash

1030. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health when he will bring proposals in relation to the Walsh Report with regard to symphysiotomy to Government; when he will appoint a judge to meet with the women involved in order to facilitate a process to bring matters with regard to symphysiotomy further to a successful conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45646/13]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Ged Nash

1039. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health when a paediatric urologist will be appointed to Temple Street Childrens Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45704/13]

Crime Data

Ged Nash

414. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the most recent crime rate figures available for County Meath, broken down by local Garda station and under the classification of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44731/13]

Garda Deployment

Ged Nash

415. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí allocated to County Meath, broken down by local Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44732/13]

Crime Data

Ged Nash

416. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the most recent crime rate figures available for County Lout, broken down by local Garda station and under the classification of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44733/13]

Garda Deployment

Ged Nash

417. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí allocated to County Louth, broken down by local Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44734/13]