Parliamentary questions

Care of the Elderly

Arthur Spring

601. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the projected increase in the over 65 year old population in the coming decade; if any funds or moneys are being set aside or are being planned to provide this section of the population with the future facilities and care that will be needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49532/12]

Blind Welfare Allowance Eligibility

Arthur Spring

643. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the qualifying criteria a person (details supplied) in County Kerry failed to meet in order to be registered as blind when applying for the blind welfare allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49872/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

Arthur Spring

667. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if the 1.25 WTE podiatrist position at Kerry general hospital Tralee, which was sanctioned in April 2012 as part of the National Footcare Programme, will be filled as envisaged by the Health Service Executive’s National Clinical Programme for Diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50119/12]

Local Authority Services

Arthur Spring

685. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an assessment of the outcomes that result from the pedestrianisation of main and secondary streets in regional towns in particular for retail and tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49753/12]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Arthur Spring

69. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he intends to adjust the student maintenance grant, either by reducing the grant rates or by tightening the conditions for eligibility. [48817/12]

Agrifood Sector Issues

Arthur Spring

177. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a capacity to grow more crops here where a commercial market price can be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48783/12]

Pharmacy Services

Arthur Spring

196. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand the range of medicines, with established safety profiles and available in other locations without prescription, that can be dispensed by pharmacists with a view to generating more savings as seen in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48828/12]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Arthur Spring

166. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the situation in Uganda, the measures and safeguards that are in place to ensure Irish aid funds are not misappropriated by other Governments and authorities that benefit from such funding. [48166/12]

Illegal Israeli Imports

Arthur Spring

181. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of a recent report Trading Away Peace, published by a consortium of 22 organisations across Europe, which shows that despite viewing Israeli settlements as illegal the EU imports goods and services with an estimated value of €230 million from the Israeli settlements compared to €15 million from Palestinian territories, if he will provide an estimated figure for the value of trade between Ireland and Israeli settlements in Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48672/12]

NAMA Debtor Agreements

Arthur Spring

223. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if there are any debtors of the National Assets Management Agency in receipt of salaries from NAMA who are being pursued by said organisation for personal guarantees. [47856/12]

NAMA Debtor Agreements

Arthur Spring

224. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if there are any debtors of the National Assets Management Agency in receipt of salaries from NAMA who are being pursued by said organisation for recovery of assets transferred to a third party. [47857/12]

NAMA Debtor Agreements

Arthur Spring

237. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance the average wage for developers or project facilitators in the National Assets Management Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48105/12]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Arthur Spring

241. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance the extra cost to the Exchequer that would arise if mortgage interest relief was extended to 50% for persons with net income of less than €30,000, and extended to 40% for person's with net income between €30,000 and €40,000. [48212/12]

Regulation of Accountants

Arthur Spring

246. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the Revenue Commissioners, under current legislation, provide sufficient protection for the tax payer if incorrect accounts and information are submitted by the tax payer's accountant to the Revenue Commissioners without the taxpayer's agreement. [48350/12]

Graduate Medicine Programme Fees

Arthur Spring

276. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the difficulty medical graduate entrants are having in securing bank loans in order to complete their qualifications; if the situation is being examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48102/12]

Student Grant Scheme Delays

Arthur Spring

340. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in grant applications being processed through the new Student Universal Support Ireland website system; the number of these grants that are being held up due to delays by the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48108/12]

School Patronage

Arthur Spring

350. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action being taken to cater for the provision of Church of Ireland schools, taking into account the absence of any secondary schools with a Protestant ethos being provided in County Kerry. [48211/12]

Flood Risk Assessments

Arthur Spring

409. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform regarding repeated flooding in the Kilmoyley area (details supplied) in County Kerry, if the Office of Public Works will undertake a flood risk assessment and undertaken appropriate measures to prevent flooding which is impacting on local residents as well as the church and cemetery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48671/12]

Blind Person's Pension Eligibility

Arthur Spring

458. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Social Protection the qualifying criteria a person (details supplied) in County Kerry failed to meet in order to be registered as blind when applying for the blind welfare allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47430/12]

Inland Fisheries Issues

Arthur Spring

620. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will examine the feasibility of a salmon hatchery on the River Feale in County Kerry; the potential to rejuvenate salmon fish stocks and the potential economic benefits such a project would have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48164/12]

Renewable Energy Generation

Arthur Spring

652. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the level of engagement regarding the development of a renewable energy European supergrid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48674/12]

Renewable Energy Generation

Arthur Spring

653. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the level of engagement of the European Investment Bank in the development of the renewable energy European supergrid and the way he is engaging with the European Investment Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48675/12]

Departmental Functions

Arthur Spring

654. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department is engaging with the European Investment Bank and on what matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48676/12]

Homeless Persons Numbers

Arthur Spring

707. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any of the National Assets Management Agency allocated social housing properties will be utilised to meet the needs of the rising homeless population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48104/12]

Gender Recognition Issues

Arthur Spring

767. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his view on the proposed 40% female corporate gender quota in the EU; if he will support the quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48113/12]

Common Fisheries Policy Reform

Arthur Spring

882. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent provisional deal to reshape the common fisheries policy and the aim to reform the eradication of discards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47854/12]

Home Help Service Provision

Arthur Spring

971. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if the model of the home help services of Northern Ireland has been examined by his Department in view of the recent report composed by researchers from Trinity College Dublin and Queen's University Belfast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48107/12]

Health Services Staff Issues

Arthur Spring

1107. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health his views on the difficulty of retaining Irish-trained doctors and attracting doctors who have gone abroad to return to Ireland; his plans to improve this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48100/12]

Medical Research and Training

Arthur Spring

1108. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health his views on the recent accusations that the Health Service Executive does not understand or care about education and research in the medical field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48101/12]

Cancer Screening Programme

Arthur Spring

1109. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent report by a person (details supplied) regarding breast health and the need for further promotion and breast awareness; his plans to continue raising awareness on this important issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48103/12]

Rare Diseases Strategy Publication

Arthur Spring

1144. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on a specific national approach to improve the health and well-being of persons with rare diseases, as recommended by the European Council action group in the field of rare diseases; the current status of a national rare disease strategy for the State in view of the number of persons estimated to suffer from a rare disease in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48354/12]

Tourism Promotion

Arthur Spring

1237. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way the Atlantic Corridor will be marketed and promoted and to whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48673/12]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Arthur Spring

154. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1001 of 18 April 2012, and taking into consideration the following, the number of Irish persons who have emigrated in recent years, that the current Police Certificate of Character may be issued by an Garda Síochána only for the purposes of foreign consular and immigration requirements and for foreign business establishment and not for taking up foreign employment, that the data protection access request application form states a disclosure of personal data under the Data Protection Act 1988 and 2003 should not be construed as Garda vetting, Police certificate, Garda reference or security clearance, if there is a need for a separate Garda clearance certificate to be introduced to cater specifically for Irish citizens who have been offered employment abroad, especially in education and whose acceptance of the offer of employment is pending on the issue of a police clearance certificate from An Garda Síochána. [46906/12]

Financial Services Regulation

Arthur Spring

55. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance the extent of Central Bank of Ireland supervision and control over bank fees and charges for retail customers in the context of diminished competition due to the reduced number of banks providing retail banking services here. [46768/12]

Rail Services

Arthur Spring

269. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider a review of rail fares charged by Irish Rail for travel between regional towns as cities as average single rail fares often far exceed the equivalent return bus fare (details supplied); if he will provide information on the capacity for the Tralee, County Kerry, to County Cork route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46597/12]

Ocean Energy Competition

Arthur Spring

398. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the launch of a €10 million ocean energy competition by the Scottish Government for the development of marine energy devices, that is the Saltire Prize which aims to accelerate the commercial development of wave and tidal energy technology, if such a competition would be feasible here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46146/12]

Health Services Provision

Arthur Spring

213. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current waiting time to access early intervention services for children in the Tralee area, County Kerry, is approximately seven months; the actions that have been taken to reduce the waiting time to access these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45380/12]

Ministerial Correspondence

Arthur Spring

95. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if he has been in contact with the Northern Ireland Secretary for State, Theresa Villiers, recently regarding the corporate tax rate in Northern Ireland; if there will be any change in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45266/12]

FÁS Local Training Initiatives Expenditure

Arthur Spring

103. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the allowances and funding that are currently provided to local training initiatives by FÁS in relation to training for participants and grants for supervisors, materials and administration; the amount FÁS may allocate to a local training initiative to cover the audit fees, as an audit is required by the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44995/12]

Skills Development

Arthur Spring

148. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the level of engagement and integration between the institute of technology colleges and Industrial Development Agency in the current national and international employment opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45269/12]

Child Benefit Payments

Arthur Spring

159. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of households with an income in excess of €100,000 in receipt of child benefit. [45048/12]

Child Benefit Payments

Arthur Spring

175. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimate number of households with an income in excess of €100,000 in receipt of child benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45272/12]

Renewable Energy Incentives

Arthur Spring

196. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the invention grants in renewable energy that exist for students, companies and individuals here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45264/12]

Regional Assemblies Issues

Arthur Spring

208. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered reconfiguring the regional authorities that were laid out in the Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order 1993 as the current configuration has caused counties, such as County Kerry, to become disadvantaged in comparison to County Limerick and the border, midlands and west regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45267/12]

Farm Safety

Arthur Spring

258. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the policies being pursued to reduce the number of farm accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45268/12]

Home Help Service Provision

Arthur Spring

282. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive budget for home help services in County Kerry is on target. [45049/12]

General Practitioner Services

Arthur Spring

297. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health his plans for the SouthDoc service in County Kerry in view of the financial difficulty that has recently been highlighted in the media as well as the 2007 cuts to overall funding for the service and the 2009 10% pay cut to workers in the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45265/12]

Bus Éireann Services

Arthur Spring

315. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties in using the Bus Éireann website; his plans to make it more accessible for users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45270/12]

Overseas Development Aid

Arthur Spring

127. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are any companies or persons participating, being developed or assisted in Ireland through the European Commission proposed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44526/12]

Tax Yield

Arthur Spring

197. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance the potential additional revenue that would be acquired through extending the universal social charge 3% surcharge, which currently only applies to the self-employed, to all income earners more than €100,000 irrespective of source. [44434/12]

Regional Development

Arthur Spring

289. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is in a position to clarify the criteria for the selection of Kerry Group’s Global Technology and Innovation Centre in Naas County Kildare supported by Enterprise Ireland; if he considered balanced regional development and the synergies and economic benefits such a development would have next to Kerry Group’s Headquarters in County Kerry; if he will elaborate on plans to create sustainable jobs in County Kerry, an area with the highest unemployment and emigration rates in the country. [44611/12]

Telecommunications Services Provision

Arthur Spring

389. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in view of the planned launch of the 4G LTE mobile networks in Europe and particularly in the UK including Northern Ireland in the coming months, he will provide a timeframe for the expected auction of spectrum and the completion of the 4G network here. [44435/12]

Building Regulations

Arthur Spring

437. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 3 May 2012, if he will provide an update on the appointment of the Chairperson and the nomination of the majority of non-architect members to the Professional Conduct Committee in line with Section 23 of the Building Control Act 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44779/12]

Medical Card Eligibility

Arthur Spring

657. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the qualifying conditions which nationals of EU and EEA countries, including Switzerland, would have to meet in order for them to be entitled to a medical card if they become an ordinary resident here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44525/12]

Employment Support Services

Arthur Spring

135. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Social Protection with reference to Page 20 Section 42 of the Pathways to Work strategy, her plans for contracting with the private sector; and if any cuts to existing local employment services are envisaged. [43590/12]

Tax Yield

Arthur Spring

176. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if he has any estimate of the total value of taxes lost to the State as a result of the 10,686 people who were non-resident for tax purposes in 2010, as per information from the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43221/12]

Tax Yield

Arthur Spring

186. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if he has any estimate on the total value of taxes lost to the State as a result of the 10,686 persons who were non-resident for tax purposes in 2010, as per information from the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43339/12]

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Arthur Spring

179. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the withdrawal of special needs assistants in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41834/12]

Services for People with Disabilities

Arthur Spring

552. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is a resident of the Health Service Executive South Region; if they are entitled to attend respite care on a full time basis; if the HSE South Region refer a person to a different HSE region for respite care; if any reciprocal agreements are currently in place between HSE regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41717/12]

Health Services Allowances

Arthur Spring

181. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has changed its policy in relation to the payment of subsistence and travel allowance to members of the ambulance services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41044/12]

Digital Television Service Provision

Arthur Spring

117. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the reason RTÉ NL do not include the Ballydavid transmitter, County Kerry, in the list of 13 additional transmitter sites that will broadcast the new Saorview service; if RTÉ NL can guarantee full service to all of west Kerry through the transmitter site in Dingle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41019/12]

Citizenship Applications

Arthur Spring

302. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average processing time for de facto relationship visas in view of the fact that all required documentation is submitted with the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40082/12]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Arthur Spring

261. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be recalled for a surgical procedure to Kerry General Hospital. [39948/12]

Regulation of Accountants

Arthur Spring

210. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance the measures in place to protect clients of registered accountants when the accountant fails to provide sufficient information to the Revenue Commissioners despite the fact that the client provided all necessary information to the accountant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37038/12]

School Enrolments

Arthur Spring

363. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received the projected enrolment figures for 2012/13 for a school (details supplied) in County Kerry and based on these figures, the number of teachers that the school will be allocated. [37015/12]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Arthur Spring

1163. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a Garda vetting clearance certificate should be transferable to a new employer if the certificate was awarded within the last two to three-year period in view of the fact that those seeking employment have to reapply each time they start a new job; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37158/12]

Budget 2013

Arthur Spring

1351. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that small and medium farmers of moderate incomes will be protected in the upcoming December budget given the social importance of the agriculture sector to rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36974/12]

Agrifood Sector Issues

Arthur Spring

1352. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he envisages a need to further expand the nation's production of crops for export purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36975/12]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Conditions

Arthur Spring

1353. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if a scheme is being devised to replace agri-environment option scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36976/12]

Student Grant Scheme

Arthur Spring

163 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is entitled to continue to receive his student grant from Kildare VEC and not have to reapply to Student Universal Support Ireland as a new applicant, considering the course that he initially commenced was dropped by Tralee IT; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35144/12]

Invalidity Pension

Arthur Spring

347 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35148/12]

Renewable Energy

Arthur Spring

408 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the final offshore renewable energy development plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34526/12]

Renewable Energy

Arthur Spring

409 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the EU funding support that is available and has been used to support the development of grid-connected wave testing here; the results of the wave testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34528/12]

Electric Vehicle Grants

Arthur Spring

410 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if new incentives are being planned for electric vehicle owners as the current renewable energy rate in transport was documented at 2.4% in 2010 and EU regulations demand a 10% sub-target by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34529/12]

Alternative Energy Projects

Arthur Spring

411 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress that has been made in communicating with Northern Ireland groups and agencies on the future co-ordination of an all-island approach to the development of bioenergy resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34530/12]

Legislative Programme

Arthur Spring

443 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he plans to introduce the planned foreshore legislation which would provide for new offshore licensing and permitting regime in relation to renewable technologies specifically the market of ocean technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34527/12]

Local Authority Charges

Arthur Spring

468 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is an appeals process available in relation to late payment fines for the non-principal private residence fee.
[32259/12]