Parliamentary questions

Regulatory Impact Assessment Data

Joanna Tuffy

549. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on all regulatory impact assessments carried out on Bills in his Department since this Government took office to date; if he will list these Bills in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41588/13]

Regulatory Impact Assessment Data

Joanna Tuffy

561. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on all regulatory impact assessments carried out on Bills in her Department since this Government took office to date; if she will list these Bills in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41590/13]

Regulatory Impact Assessment Data

Joanna Tuffy

624. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on all regulatory impact statements carried out on Bills in his Department since this Government took office to date; if he will list these Bills in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41596/13]

Regulatory Impact Assessment Data

Joanna Tuffy

669. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on all regulatory impact statements carried out on Bills in his Department since this Government took office; if he will list these Bills in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41601/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

70. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40704/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

94. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisors, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40703/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

109. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers, political staff and communication staff employed by the Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40701/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

112. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers, political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40314/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

120. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers, political and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40706/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

152. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of advisors, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by her Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40708/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

156. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisors, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40697/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

165. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisors, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40699/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

178. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisors, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40702/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

206. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40707/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

209. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40700/13]

Sea Lice Controls

Joanna Tuffy

219. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the problem of sea lice from sea fisheries; if he has considered this issue in relation to his policy and decisions regarding sea farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40250/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

231. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisors, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40696/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

236. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by her Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40698/13]

Water Fluoridation

Joanna Tuffy

238. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the practice of water fluoridation including reducing the level of fluoride in the water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40248/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Joanna Tuffy

283. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40705/13]

Ministerial Adviser Appointments

Joanna Tuffy

146. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Taoiseach the number of political staff employed in his office in 1981 and the number employed currently in 2013, including secretarial assistants, parliamentary advisers, special advisers, press officers, researchers and administrators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39035/13]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Joanna Tuffy

176. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on applications for approval of adoptions from Russia (details supplied). [39036/13]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Joanna Tuffy

327. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a college of further education (details supplied) and the teacher allocation needed to ensure that it can deliver its programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37836/13]

Waste Management

Joanna Tuffy

903. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position on the second report (details supplied) from the interdepartmental working group which was established to examine the issue of the impact of waste charges on low-income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37663/13]

Planning Issues

Joanna Tuffy

918. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on his role in relation to the Liffey Valley special amenity area and the need to ensure that the local authorities including Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin and Kildare County Councils are working together to protect and enhance this amenity; if there are plans to extend this special amenity area through an order by him; the role his Department is playing in relation to the development of a Liffey Valley Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37838/13]

Tax Reliefs Application

Joanna Tuffy

200. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the announcements last December, as part of budget 2013, that pension tax reliefs were to be capped; the way this decision will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36754/13]

Tax Collection

Joanna Tuffy

201. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on taxes and PRSI payable by those in receipt of rent for dwellings, including reliefs, and any changes arising out of budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36755/13]

Social Insurance Yield

Joanna Tuffy

361. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on PRSI chargeable on rent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36756/13]

UN Conventions Issues

Joanna Tuffy

556. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if and when he intends to introduce legislation which recognises the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the community as set out in Article 19 of the UN Convention which Ireland agreed to, in principal, in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36398/13]

HSE Properties

Joanna Tuffy

242. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding plans for the land at Cherry Orchard Hospital, Ballyfermot, between the drug treatment centre and the houses in Whitethorn Estate; if there will be any new planting of trees or erection of a wall to protect the privacy of the residents following the felling of the existing trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34062/13]

Waste Disposal

Joanna Tuffy

200. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding increases in landfill charges; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that waste collectors are passing this charge on to households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33743/13]

Departmental Offices

Joanna Tuffy

144. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to provide a facility for members of the public when waiting at the Clondalkin social welfare office, Dublin (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32632/13]

Aquaculture Licences Applications

Joanna Tuffy

236. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the Bord Iascaigh Mhara application for an aquaculture and a foreshore licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay, and the taking on board of concerns expressed about the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32855/13]

Insurance Costs

Joanna Tuffy

78. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance the protections there are for holders of life insurance policies against insurance companies unreasonably and arbitrarily increasing the premiums to be paid by the policyholder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32477/13]

Animal Testing

Joanna Tuffy

271. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health when Regulation 1223/2009 dated 11 March 2013 in relation to the ban on animal-tested cosmetics will be fully implemented and if the submission of the Irish anti-Vivisection Society (details supplied) will be taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31408/13]

Housing Finance Agency Issues

Joanna Tuffy

150. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the previous two interest rate cuts announced by the European Central bank have been passed on in full to local authority borrowers, home owners under the shared ownership and affordable housing schemes; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29577/13]

Further Education and Training Programmes Provision

Joanna Tuffy

279. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a college of further education (details supplied) in Dublin 10 that provides higher education courses is eligible to apply to offer Springboard and momentum skills places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27409/13]

Proposed Legislation

Joanna Tuffy

708. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland is lagging behind many other EU countries in terms of recognising and supporting the role of fathers in parenting; if he will follow the lead of other countries by introducing paternity leave starting with a provision similar to that recently introduced in the UK that allows paternity leave as part of a shared leave arrangement between mothers and fathers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27361/13]

Health Services Provision

Joanna Tuffy

987. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on funding for day services in Dublin Mid West (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27462/13]

Corporation Tax

Joanna Tuffy

85. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on claims in the United States Senate hearings that Ireland made a special deal with Apple and the other claims that Ireland was a tax haven; the steps being taken to rebut these claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26595/13]

School Accommodation

Joanna Tuffy

103. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the need for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26598/13]

School Accommodation

Joanna Tuffy

104. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update in the way the decision to provide a school (details supplied) in County Dublin was arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26599/13]

Pension Provisions

Joanna Tuffy

95. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the number of retired secondary school teachers who are on his Department's payroll; the percentage of these who have pensions which fall into categories of between €10,000 to €20,000, between €20,000 to €30,000, between €30,000 and €40,000, between €40,000 and €50,000 and of €60,000 or more per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25998/13]

Further Education and Training Programmes Provision

Joanna Tuffy

100. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on whether colleges of further education that provide higher education courses (details supplied), in addition to post-leaving certificate courses, are eligible to apply to offer Springboard and Momentum skills places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26157/13]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Joanna Tuffy

256. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the review group to develop a modern apprenticeship system; and when and the way in which members of the public will be able to make submissions to that review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25435/13]

Data Protection

Joanna Tuffy

526. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the finding of inappropriate access to PULSE as outlined in the Annual Report 2012 of the Data Protection Commissioner including steps taken to address this issue subsequent to the report and previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25437/13]

Further Education and Training Programmes Funding

Joanna Tuffy

57. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the educational institutions that are entitled to apply to offer Springboard or Momentum skills places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24928/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Joanna Tuffy

59. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any circumstances in which a student grant applicant who is not in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment may be eligible for a special rate grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24973/13]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Joanna Tuffy

221. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health when he intends to fill sanctioned posts in critical areas of diabetes care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24974/13]

Public Sector Staff Career Breaks

Joanna Tuffy

125. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are any proposals to introduce incentivised career breaks to the wider civil service, including education, similar to the scheme being offered to employees and those in organisations/bodies funded by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24574/13]