Parliamentary questions

Property Taxation Exemptions

John Lyons

228. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an estate (details supplied) in Dublin 11 was exempt from the household charge in 2012 but is not now exempt from the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15661/13]

School Meals Programme

John Lyons

141. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to adjust the cap on school funding under the schools meals programme taking note of increased school enrolments as in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14545/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Applications

John Lyons

174. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department is involved in discussions with local authorities to give prioritisation to applicants for social housing support based on the length of time they have been on the waiting list; and if so, if he will provide an update on such a change to the scheme of letting priorities being introduced. [14466/13]

Mental Health Services Provision

John Lyons

508. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health the reason a community psychiatric respite bed (details supplied) in Dublin 3 is no longer available for referrals; if this is only temporary or if another respite bed will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13811/13]

Mortgage Interest Relief Application

John Lyons

166. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) relating to a person's interaction with their bank on their mortgage interest relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12495/13]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

John Lyons

213. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a third level grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12565/13]

Property Taxation Application

John Lyons

81. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding property tax in respect of a person (details supplied). [11942/13]

Tax Reliefs Application

John Lyons

143. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will bring forward the date, by three or six months from January 2014, for the reduction in tax relief on pensions of more than €60,000 per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11033/13]

Drug Treatment Court

John Lyons

372. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of referrals that have been made from the District Court to the drugs court programme for persons from the Dublin North West constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11036/13]

Taxi Regulations

John Lyons

593. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider recommending changes to the National Transport Authority to the skills development programme for entry into the taxi industry; if he will consider changes to the second module relating to knowledge of the local area and routes from one place to another; and if he will consider implementing a more stringent test of this knowledge to benefit customers in the taxi sector. [11017/13]

National Spatial Strategy

John Lyons

449. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to engage in a consultation process on the formulation of a replacement spatial plan to the national spatial strategy; if he will provide a timeframe for this consultation and delivery of a new plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10044/13]

National Spatial Strategy

John Lyons

450. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to put any successor to the national spatial strategy on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10045/13]

Family Law Cases

John Lyons

481. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 7 November 2012, if he will provide an update on his efforts to reform the family court system; and if he will provide an up to date timescale for the introduction of a Bill to promote mediation as a viable and cost effective alternative to court proceedings in family law cases to the benefit of all parties. [9633/13]

Corporation Tax

John Lyons

146. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if there was an effective corporate tax rate of 10%, what would the total tax take from corporation tax have been for 2010, 2011 and 2012; what it would be in 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7961/13]

Graduate Medicine Programme Places

John Lyons

325. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health the number of intern places available to medical students here next year; if the number of places available will accommodate all medical students applying in view the importance of the intern year and the costs of medical school fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7851/13]

FÁS Training Programmes Eligibility

John Lyons

81. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if participants on momentum courses will receive travel and meal allowances as they do with FÁS courses, depending on their circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7655/13]

Local Authority Charges Application

John Lyons

731. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is possible to apply council parking charges to existing out-of-town retail developments as proposed in the policy Smarter Travel, A Sustainable Transport Future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6930/13]

Commercial Rates

John Lyons

587. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the small business rate relief scheme in operation in Northern Ireland; his views on whether such a scheme could be implemented here to support small and medium businesses in town centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5787/13]

Commercial Rates

John Lyons

588. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the small business rate relief scheme in operation in Northern Ireland and the large retail levy it has introduced on a temporary basis; his views on whether such a temporary levy on large out-of-town retail operations could be considered here to reduce commercial rates for small and medium sized businesses in town centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5788/13]

Commercial Rates

John Lyons

589. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the small business rate relief scheme in operation in Northern Ireland and the large retail levy it has introduced on a temporary basis; his views on whether such a temporary levy on large out-of-town retail operations could be considered here to finance targeted measures such as main street improvements and reduced parking charges in town centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5789/13]

Commercial Rates

John Lyons

590. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether local authorities should have the ability to adjust commercial rates to support planning policy; if he will detail the legislative changes that would be required to allow for such changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5790/13]

Local Authority Charges Application

John Lyons

900. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is possible to apply council parking charges to existing out-of-town retail developments as proposed in the document (details supplied); his policy Smarter Travel, A Sustainable Transport Future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5792/13]

Child Care Services Provision

John Lyons

187. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide detail of any Health Service Executive correspondence with crèche facilities in the Dublin North West area related to the payment of subsidised crèche places and any alterations to the funding arrangements for HSE places in local crèche facilities. [4940/13]

Schools Building Projects Administration

John Lyons

85. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering the use of social clauses in the contracts for the school building programme; and in particular, if he will consider including a quota to employ jobseekers who are long-term unemployed. [4696/13]

Public Procurement Tenders

John Lyons

97. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is considering the use of social clauses in all public procurement contracts in his Department; and if he will consider including a quota to employ jobseekers who are long-term unemployed. [4698/13]

Citizenship Applications

John Lyons

149. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases currently awaiting decision in his Department based on the Zambrano judgment; the criteria being used to decide on cases under the Zambrano judgment; and if he will detail the level of discretion used as part of this process. [4628/13]

Departmental Contracts

John Lyons

187. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he is considering the use of social clauses in contracts for the construction of primary care centres and the national children's hospital, Dublin; and if he will consider including a quota in the contracts to employ jobseekers who are long-term unemployed. [4700/13]

Rail Network

John Lyons

201. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a contract has been awarded for the upcoming preparatory works and construction works for the Luas BXD project; if the tender or part of the tender will include a social clause to consider those who are currently long-term unemployed for some of the positions under the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4640/13]

Driving Licence Renewals

John Lyons

675. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reasons the drivers licence renewal form requests persons to provide their PPSN/RSI; if this information is deemed to be relevant to the application for a renewal of a drivers licence under the Data Protection Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2529/13]

Mortgage Interest Rates Issues

John Lyons

165. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance the measures he has considered to regulate the mortgage interest rates being applied by certain lenders particularly sub prime lenders; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that borrowers form these lenders find it difficult to refinance their mortgages with other providers and so are trapped paying penalty rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1534/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Numbers

John Lyons

522. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in Ballymun, Dublin, in receipt of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, Illness Benefit, Widows/Widowers Contributory Pension, Widows / Widowers Non-Contributory Pension and Deserted Wives Benefit. [1652/13]

Waste Management Regulations

John Lyons

661. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to the establishment of an interdepartmental working group on providing options to reduce waste charges to low income households and if they include a new form of bin wavier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1228/13]

Waste Management Regulations

John Lyons

662. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the contact he has had with bin service providers in relation to reducing waste charges for low income households; if he has received any assurances from these providers that measures will be put in place to reduce bin service costs for low income families and pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1229/13]

Drugs Courts

John Lyons

790. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update in relation to the review of the drugs treatment courts; when the review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1405/13]

Vaccination Programme

John Lyons

1098. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health when he will bring forward a package of supports for those who developed Narcolepsy as a result of vaccination with Pandemrix; the reason for the delay in bringing forward these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1735/13]

Vaccination Programme

John Lyons

1099. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that adequate counselling supports will be provided as part of the package of supports for those who developed narcolepsy as a result of vaccination with Pandemrix; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1736/13]

Vaccination Programme

John Lyons

1100. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health when the Health Service Executive will next meet with the support group SOUND; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1737/13]

Parking Regulations

John Lyons

1150. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when legislation will be brought forward to regulate private clamping operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1174/13]

Proposed Legislation

John Lyons

188. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the Noise Nuisance Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57434/12]

Public Sector Staff Increment Payments

John Lyons

288. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public servants who earn the amount in a salary range (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56817/12]

Job Creation Issues

John Lyons

294. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail his Department's direct involvement in the Green Way/An tSlí Glas project; his plans to support the Green Way project in the coming year; and if he will provide an update in the project's success to date in creating a Cleantech cluster in north Dublin and the surrounding region. [56637/12]

Health Insurance Prices

John Lyons

557. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a means by which a person who ceases their private health insurance payments before the end of their contract, based on an inability to pay, may be exempted from the requirement to pay the Government levy for the rest of the contract; if he proposes any way by which persons who have had to pay the levy after cancelling a contract can seek a refund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54025/12]

NAMA Investigations

John Lyons

62. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance further to the alleged fraud reported by the National Treasury Management Agency (details supplied), if he is confident that the NTMAs internal controls are sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53485/12]

NAMA Investigations

John Lyons

63. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance his plans to change internal processes or review the appointment of external auditors in view of reported fraud by the National Treasury Management Agency (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53486/12]

Pension Provisions

John Lyons

87. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will ask Irish Bank Resolution Corporation to respond to the issues outlined in the attached letter (details supplied) relating to workers pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53382/12]

Pension Provisions

John Lyons

137. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will urgently respond to the critical issues outlined in the attached letter (details supplied) relating to a workers' pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53385/12]

Tax Code

John Lyons

209. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance his views on a report (details supplied) on pension tax reliefs which highlighted the extent of tax subsidisation of the pensions of higher income earners; if he has any plans to reduce the current threshold and maximum pension pot allowable for tax relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52308/12]

State Properties

John Lyons

538. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to pull down the administration block built in 2005 at Templemore, County Tipperary, because it is not safe for use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52956/12]

Departmental Properties

John Lyons

539. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality what is being done with the lands bought at Clonmore for €5 million intended for use for firearm training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52957/12]

Public Sector Pensions Legislation

John Lyons

154. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if any changes will be considered to the application of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill to take account of public servants who took early retirement prior to the changes to average yearly contribution bands but who do not turn 66 years before 2020. [50344/12]