Parliamentary questions

Social Partnership Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

7. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on recent meetings with the social partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40919/13]

Social Partnership Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the social partners he has met recently; if he will report on these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47755/13]

Child Protection Guidelines

Richard Boyd Barrett

171. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the child protection standards in place in the English language school sector which uses host family accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53710/13]

Student Visas Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

173. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact that the Libyan Government is reported to be sending more than 20,000 students abroad to study, the contacts there have been between the Irish Government and the Libyan Government to facilitate Libyan students coming to Ireland to study English and go on to third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54172/13]

Student Visas Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

174. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if restrictive application conditions for Libyan Government sponsored students in Ireland which gives competitive advantage to the authorities in the UK, US and Canada who do not have such a requirement, whereby they can thereby attract a large number of Libyan sponsored students to their shores will be amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54173/13]

Schools Amalgamation

Richard Boyd Barrett

230. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills given that the enrolment deadline for the two-school model for Maynooth Education Campus, Maynooth Post Primary and Maynooth Community College passed on 6 December, the reason this deadline was not suspended or extended when the vast majority of parents have mandated the one-school model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54165/13]

School Management

Richard Boyd Barrett

231. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the method of appointment to the proposed governing body of Maynooth Education Campus under the current two-school model; the persons already appointed to this body; their remuneration and expertise; the overall cost of this body per annum; if this cost is deducted from the budgets of the two schools given that there would be no need for such a body under a junior-senior mode. [54166/13]

Student Visas Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

232. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact that the Libyan Government is reported to be sending over 20,000 students abroad to study both English and also third level studies, the steps he has taken to facilitate Libyan students coming here to study; if he has met with the Department of Justice and Equality to discuss the granting of the same procedures to sponsored students from Libya as are afforded to sponsored students from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. [54167/13]

Student Visas Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

233. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken to ensure that Libyan students are being issued with conditional letters of acceptance from higher education institutes, HEIs, in an appropriate and timely manner, as many applicants are complaining that conditional letter are taking very lengthy periods to be issued by HEIs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54168/13]

Prospecting Licences

Richard Boyd Barrett

347. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a prospecting licence has been granted for mining at Gooseberry Hill, Ballyorgan, County Limerick; if this mining has commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54236/13]

Mining Licences

Richard Boyd Barrett

348. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the licensing arrangements for mining in Ireland; the requirements that are in place for public consultation and local opinion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54237/13]

Mining Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

360. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the tax and royalty regime in place for stone quarrying and mining here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54240/13]

Local Authority Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

413. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of Limerick County Council's involvement in stone quarrying and mining operations at Gooseberry Hill, Ballyorgan, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54238/13]

Local Authority Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

414. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role the Environmental Protection Agency has in monitoring stone quarrying and mining operations, specifically at Gooseberry Hill, Ballyorgan, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54239/13]

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration

Richard Boyd Barrett

444. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an Oireachtas Members' inquiry line for his Department and INIS, as operated by other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54154/13]

Student Visas Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

445. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reasons students who are sponsored by the Libyan Government and who wish to study English before going on to third level study here are required to have letters of acceptance from third-level colleges here before they are allowed to study English while the same requirement is not made of other sponsored students who are allowed to arrange their third-level study while in Ireland studying English. [54169/13]

Student Visas Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

446. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the contacts there has been between his Department and the Libyan Government to facilitate Libyan students coming here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54170/13]

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration

Richard Boyd Barrett

447. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the waiting times at the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service at Burgh Quay; if there is a customer service policy; if there are any plans to improve waiting times and customer service at Burgh Quay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54171/13]

Hospital Consultants Remuneration

Richard Boyd Barrett

597. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the amount consultants with private practice are receiving on top of their Health Service Executive salary in private fees and the measures he is taking to address this. [54101/13]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Richard Boyd Barrett

41. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the costs of tax and PRSI relief for private pension provision for the years 2006 to date in 2013. [53234/13]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Richard Boyd Barrett

42. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will estimate the cost of tax and PRSI relief for approved retirement funds from 2006 to date in 2013. [53235/13]

Government-Church Dialogue

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the religious leaders he has met recently and the issues he has raised with them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47754/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 6 of 23 October 2013, if he will provide details of the 5000 new social housing units delivered in 2013, including a breakdown per local authority area; the number of these units that are new builds; the number that are voluntary housing units; the number delivered via leasing or other similar arrangements; the number acquired from the National Asset Management Agency; if he will provide the same information for the 5,000 expected units for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51935/13]

Local Government Fund

Richard Boyd Barrett

32. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for funding local authorities in 2014, in view of the news that the local property tax money for 2014 will fund Irish Water; if he will confirm that thereafter the local property tax will be retained by the local authorities and if the local government fund will be reduced by the same amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51934/13]

Energy Resources

Richard Boyd Barrett

3. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has any knowledge of actual production of oil from the Connemara field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51906/13]

Traveller Accommodation

Richard Boyd Barrett

104. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to the acknowledged need for the redevelopment of Labre Park Traveller accommodation in Ballyfermot, which has been included in the past three Traveller accommodation programmes but never advanced, if he will meet all of the stakeholders to ensure the delivery of this long awaited redevelopment. [51984/13]

NewERA Projects

Richard Boyd Barrett

50. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a full report on recent meetings of NewERA. [51706/13]

Community Development Initiatives

Richard Boyd Barrett

274. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of the planned changes to funding the community sector. [51958/13]

Pension Provisions

Richard Boyd Barrett

3. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the protections provided for in the Pensions (Amendment) Bill 2013 that would ensure that the restructuring of defined pension schemes would place the interests of workers and pensioners first, with particular reference to any instance of continued restructuring and its implications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51034/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Richard Boyd Barrett

31. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the rent allowance caps again in view of the recent reports of rent increases in the urban centres around the country; if not, the advice she would give to the thousands of housing applicants and homeless persons who cannot find suitable accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50742/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Richard Boyd Barrett

36. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the advice she would give to housing applicants and persons facing homelessness across the country particularly in urban areas such as Dublin where rents are increasing dramatically and where little if any private rented accommodation is available within the Department's rent allowance caps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50741/13]

Employment Rights

Richard Boyd Barrett

30. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the bill on trade union recognition will be brought forward and the mechanisms that will be contained in the bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50560/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Richard Boyd Barrett

8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent discussion with Chancellor Angela Merkel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40916/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Richard Boyd Barrett

9. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on meetings he has had with European counterparts since the summer recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40918/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Richard Boyd Barrett

10. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he raised the issue of Ireland's unemployment rate at the October meeting of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40922/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Richard Boyd Barrett

18. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the issues he raised with our European partners at the European Council meeting on 24-25 October; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47668/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Richard Boyd Barrett

19. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he had discussions regarding Ireland's exit from the troika programme at the European Council meeting on 24-25 October; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47669/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he had discussions regarding Ireland's debt situation at the European Council meeting on 24-25 October; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47670/13]

Haddington Road Agreement Negotiations

Richard Boyd Barrett

116. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that ASTI members will continue to be paid the annual supervision and substitution allowance of €1,769 gross, in view of the fact that this is not part of the Haddington Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42440/13]

Tax Credits

Richard Boyd Barrett

195. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 90 of 12 November 2013, the steps that the Revenue Commissioners took to confirm that the person in question was residing with their partner for the years concerned; and if it is the practice of the Revenue Commissioners to withdraw tax credits without looking for confirmation of the reasons for adjusting tax credits. [50708/13]

Health Contribution Refunds

Richard Boyd Barrett

409. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection further to the overcharging of the health contribution in 2009 and 2010, the number of persons who applied for a refund; the number who were given a refund; the total amount refunded; the number of persons still eligible for a refund; and the total amount of these refunds. [50724/13]

Insolvency Payments Scheme Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

412. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans in terms of legislative reform to allow workers access to the State insolvency fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50561/13]

Medical Card Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

637. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the general practitioner visit card review or issue a temporary GP visit card to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [50639/13]

EU-IMF Programme of Support

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the position on Ireland's obligations under the fiscal treaty and other EU rules in terms of debt and deficit reduction, budgeting and monitoring following an exit from the troika programme; the implications of these obligations for future budgets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49253/13]

Unemployment Levels

Richard Boyd Barrett

12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will explain the unusual anomaly recently highlighted by his Department, where growth has failed to match forecasts but the employment-unemployment situation has apparently improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49254/13]

Corporation Tax

Richard Boyd Barrett

19. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to ask the corporate sector to make any extra tax contribution to assist economic recovery, particularly in the area of funding, training, education and employment programmes for young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49255/13]

IBRC Mortgage Loan Book

Richard Boyd Barrett

26. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, formerly Anglo Irish Bank, mortgage holders regarding plans to dispose of these mortgages as part of the wind-up of IBRC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49256/13]

Banks Recapitalisation

Richard Boyd Barrett

31. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he has drawn to the EU's attention, the fact confirmed in EUROSTAT figures, that the average cost per Irish citizen of the European bank bailout was €8,981 whereas the average cost per EU citizen was €192; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49252/13]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU affairs last met. [42215/13]

Middle East Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

85. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the pressure his Department is putting on the Israeli Government, through the Irish embassy in Tel Aviv or other channels, to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza; if he will provide details of his Department's most recent correspondence with the Israeli Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49260/13]

National Internship Scheme Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

229. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of schools currently utilising the JobBridge scheme to employ interns in a teaching capacity. [48863/13]

National Internship Scheme Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

300. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of schools currently utilising the JobBridge scheme to employ interns in a teaching capacity. [48862/13]

Hospital Investigations

Richard Boyd Barrett

684. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for an inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [49360/13]

Hospital Investigations

Richard Boyd Barrett

685. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will reply to the correspondence (details supplied) in County Dublin. [49361/13]

Child Protection

Richard Boyd Barrett

23. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the involvement of Health Service Executive child protection services with the two Roma children removed from their family homes; the imminent risk of significant harm to the children from the child protection point of view; if child protection services were aware of the cases in advance of the children being removed from their family homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47831/13]

Proposed Legislation

Richard Boyd Barrett

29. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the children first Bill will be published; if it will mean that Departments and-or the Health Service Executive can be reported for failure to protect the welfare of vulnerable children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47832/13]

Tax Credits

Richard Boyd Barrett

90. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will explain the changes in tax credits in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [48018/13]

Revenue Complaint and Review Procedures

Richard Boyd Barrett

91. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the course of action a person may take if they complain to the Revenue Commissioners about their treatment in a public office and if they are not satisfied with the response they get. [48019/13]

State Pension (Non-Contributory) Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

205. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a non-contributory pension review in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [48020/13]

Child Protection

Richard Boyd Barrett

301. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in the case of the seven year old child taken from a Roma family in Tallaght, if the Garda contacted the Health Service Executive child protection social worker prior to acting and removing the child from the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47714/13]

Racial Profiling

Richard Boyd Barrett

302. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will explain the use of racial profiling in the work of the Garda and Irish National Immigration Service and other sections of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47715/13]

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

448. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the action he will take in cases where it appears that some hospital consultants are exceeding the allowed 20% to 30% private practice; the impact this has on public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47993/13]

Equality Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

520. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether a recent Twitter statement was in keeping with the International Olympic Charter; if national governing bodies of sport will adopt equality and discrimination clauses in their constitutions in line with the EC White Paper on Sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48042/13]

Public Transport Subsidies

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for the reduction in the State subsidy to Dublin Bus in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47178/13]

Public Service Obligation Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

39. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the tendering out of Dublin Bus routes to private firms and the implications this will have for the terms and conditions of Dublin Bus drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47177/13]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on climate change and the green economy will next meet. [42214/13]

Corrib Gas Field Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

26. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if it is true that a tunnelling expert sent by the Department to investigate claims by residents around Srahwaddaconn Bay that there was bubbling in the Srahwaddaconn estuary over the area where Shell was tunnelling as part of the Corrib project and that an expert was denied access to the tunnel by Shell where weeks later a Shell employee died when a compressed air pipe attached to the tunnel boring machine exploded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45047/13]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to deal with the housing crisis which sees 110,000 families and individuals on the housing waiting list and ten new persons presenting to homeless services in Dublin each day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44772/13]

Foreshore Licences Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

61. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to forthcoming amendments to the Foreshore Act if a company (details supplied) will be able to reactivate its previous application for oil exploration in the foreshore or if it will need to commence the process again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44773/13]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

225. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Dublin receives a replacement wheelchair as a matter of urgency. [45301/13]

Local Authority Housing Stock

Richard Boyd Barrett

370. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the number of new houses each local authority has acquired in each of the past ten years; if these houses were new builds or acquired through the National Asset Management Agency or any other available scheme; his plans to build or acquire new social housing over the next five years on a yearly basis. [44673/13]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

371. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update regarding the announcement made on 19 July 2012 that his Department would allocate €100 million for social housing, which would result in the provision of 800 new units across the country; the number of units that have been completed in each local authority area; and his views on the way this will impact on the 500 new units that were announced in budget 2014. [44674/13]

Homeless Accommodation Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

372. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will make the necessary changes to the configuration of homeless services which creates a strict division between Dublin and Wicklow in view of the close relationship between the towns of Dún Laoghaire and Bray. [44675/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

14. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will allow leeway in the rent cap in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43413/13]

Fuel Allowance Payments

Richard Boyd Barrett

40. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider raising the winter fuel allowance in view of the fact that it is failing to cover rising energy prices, leaving many homes struggling to pay bills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43411/13]

Education and Training Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

45. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of all publicly funded training schemes, upskilling and education courses; and the number of persons taking part in each of these schemes. [43451/13]

Live Register Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

161. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the categories of payments from her Department that mean that the recipient is counted on the live register; and the number of persons in each category. [43449/13]

Live Register Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

162. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the categories of payments from her Department that mean that the recipient is officially counted as unemployed; and the number of persons in each category. [43450/13]

National Internship Scheme Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

163. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons taking part in the JobBridge scheme and the cost of same to the Exchequer. [43452/13]

Community Work Initiatives

Richard Boyd Barrett

164. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons taking part in the Tús scheme and the cost of same to the Exchequer. [43453/13]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

165. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons taking part in the JobsPlus initiative and the cost of same to the Exchequer. [43454/13]

Economic Management Council Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

18. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the schedule of meetings for the Economic Management Council before the budget. [40915/13]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

19. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet sub-committee on mortgage arrears last met. [42212/13]

Economic Management Council Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Economic Management Council last met. [42213/13]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Richard Boyd Barrett

91. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give an assurance that measures he may take in budget 2014 will not lead to any further increases in class sizes in view of the fact that classrooms here already contain 20% more than the EU average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42187/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Richard Boyd Barrett

115. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the delay in a new building for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin that has been in prefabs since 1995 and who had expected to be in a new building since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42186/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Richard Boyd Barrett

211. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) may expect new buildings in view of the fact that they have been in prefabs since 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41961/13]

Budget 2014

Richard Boyd Barrett

64. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering progressive tax measures such as wealth taxes, higher taxes on top earners or increasing the corporation tax rate as an alternative to measures that would impact further on low and middle income earners and public services in his framing of budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41476/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

65. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he intends to keeps the promise to assign 0.7% of spending on overseas development aid by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41566/13]

Human Rights Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

51. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has contacted the Russian Government and if not, if he will give a commitment to contact the Russian Government regarding the appalling conditions faced by Nadezhda Tolokonnikova of the Russian punk group, Pussy Riot, who has gone on hunger strike at what she calls gulag like prison conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41181/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Richard Boyd Barrett

58. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the plight of the five fishermen (details supplied) who have been sentenced to one year imprisonment by an Egyptian court for fishing in Egyptian waters in a desperate attempt to feed their families; if he will raise the issue with his Egyptian counterpart and urge for their immediate release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41182/13]

European Council Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

131. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will be raising the issue of Ireland's debt burden at the October meeting of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40921/13]

EU-IMF Programme of Support Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

132. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to contact Chancellor Merkel following her recent comments regarding Ireland's economic performance. [40917/13]

Home Help Service Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

265. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will consider launching an inquiry into the way the home help service is being run by Rehab Group. [41396/13]

Financial Services Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

7. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent meeting with the Clearing House Group; if it will be meeting before budget 2014; the agenda for this meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40914/13]

Appointments to State Boards

Richard Boyd Barrett

59. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the selection of the chairperson for Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company; the procedures followed and criterion applied for the nomination and selection process; his role in this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41173/13]

Public Transport Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

78. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to tender out Bus Éireann routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40887/13]

Harbour Authorities Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

140. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he intends to respond to the requests of a Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company employee (details supplied) who has written to him requesting a determination on their contract of employment; if he intends to give such a determination to the person and three other harbour company employees who are seeking similar determinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40886/13]

Health Services Charges

Richard Boyd Barrett

41. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if cancer patients who have to pay for their own treatment also have to pay for cancer-related surgery. [40066/13]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations

Richard Boyd Barrett

13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will carry out an inquiry into the reports that Shell gave boxes of alcohol as presents to the Garda station in Rossport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39809/13]