Parliamentary questions

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Andrew Doyle

235. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons on the payroll of his Department, both departmental employees and teachers in schools nationwide; the number of physical payslips that his Department processes each month; the percentage of these that are sent to payees in the post; the breakdown in the overall cost of physical payslips and postage per year for the years 2009 to 2012; if payees have the option of switching to online payslips; if he will implement online payslips in the near future; if he has considered the savings this would make; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12888/13]

Departmental Schemes

Andrew Doyle

282. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the schemes available for persons taking voluntary redundancy in the public sector who wish to start their own business and create employment; if he intends to put any schemes in place as part of the Action Plan for Jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12600/13]

Prescription Charges

Andrew Doyle

569. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow, who is in receipt of the disability allowance is exempt from paying the increased prescription charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12524/13]

Online Business Voucher Scheme

Andrew Doyle

328. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to establish a new broadcasting charge; if it will replace the existing television licence; if it will be a blanket charge; if all homes will be applicable; the exemptions that will apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11532/13]

School Accommodation

Andrew Doyle

242. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding additional classrooms for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9739/13]

Disadvantaged Status

Andrew Doyle

433. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the special protection or regeneration status that exists for deprived areas; the criteria that would be considered for an area to qualify for any such status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9654/13]

Health Services Staff

Andrew Doyle

738. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health his views on the reports that more than ten percent of employees in the health service are calling in sick, particularly in some areas (details supplied); the measures he has brought forward to tackle this problem to date; the success of his measures so far; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10312/13]

Garda Resources

Andrew Doyle

173. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the resources available to Garda Stations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9350/13]

Roads Maintenance Funding

Andrew Doyle

149. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the 16.5 km road upgrade on the N11 between Rathnew and Arklow, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8495/13]

Hospital Staff

Andrew Doyle

654. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if there are any changes proposed to the working time directive as it applies to non-consultant hospital doctors who are in training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8050/13]

The Gathering Initiatives

Andrew Doyle

780. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the Gathering 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8525/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Andrew Doyle

68. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding funding for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6414/13]

Site Acquisitions

Andrew Doyle

266. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if a site has been identified yet; the time frame for construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58166/12]

Animal Welfare Issues

Andrew Doyle

849. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 361 of 11 December 2012, if he will confirm that dog pounds, rescues and shelters will be subject to the provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare Bill; if he intends to undertake co-operative action with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government which is only responsible for the control of these animals to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare are maintained in all establishments that keep dogs and horses. [57987/12]

Farm Assist Scheme Data

Andrew Doyle

333. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review has been undertaken of the farm assist scheme on the effectiveness of its stated goal to reduce poverty among farmers, by her Department in co-operation with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; if there are any targets for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56506/12]

Student Grant Scheme Delays

Andrew Doyle

198. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a comprehensive update on the processing of first-time student grant applications by Student Universal Support Ireland including such applications that are still in backlog or under query; the payments issued thus far and the current situation in terms of clearing the backlog that still exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55619/12]

Animal Welfare Issues

Andrew Doyle

361. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 489 of 27 November 2012, the review procedures he intends to take to ensure that dog welfare standards being developed in the Animal Health and Welfare Bill will apply to dog pounds, rescue and dog transportation operators, as well as dog breeders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55397/12]

Adoption Records Provision

Andrew Doyle

439. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an outline of the staffing resources in the Adoption Authority of Ireland in view of the efforts to establish administrative agreements with other countries for the purposes of inter-country adoption and taking into account the new laws governing these processes with the introduction of the Adoption Act 2010, the subsequent sharp reduction in the numbers of children being available to adopt into Ireland through inter-country adoption since the passing of this law in November 2010. [55620/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Andrew Doyle

215. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the new second level school in Greystones, County Wicklow, will open; the location of same; the number of pupils it will admit in its first year; the capacity of the school when it is fully operational; his views on whether it will be developed by its anticipated opening date; the envisaged catchment area of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54322/12]

The Gathering Expenditure

Andrew Doyle

151. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the Gathering 2013 project in terms of seeking voluntary effort for the various projects around each county; and if he intends to promote the voluntary input to the success of the Gathering [52697/12]