Parliamentary questions

State Pension (Non-Contributory) Appeals

Pat Breen

367. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a State non-contributory pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22917/13]

One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility

John McGuinness

368. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the payment of a scholarship to a recipient of a one-parent family benefit is considered as cash income and deducted from their weekly payment when that same person can retain their full benefit payment and earn up to €110.00 per week; if she considers this to be an anomaly; and if she will address the matter as it is an obstacle to those attempting to improve their qualifications for employment. [22925/13]

Job Activation Measures

Seán Kyne

369. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of jobseekers who have been called to interviews as part of her Department's strategy of having more regular and ongoing engagement with jobseekers as set out in the Pathways to Work document. [22931/13]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

371. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has carried out a review of the decision to cease payment of a carer's allowance claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; when a revised decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23009/13]

Live Register Numbers

Jim Daly

372. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on the live register at Bandon, County Cork for each of the past five years. [23028/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Numbers

Jim Daly

373. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on full-time benefits who are not recorded on the live register at Bandon, County Cork for each of the past five years. [23029/13]

Community Work Initiatives

Jim Daly

374. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the services that will be rolled out in the Cork area under the Intreo scheme. [23030/13]

Pensions Reform

Willie Penrose

375. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will take steps to review the rules applicable to pension payments, whereby in a pension fund wind-up situation, existing pensioners retain their full entitlements, but workers who had not yet retired lose virtually all of their entitlements; if she will ensure that such workers are properly catered for in wind-up situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23048/13]

European Court of Justice Rulings

Willie Penrose

376. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in view of the recent ECJ judgment in regard to the Waterford Crystal workers' pension entitlements, she will take steps to put in place an appropriate scheme to protect workers' pension rights when an employer becomes insolvent and the relevant pension fund to which contributions had been made is in deficit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23049/13]

Child Benefit Payments

Michael Lowry

378. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will make her intentions clear regarding the future of child benefit; if child benefit will be cut in order to fund additional free preschool care; if her attention has been drawn to the distress, fear and upset being caused as a result of these reports; if her attention has been drawn to the importance of child benefit in assisting families in keeping their heads above water; if she will give an assurance that child benefit will not be cut any further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23066/13]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options

Sean Fleming

379. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when persons with turbary rights on a bog (details supplied) in County Laois will be granted rights at an alternative location; the number of persons still waiting for this matter to be resolved in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22167/13]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments

Sean Fleming

380. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when residents who were involved in cutting turf on a bog (details supplied) will receive their payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22178/13]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options

Nicky McFadden

381. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding turf-cutting at Lough Sheelin bog; if alternative bog will be provided for those who wish to continue turf-cutting; if his Department has been engaging with the Lough Sheelin Turf Cutters and Contractors Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22450/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

382. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total capital and current spending for each of the Gaeltachts in each of the years 2002 to 2012. [22488/13]

Job Creation Numbers

Pearse Doherty

383. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total number of new jobs created as well as jobs lost for each of the Gaeltacht areas for each of the years 2002 to 2012. [22489/13]

Údarás na Gaeltachta Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

384. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a breakdown of total spending on salaries for full-time personnel at the Údarás na Gaeltachta Galway headquarters and at the regional office in Donegal, for the period 2002 to 2012 per person, per year. [22490/13]

Údarás na Gaeltachta Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

385. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a breakdown of total spending on expenses including travel and other for full-time personnel at the Údarás na Gaeltachta Galway headquarters, and regional office employees in Donegal for the period 2002 to 2012 per person, per year. [22491/13]

Údarás na Gaeltachta Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

386. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a breakdown of fees and expenses for all board members of Údarás na Gaeltachta for 2002-2012. [22492/13]

Special Protection Areas Appeals

Éamon Ó Cuív

387. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of special areas of conservation or special protection areas appeals outstanding; the date on which each outstanding appeal was received by his Department; when it is intended to finalise these appeals; the reason for the delay with the appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22534/13]

Air Services Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

388. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when consultants were appointed to carry out detailed design, costing and tender documents for the construction phase of the provision of air terminals in Cluain Leacht an Abba, Cleggan and on Inisbofin; when it is expected this work will be completed; the name of the consultants appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22551/13]

Air Services Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

389. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the date that planning permission was granted for the provision of air-terminals on Inishbofin and at Cluain Leacht an Abba, Cleggan; the date these permissions will expire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22552/13]

Air Services Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

390. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason that the airstrips on Inishbofin and Cleggan are not licensed and open for use by private aircraft, in view of the tourist potential of these airstrips; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22553/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Róisín Shortall

391. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of personnel in whole-time equivalent terms in his Department and in bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the following earnings brackets: less than €20,000, €20,001 to €30,000, €30,001 to €40,000, €40,001 to €50,000, €50,001 to €60,000, €60,001 to €70,000, €70,001 to €80,000, €80,001 to €90,000, €90,001 to €100,000, €100,000 to €125,000, €125,001 to €150,000, €150,001 to €175,000, €175,001 to €200,000, €200,001 to €250,000, €250,001 to €300,000, €300,001 to €350,000, €350,001 to €400,000, €400,001 to €450,000, €450,001 to €500,000, and more than €500,000. [22783/13]

Departmental Expenditure

John McGuinness

392. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the individual amount of overtime paid in the case of each political-ministerial appointee for the period 2007 to date in 2013 relative to his office and the office of the Minister of State; if such payments were made to the Secretary General and advisors, and if so, the amounts for the same period. [22869/13]

Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge

Seán Kyne

393. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress made to date of the various actions as set out across the nine areas of action in the Twenty Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 - 2030. [22922/13]

Ministerial Correspondence

Willie Penrose

394. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will confirm having received a letter from an organisation (details supplied); if the leasing agreement required therein will be expedited and finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23046/13]

Fisheries Protection

Michael Healy-Rae

395. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will develop a coherent and viable policy that will allow for the phased reopening of traditional salmon drift netting in a controlled and structured way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22213/13]

Licence Applications

Brendan Griffin

396. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a decision has been made on an application for a draft salmon fishing licence in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23035/13]

Renewable Energy Generation

Sean Fleming

397. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the European Commission approved the application by his Department in respect of the State aid application for the renewable energy support scheme known as the renewal energy feed in tariff; if the programme is based on a fixed feed in tariff mechanism rather than competitive tendering; the number of applications made under this scheme since that approval; the numbers that have been approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22156/13]

Public Service Obligation Services

Seán Kenny

398. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the public service obligation of RTÉ extends to the dissemination of public information on its Aertel services; if public information provided by local authorities should be provided by RTÉ as part of its public service obligation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22177/13]

Energy Conservation

Nicky McFadden

399. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way the national energy efficiency action plan can contribute to reducing energy bills for consumers, businesses and the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22261/13]

Job Creation Issues

Nicky McFadden

400. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline the way he is supporting the Digital Hub Development Agency and the National Digital Research Centre; the potential for these services to create jobs in the digital enterprise sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22349/13]

Payable Orders

Michael McCarthy

401. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will reissue an out of date payable order by his Department to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22428/13]

International Agreements

Michael Colreavy

402. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the proposed comprehensive economic and trade agreement between the EU and Canada that would grant energy companies far reaching powers to challenge regulations governing shale gas exploration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22494/13]

Seismic Surveys

Michael Colreavy

403. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount his Department spent on seismic surveys in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22743/13]

Television Licence Fee Yield

Michael Colreavy

404. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount his Department receives from the television licence fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22744/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Róisín Shortall

405. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of personnel in whole-time equivalent terms in his Department and in bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the following earnings brackets: less than €20,000, €20,001 to €30,000, €30,001 to €40,000, €40,001 to €50,000, €50,001 to €60,000, €60,001 to €70,000, €70,001 to €80,000, €80,001 to €90,000, €90,001 to €100,000, €100,000 to €125,000, €125,001 to €150,000, €150,001 to €175,000, €175,001 to €200,000, €200,001 to €250,000, €250,001 to €300,000, €300,001 to €350,000, €350,001 to €400,000, €400,001 to €450,000, €450,001 to €500,000, and more than €500,000. [22785/13]

Tailings Management

Noel Coonan

406. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update in the future of Silvermines tailing ponds, County Tipperary; the way negotiations are proceeding with the landowner of the site; if there is a timeframe for when the State will gain responsibility for the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22802/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Gerry Adams

407. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of residents in County Louth that currently have access to broadband; the steps that are being taken to rectify this problem and provide for broadband availability across the entire county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22859/13]

Departmental Expenditure

John McGuinness

408. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the individual amount of overtime paid in the case of each political-ministerial appointee for the period 2007 to date in 2013 relative to his office and the office of the Minister of State; if such payments were made to the Secretary General and advisors, and if so, the amounts for the same period. [22871/13]

Energy Conservation

Seán Kyne

409. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the progress achieved to date for energy efficiency improvements across the public sector as committed to in the national energy efficiency action plan. [22910/13]

Better Energy Homes Scheme Expenditure

Seán Kyne

410. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm the level of funding which householders applied for under the better energy homes scheme and the better energy warmer homes scheme in 2012; the way these figures compare with 2011 and the amount available to the schemes in 2013. [22926/13]

EU Directives

Seán Kyne

411. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline the progress made in transposing the energy efficiency directive adopted by the European Council and Parliament in October 2012; the steps that will be required to complete the transposition and the timeframe, for the transposition's completion. [22927/13]

Energy Conservation

Seán Kyne

412. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he woll report on the progress made in designing and finalising proposals for a domestic financing mechanism to stimulate energy efficiency projects as outlined in the green economy section of the jobs action plan for 2013. [22928/13]

Telecommunications Services Provision

Brendan Griffin

413. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the up to date position in relation to Electric Ireland's joint venture on fibre deployment here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23008/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Brendan Smith

414. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the level of broadband telecommunications infrastructure available in Bailieboro, County Cavan and the area serviced by the telephone exchange in that town; the proposals, if any, there are to upgrade this broadband connectivity; when such upgrading will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23033/13]

Energy Schemes

Seán Kyne

415. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm the uptake of the energy efficiency retrofit fund which was announced as part of Budget 2013; and if he will indicate how successful the planned leveraging of funds from the private sector, in order to match the contribution from his Department, has been. [23063/13]

Electric Vehicle Grants

Seán Kyne

416. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm the amount of grant funding, as well as the estimated number of vehicles purchased, under the two-year grant support scheme for the procurement of both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland which was scheduled to conclude in April 2013; and if there are any plans to extend the existing scheme or replace it with a new scheme. [23064/13]

Household Charge Liability

Sean Fleming

417. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the person liable to pay the €100 household tax for 2012 in respect of a deceased person; if the executor of the estate is responsible for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22266/13]

Tax Code

Michael McGrath

418. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the correct road tax category for agricultural tractor and trailer combinations used for the general carriage of goods by road for hire or reward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22286/13]