Parliamentary questions

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Róisín Shortall

596. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will establish an independent investigation into an incident (details supplied); if she is satisfied with the response of An Garda Síochána to the incident; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38211/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Róisín Shortall

750. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health given the growing waiting lists for colonoscopies, and the high proportion of persons waiting longer than three months for a colonoscopy at public hospitals, the measures that are being taken to improve capacity, and ensure patients have access to a colonoscopy within three months of referral; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37844/15]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Róisín Shortall

1072. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding for housing adaptation grants for older people; for people with a disability living in private houses, by grant type, by local authority, in each of the past three years; the basis on which these allocations were made; and if he will publish the criteria, data or other factors which determined the amount awarded to each local authority. [37888/15]

Public Transport Provision

Róisín Shortall

1181. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be provided to fund the provision of a bus rapid transit route along the Swords to Dublin city centre corridor, given the emphasis in the recently published Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016 to 2035 that such a service will be necessary in advance of the construction of the new metro north proposal. [37887/15]

Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme

Róisín Shortall

1188. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to use the connectivity fund arising from the sale of Aer Lingus to compensate deferred Aer Lingus pensioners for the huge loss of income arising from forced changes to their pension scheme. [38246/15]

EU Regulations

Róisín Shortall

119. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person who is coming to live in Ireland from Romania and who has a disability may transfer a disability payment between the two states; and the steps necessary to progress this. [37082/15]

NAMA Property Sales

Róisín Shortall

128. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the National Asset Management Agency is breaking the tenancy of residents in dwellings that have fallen under its control owing to repossession or similar; if he has issued directions to the agency on this issue or if there is an official procedure in this circumstance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37124/15]

Garda Recruitment

Róisín Shortall

195. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for additional recruitment to An Garda Síochána; the timeframe involved; if she is satisfied that the current assessment process identifies the most suitable applicants; and the consideration that she has given to specific recruitment from the ranks of the Garda Reserve. [36920/15]

National Dementia Strategy

Róisín Shortall

446. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a submission from the Alzheimer Society of Ireland regarding the need to support persons with dementia to live at home for as long as possible; and the Government policy and his plans in this regard. [36170/15]

School Transport Applications

Róisín Shortall

588. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the position further to Parliamentary Question No. 530 of 29 September 2015 in respect of a student with special needs whose parent applied for school transport in March 2015 and whose school also made an application, and given that no decision has been forthcoming, the steps she will take to ensure that the special education needs organiser responds urgently to this application. [36309/15]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

107. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the sections and subsections of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, that are commenced; that remain to be commenced; and in each case, the reason they are not so commenced. [35844/15]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Róisín Shortall

316. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the national contact point system for co-ordinating Ireland's commitment to the cross-border directive does not contravene the European Commission's requirement that member states do not operate obstructive application procedures for citizens accessing public health care, given certain matters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35684/15]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Róisín Shortall

317. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the expenses incurred by the Health Service Executive for patients under the cross-Border directive since it came into effect, in tabular form; the number; type of procedures that have taken place; the itemised costs; location of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35685/15]

Local Authority Funding

Róisín Shortall

207. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amounts of grants allocated to each local authority in each of the past three years; the basis on which these allocations were made; and if he will publish the criteria, data, or other factors which determined the amount awarded to each local authority. [35009/15]

Development Contributions

Róisín Shortall

218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if levies collected in advance of the previous metro north proposal will have to be now refunded; the basis for this; and the amounts involved, by local authority. [35152/15]

Public Transport Provision

Róisín Shortall

223. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the provision of the bus rapid transit line from Swords in County Dublin to Dublin city centre; and how additional passenger demand will be met in advance of the completion of the metro north project. [34995/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Róisín Shortall

177. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average waiting times from the point of application to a decision being made in respect of each social welfare payment. [34045/15]

Pensions Reform

Róisín Shortall

268. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the annual tax savings and costs to the State if the standard fund threshold were to be changed from €2 million to €1.2 million; €1.4 million; €1.6 million; €1.8 million; €2 million; and €2.4 million. [34443/15]

Pensions Reform

Róisín Shortall

269. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the annual tax savings to the State if, when computing the standard fund threshold for members with defined benefit pensions, post 1 January 2014 conversion factors were to be applied to all pensions, and not just the portion accrued after that date. [34444/15]

Citizenship Applications

Róisín Shortall

437. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons, in tabular form, granted citizenship in each of the years 2010 to 2014, by age; and in respect of those under the age of 13 who were granted citizenship, if she will provide details of the numbers born in the State. [34566/15]

UN Conventions Ratification

Róisín Shortall

121. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the Government's plans in respect of the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33757/15]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

130. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will support and facilitate the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre in conducting a second sexual abuse and violence in Ireland study. [33759/15]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

155. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will support and facilitate the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre in conducting a second sexual abuse and violence in Ireland study. [33762/15]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

181. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will support and facilitate the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre in conducting a second sexual abuse and violence in Ireland study. [33761/15]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Róisín Shortall

222. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average waiting time for the registration of teachers with the Teaching Council of Ireland, given the necessity for a person who has trained as a primary school teacher abroad to be certified as competent to teach Irish, through Marino College in Dublin 3, where registration is required by November 2015. [33758/15]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

223. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will support and facilitate the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre in conducting a second Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland study. [33760/15]

Services for People with Disabilities

Róisín Shortall

139. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will assist a person with special needs (details supplied) in Dublin 11 in accessing day-centre facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33564/15]

Credit Union Restructuring

Róisín Shortall

228. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the future role of credit unions; if he is committed to supporting the strategic development of credit unions in order that they can extend the range of services offered so that the public can have a wider choice of financial services providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32732/15]

School Transport Availability

Róisín Shortall

530. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views regarding a situation whereby a person with special needs (details supplied) in Dublin 9 is still in need of school transport provision, since application was made in March 2015; and if she will ensure that this matter is resolved immediately. [33104/15]

Derelict Sites

Róisín Shortall

203. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the current inadequacy of options available to local authorities in dealing with problems associated with derelict or abandoned buildings when the owner of a building cannot be identified; and his plans to address this problem. [32628/15]

Fisheries Protection

Róisín Shortall

218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will review and increase the fines in place for the pollution of rivers, given the very small court fine imposed in a recent case (details supplied) which had resulted in the killing of 5,000 fish. [32627/15]

Pension Provisions

Róisín Shortall

407. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason a person's (details supplied) employment status in relation to their pension was changed from constable to labourer; and the implications on the rate for payment to this person. [30778/15]

Children in Care

Róisín Shortall

706. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 136 of 8 July 2015, while the development of a protocol by Tusla in relation to the Vienna Convention is welcomed, given the lack of information available on the nationality of the young persons in the care of the State makes it impossible to measure the success of these initiatives, if he will advise Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that this information should be collected and reported on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31459/15]

Overseas Development Aid Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

1174. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will reaffirm Ireland's commitment to reaching the targeted 0.7% of gross national product for oversees development aid; when he envisages that this will take place; the measures his Department is taking to ensure this is achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32027/15]

Broadcasting Sector

Róisín Shortall

1546. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to ensure access to television broadcasts for deaf persons; if he has considered measures to provide subtitles on as many television programmes as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31460/15]

Postal Codes

Róisín Shortall

1547. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of reports of certain Eircodes being listed in incorrect areas, for example an area (details supplied) in County Dublin; the systems in place to review disputed codes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31461/15]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

593. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 was moved from their general practitioner to another general practitioner in June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28608/15]

State Examinations

Róisín Shortall

781. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to the concerns raised by parents and students regarding the difficulty level of the ordinary level project mathematics leaving certificate paper; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28609/15]

Traffic Management

Róisín Shortall

942. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason taxis have been excluded from the list of transportation methods included in Question No. 9 of the survey currently being conducted by the National Transport Authority as part of the Dublin City Centre Transport Study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28984/15]

Back to Work Allowance

Róisín Shortall

85. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9, in receipt of the back to work enterprise allowance and who is starting a design business, was denied the enterprise grant to cover the cost of an industry standard printer under the job-specific tools and equipment category; if this decision will be reviewed, given the importance of a commercial production unit to the manufacturing of the final product of such a business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28090/15]

Tax Code

Róisín Shortall

119. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the communications his Department has had with the Revenue Commissioners regarding 5,300 Standard Life shareholders who have been negatively impacted by a postal delay; if he will consider granting them an exemption from the tax liability they are due to incur as a result of this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28162/15]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

191. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 218 of 1 July 2015, if he will publish the memorandum of understanding referred to in the reply. [28017/15]

Children in Care

Róisín Shortall

136. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set out the number of European Union and non-European Union non-Irish nationals who are currently within the care system; and the actions he has taken to ensure that Ireland is fully in compliance with its duty under the Vienna Convention and the Brussels II regulation. [27835/15]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

185. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will address the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who was supposed to have a computed tomography, CT, scan recently and every eight weeks, but who has been informed that it may be October 2015 by the time such a scan will be carried out; if he will report on the adequacy of the CT scan service in the Mater Hospital in Dublin 7; the average waiting times; and the steps he is taking to ensure an acceptable level of service for cancer and other seriously ill patients. [27936/15]

Waste Management Regulations

Róisín Shortall

231. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the introduction of the pay-by-weight model, the steps he is taking to ensure bin collection companies accurately assess the weight of refuse they collect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27937/15]

Banking Sector

Róisín Shortall

114. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 86 of 18 June 2015, the regulatory protections in place to ensure that cost-cutting measures introduced by a bank (details supplied) do not lead to significant technological difficulties, as occurred at other banks in recent years. [27043/15]

Health Services Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

387. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of primary care staff of certain specialties (details supplied) currently on the public payroll in whole-time equivalent terms; and the number, in whole-time-equivalent terms, who are active in primary care, that is, not on maternity leave or long-term sick leave, or other long-term leave, or diverted to other health care settings [27462/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Róisín Shortall

388. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will request an explanation from the Health Service Executive, as to the reason there has been a significant increase in the waiting list figures for physiotherapy in primary care, despite extra resources being devoted to this area since 2012 [27463/15]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

436. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the circumstances surrounding the closure of the pancreatic-kidney transplant unit in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9; the reason a consultant has not been recruited to take over the work of a doctor (details supplied); the arrangements that are in place for the large number of transplant patients attending this clinic and for those on the waiting list for transplants; and when this clinic will be fully functioning again [27692/15]

Sports Funding

Róisín Shortall

567. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the basis on which the public funding of national sporting bodies is determined; and the extent to which the debt position of the body is a factor in the amount of funding awarded. [27145/15]

Sports Organisations

Róisín Shortall

568. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date on which his Department became aware that the Football Association of Ireland had received a €5 million payment from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, following the failure of the Republic of Ireland football team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. [27146/15]

Sports Organisations

Róisín Shortall

569. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which there is regulatory oversight of the debt position of national sporting bodies; the reporting requirements that are set down; and the extent to which his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department actively seek such information from national sporting bodies. [27147/15]

Sports Organisations

Róisín Shortall

570. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he, his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department have any concerns as to how the receipt of €5 million by the Football Association of Ireland from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association was accounted for by the Football Association of Ireland and-or reported to his Department or to bodies under the aegis of his Department. [27148/15]

Higher Education Schemes

Róisín Shortall

207. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason all class H occupations are excluded from the higher education access route programme, in view of the disparate nature of skill and income levels among own account works; the reason the application of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 for inclusion in the programme was denied, due to the person's parent's occupation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26791/15]

Public Transport Initiatives

Róisín Shortall

235. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that in October 2012 the National Transport Authority published a report, Bus Rapid Transit Core Dublin Network, in which it was concluded, in relation to the Swords to Dublin city centre route, that while bus rapid transit might provide an interim partial transport solution in the shorter term, a higher capacity rail solution, such as a metro system, would ultimately be required on this corridor; if he has received the business case for this bus rapid transit from the National Transport Authority; and, if so, if he will publish the business case or otherwise outline the economic justification for this bus rapid transit, if it has already been determined that a rail option is required for this transport corridor. [26805/15]

General Practitioner Contracts

Róisín Shortall

218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of a new scheme reported in the media which is intended to incentivise general practitioners to reduce the cost of prescribed medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26592/15]

EU Directives

Róisín Shortall

219. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason there has been no public awareness campaign to actively inform patients of their rights in law under the cross-border directive; if he will undertake to provide for such a campaign and also to disseminate information to patient bodies and citizen information centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26594/15]

School Equipment

Róisín Shortall

243. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the shortcomings of the allocation system for design and communications graphics computers in respect of schools which are rapidly expanding; if she will re-examine the case of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11 under the delivering equality of opportunity in schools programme, which has been allocated 14 computers but which will have 24 students in the leaving certificate design and communications graphics project, with similar numbers in 5th year and a doubling of those numbers in 3rd year, with a view to improving the school's allocation to meet the obvious need. [26502/15]

Capitation Grants

Róisín Shortall

244. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the capitation rates for schools under the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme, for education and training boards, community and comprehensive schools and schools in the voluntary sector; the reason for the wide variation in these rates, given that their students come from similar socio-economic backgrounds and have similar needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26503/15]

Aftercare Services

Róisín Shortall

396. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 268 of 19 May 2015, if he will ensure that a reply from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is provided for this Deputy as soon as possible. [25994/15]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

156. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of proposals by Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9 to close the taxi rank in the hospital which has been in existence for 20 years; the implications of this for the livelihoods of taxi drivers, who have operated at this rank; and the action which he will take to address these concerns. [25661/15]

Child and Family Agency Funding

Róisín Shortall

397. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the significant increase in the demand for its services, if he will review the recent cuts to the funding of the rape crisis centres of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25052/15]

Departmental Reports

Róisín Shortall

601. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the actions arising from the report of the task force, that concluded its work in 2010, on the planning and land use implications of the siting and location of adult entertainment venues; the main recommendations of the report; the recommendations which were not accepted; the recommendations on which there was no follow-up action; and if he will undertake to publish the report forthwith. [24892/15]

Property Tax Exemptions

Róisín Shortall

607. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with reference to the local property tax exemption for residential properties that have been certified as having significant pyritic damage, if the cost of obtaining such certification can be recouped by homeowners, through his Department or through the pyrite remediation scheme. [24957/15]

Property Tax Exemptions

Róisín Shortall

608. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the Revenue Commissioners require homes included in the pyrite remediation scheme (details supplied) to provide independent certification of pyritic damage when applying for an exemption from local property tax. [24958/15]

Banking Sector

Róisín Shortall

86. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of proposals currently under development in a bank (details supplied) to outsource work and staff from its Information Technology Division to a third-party service provider; the discussions his Department has had with this company regarding the possibility of redundancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24378/15]

Vehicle Registration Data

Róisín Shortall

88. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the number of reserved vehicle registration numbers in each of the past five years; the revenue this has yielded to the State in each of these years; and the anticipated yield to the Exchequer, if current fees were increased by 5%, 10% or 20%, respectively. [24398/15]

Alcohol Sales

Róisín Shortall

474. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 208 of 28 April 2015 and 127 and 143 of 14 May 2015 in respect of distance sales of alcohol, if she is aware of legal advice obtained by senior gardaí in Ballymun, Dublin 11, on foot of a request for direction from the Director of Public Prosecutions, regarding payment on delivery for alcohol sales, which is in direct contradiction to the views of the Government alcohol advisory group 2008 report as outlined in her reply to this Deputy on 28 April 2015; and if she will provide clarification in this regard. [23733/15]

Universal Social Charge Yield

Róisín Shortall

82. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the amount of revenue that would be raised by increasing the level of universal social charge paid by employees on the proportion of their salary over €100,000 to match the existing regime for the self-employed. [22880/15]

Corporation Tax

Róisín Shortall

83. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the amount of revenue that would be raised if the effective rate of corporation tax was 12.5%. [22881/15]

Tax Yield

Róisín Shortall

84. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the amount of revenue that would be raised for every 0.1% increase, up to a 2% increase, of Stamp Duty added to the rate payable on share transactions. [22882/15]

Family Income Supplement Data

Róisín Shortall

171. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of children currently covered by the family income supplement payment. [21426/15]

Social Insurance Data

Róisín Shortall

178. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the savings and costs to the Exchequer in 2013 and 2014, and in 2015 to date, arising from the changes to the banding system of the State Pension (Contributory) in 2012. [21471/15]

Social Insurance Rates

Róisín Shortall

179. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the financial impact the changes to the average contribution bands have made to persons who were approaching retirement and who were in one of the middle band categories; and the steps, if any, she proposes to take to address this. [21472/15]

Social Insurance Rates

Róisín Shortall

180. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views, if any, on moving to a system whereby weekly pension rates are determined by total contributions, or to otherwise change the system so that social insurance contributors who commenced contributions early in their life are not disadvantaged, as at present. [21473/15]

Interdepartmental Working Groups

Róisín Shortall

183. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of meetings of the interdepartmental working and retirement group that have taken place since its inception; the recommendations the group has made and, of these, which have been accepted by the Government; and if, and where, the group's deliberations and reports are published. [21488/15]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

267. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 26 May 2015, if she will outline the number of case officer vacancies in each region; and the estimated cost of filling each of these posts. [22405/15]

Social Insurance

Róisín Shortall

276. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of eliminating the pay related social insurance step effect, as it impacts on employees. [22514/15]

Garda Vetting Applications

Róisín Shortall

558. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 213 of 28 April 2015 the reason for the delay in issuing a Garda clearance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21764/15]

Pensions Legislation

Róisín Shortall

64. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce legislation to place an onus on employers to adequately fund their pension schemes and keep pension promises made to workers. [21211/15]

Pensions Legislation

Róisín Shortall

65. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce legislation to require employers to fund pension protection schemes. [21212/15]

Pension Provisions

Róisín Shortall

83. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to ensure that representatives of retired pensioners can have access to the industrial relations and arbitration machinery of the State, or otherwise gain negotiation rights, in view of the fact that such pensioners are very disadvantaged at present in terms of negotiations on future pension entitlements. [21213/15]

Child Poverty

Róisín Shortall

130. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the Ombudsman for Children's findings that there are now 138,000 children living in consistent poverty, his views that the child poverty reduction targets are now completely inadequate; his plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21050/15]

Child Protection Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

131. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children awaiting allocation to a social worker on child welfare and protection grounds, broken down by local area and category of case. [21051/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Róisín Shortall

176. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of Irish citizens refused access to welfare, based on a failure to satisfy the habitual residence condition, in each of the past five years. [19896/15]

Enterprise Support Schemes

Róisín Shortall

195. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if information technology systems have been developed in her Department to allow for the recording and analysis of data on the nature of businesses supported under the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme and the short-term enterprise allowance scheme, and to record business success and failure; and the principal scheme outcomes identified by her Department using this data. [20082/15]

Departmental Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

196. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of Intreo case officers by area. [20083/15]

Job Initiatives

Róisín Shortall

197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently availing of each job activation programme; and the estimated expenditure on each for 2015. [20084/15]

Disability Allowance Applications

Róisín Shortall

209. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the basis for the refusal of disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 who suffers from Asperger's syndrome. [20278/15]

Tribunals of Inquiry Reports

Róisín Shortall

552. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 385 of 12 May 2015 regarding the recommendations of the Moriarty tribunal, if she will provide details of the other recommendations which are the subject of consultations with the Attorney General and other Departments; when these matters were referred to the Attorney General; and the expected timeframe for implementing these recommendations. [20856/15]

Legislative Process

Róisín Shortall

553. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the delay in the passage of the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005 through the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will provide a clear timeframe for the completion of this process. [20863/15]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

628. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); the reason the Health Service Executive has discontinued its funding of this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19931/15]

Medical Card Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

666. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a link to where the medical card assessment guidelines are currently published on the Health Service Executive website. [20212/15]

Medical Card Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

709. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the full rules governing the retention of a medical card when a person is returning to work; if the right of retention applies to other persons in the family who were awarded the card on the basis of household income; the changes that have been made to the rules for this scheme in recent years; and the dates of any such rule changes. [20511/15]

Counselling Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

760. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to properly regulate the profession of counselling and psychotherapy in order to ensure safety and quality assurance for clients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20858/15]

Community Care Provision

Róisín Shortall

761. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in establishing the right to home care support on a statutory footing; and the timeframe now proposed for same. [20859/15]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Róisín Shortall

763. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to bring the number of cystic fibrosis beds in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, up to the full complement of 20 rooms, as recommended; and the time frame for same. [20862/15]

Teaching Contracts

Róisín Shortall

801. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the significant difficulties faced by fully trained second level teachers in obtaining secure employment; and the steps she will take to convert existing temporary and part-time positions into full-time permanent posts. [19895/15]

Housing Issues

Róisín Shortall

956. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the concerns of officials of councils and An Garda Síochána regarding the implications of allocating 50% of all senior citizen housing vacancies to homeless persons; his views that in some cases this can lead to disturbance and anti-social activity for existing residents, as some homeless persons have additional problems with addiction and mental health issues and require an alternative supported setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20307/15]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Róisín Shortall

957. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there has been a change in policy in respect of local authorities being responsible for the maintenance, on behalf of Irish Water, of sewage systems in tenants' homes; the legislative basis for this change; his views that local authorities should resume this responsibility, similar to the responsibility of private landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20308/15]