Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for Dáil or Seanad term
Page 7 of 8
Wed, 14 Nov 2012
written
Arts Funding
John Lyons
184. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to ensure continued investment in the arts, including the allocation of funding to the Arts Council and local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50278/12]
Tue, 13 Nov 2012
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Back to Education Allowance Eligibility
John Lyons
377. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to offering back to education allowance to those taking part-time courses of study. [49801/12]
Tue, 13 Nov 2012
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HSE Funding
John Lyons
627. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for Health Service Executive grant funding for a group (details supplied) in Dublin 11; when a decision will be made in relation to the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49749/12]
Wed, 7 Nov 2012
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Court Procedures
John Lyons
151. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide further information on his planned reforms of the family court system; the measures that will be implemented to make it a more transparent and open system; and if he will provide a timeline for the publication of any draft legislation in this area. [48899/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
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Teaching Qualifications
John Lyons
291. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will seek to have a special needs assistant (details supplied) in Dublin 12 registered as a teacher and moved to the teaching pay scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47462/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
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Education and Training Boards Issues
John Lyons
377. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills the general criteria that will be used to determine the destination of a training centre or associated external provider under the formation of the new Education and Training Boards; if the situation relating to a case (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will be clarified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48636/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
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Youth Enterprise Initiatives
John Lyons
426. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in view of the fact that there is no specific youth entrepreneurship fund in Ireland, if he will consider setting up a Youth Entrepreneurship Fund on a pilot basis, to help young entrepreneurs access credit to develop business ideas and create employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47723/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
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Youth Enterprise Initiatives
John Lyons
427. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will engage with private sector sources, the European Union, the European Investment Bank and the IMF to source funding for a Youth Entrepreneurship Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47724/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
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Youth Enterprise Initiatives
John Lyons
428. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to engage with local County Enterprise Boards, Enterprise Ireland and others to help support youth enterprise here; his views on whether further targeted supports are required to foster the talent and ideas of our young persons to allow them develop business ideas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47725/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
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Asylum Seeker Accommodation
John Lyons
779. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has plans to revisit his plans to close a number of the direct provision centres for asylum seekers in view of the fact that the disruption this will have on the lives of those living in them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47652/12]
Tue, 6 Nov 2012
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Nursing Homes Support Scheme
John Lyons
974. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to the concerns expressed regarding the fair deal scheme in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47211/12]
Tue, 23 Oct 2012
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Road Network
John Lyons
717. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details on a road expansion (details supplied) currently being undertaken; if he will clarify the cost to the Exchequer of this project; and if he will clarify if it is being carried out as part of a public-private partnership. [46352/12]
Thu, 18 Oct 2012
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Departmental Funding
John Lyons
231. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will protect funding in 2013 for not for profit organisations on which many persons with neurological conditions are dependent for support, specialist rehabilitation and respite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45474/12]
Wed, 17 Oct 2012
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National Tree Day
John Lyons
104. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail his Department's involvement with the national tree day initiative; if he will consider a tree planting scheme in national schools for the event next year, possibly in conjunction with Coillte to further promote the importance of trees and the environment within our communities. [44966/12]
Wed, 17 Oct 2012
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Afforestation Programme
John Lyons
236. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if provisions will be included during any possible sale of certain Coillte assets, including harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests, that an afforestation programme must be undertaken in order to encourage a gradual increase in the number of trees rather than a short-term sell-off of our forests. [44967/12]
Tue, 16 Oct 2012
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VAT Rates Application
John Lyons
163. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will explain the reason VAT is applied to carbon taxes in household utility bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44081/12]
Tue, 16 Oct 2012
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Tax Residency Rules Review
John Lyons
166. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance the date on which the outcome of the public consultation on tax residence will be made known; if the recommendations of this review will be made in time to form part of Budget 2013 to ensure that tax exiles make a fair contribution to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44163/12]
Tue, 16 Oct 2012
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Tax Residency Rules Review
John Lyons
167. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance the number of submissions received in relation to the recent public consultation on tax residence rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44164/12]
Tue, 16 Oct 2012
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Tax Residency Rules Review
John Lyons
168. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether a test based on a persons centre of vital interests should be used when determining their tax residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44165/12]
Wed, 10 Oct 2012
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Local Authority Housing Issues
John Lyons
165. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will consider relaxing the rules on sub-letting properties in respect of persons who received mortgages from local authorities via the Housing Finance Agency and who are experiencing mortgage difficulties and are in negative equity. [43592/12]
Wed, 10 Oct 2012
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Mortgage Resolution Processes
John Lyons
166. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will consider allowing persons who received mortgages from local authorities via the Housing Finance Agency and who are experiencing mortgage difficulties and are in negative equity to take part in long-term leasing of their homes back to local authorities, as is an option for some home owners with mortgages from private institutions. [43593/12]
Tue, 9 Oct 2012
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Adoption Records Provision
John Lyons
550. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the rationale behind the maximum declaration approval for Irish applicants of three years for adoptions from Hague Convention approved countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43132/12]
Tue, 9 Oct 2012
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Adoption Records Provision
John Lyons
551. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to amend the existing restriction of a three year approval period for adoptions from Hague Convention approved countries in view of the situation when the adoption process can take in excess of this period for approved applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43133/12]
Tue, 9 Oct 2012
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Hospital Services
John Lyons
601. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will provide clarification on the level of services provided at the menopause clinic in the Rotunda Maternity Hospital, Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42840/12]
Wed, 3 Oct 2012
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Property Taxation Application
John Lyons
147. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his plans to take into account mortgage holders in arrears or severe negative equity with the introduction of a property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42141/12]
Tue, 2 Oct 2012
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Tax Reliefs Cost
John Lyons
113. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance the total annual saving to the Exchequer of reducing tax relief on pension contributions including the public service pension related deduction from the marginal rate to the standard rate of income tax; of a reduction in the Standard Fund Threshold from €2.3m to €622,500; of a reduction in the annual earnings limit for determining maximum allowable pension contributions for pension purposes from €115,000 to €75,000 per annum; and a reduction in the maximum tax-free lump sum payment allowable at retirement to €122,500. [41397/12]
Tue, 2 Oct 2012
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Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Eligibility
John Lyons
155. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills the eligibility criteria for the vocational training opportunity scheme; if vacant course placements will be extended to those seeking to return to the workforce through education following a long break from employment; and if he will give due consideration to an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 [41380/12]
Tue, 2 Oct 2012
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Teaching Qualifications
John Lyons
178. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the payment of allowance to teachers for masters level qualifications, in particular with relation to teachers who took up further education at their own personal expense, and who would have had a legitimate expectation to receive their increases when they began their studies prior to the abolition of degree allowance in December 2011; and if he will review a specific case in respect of a person (details supplied) [41833/12]
Tue, 2 Oct 2012
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Public Sector Pensions Expenditure
John Lyons
205. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the number of former public servants recruited before the sixth of April 1995 who are currently receiving a public sector pension; if he will provide an age profile of those public servants; if he will provide, in a tabular form, the numbers of public sector pensioners in the following payment parameters; between €0 to €2,000; €2,001 to €3,000; €3,001 to €4,000; €4,001 to €5,000; €5,001 to €6,000; €6,001 to €7,000; €7,001 to €8,000; €8,001 to €9,000; €9,001 to €10,000; €10,001 to €11,000; €11,001 to €12,000; €12,001 to €13,000; €13,001 to €14,000; €14,001 to €15,000; €15,001 to €16,000; €16,001 to €17,000; €17,001 to €18,000; €18,001 to €19,000; €19,001 to €20,000; and more than €20,000. [41389/12]
Tue, 2 Oct 2012
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Public Sector Pensions Expenditure
John Lyons
215. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the number of former public servants recruited before the sixth of April 1995 who are currently receiving a public sector pension including both pensions funded by the Exchequer and through the Local Government Fund; if he will provide an age profile of those public servants; if he will provide, in a tabular form, the numbers of public sector pensioners in the following payment parameters; between €0 to €2,000; €2,001 to €3,000; €3,001 to €4,000; €4,001 to €5,000; €5,001 to €6,000; €6,001 to €7,000; €7,001 to €8,000; €8,001 to €9,000; €9,001 to €10,000; €10,001 to €11,000; €11,001 to €12,000; €12,001 to €13,000; €13,001 to €14,000; €14,001 to €15,000; €15,001 to €16,000; €16,001 to €17,000; €17,001 to €18,000; €18,001 to €19,000; €19,001 to €20,000; and more than €20,000. [41381/12]
Tue, 2 Oct 2012
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Rent Supplement Scheme Applications
John Lyons
285. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an up-to-date position on an application for rent supplement in respect of a person (details supplied). [41507/12]
Tue, 2 Oct 2012
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Referendum Expenditure
John Lyons
359. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if in the interest of fairness he will work with his ministerial colleagues to prioritise the appointment of those on the live register to posts in voting and count centres for the upcoming referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41949/12]
Tue, 2 Oct 2012
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Referendum Expenditure
John Lyons
387. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if in the interest of fairness he will ensure that appointments for posts in voting and count centres for the upcoming referendum will be prioritised for those on the live register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41947/12]
Tue, 2 Oct 2012
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Referendum Expenditure
John Lyons
388. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will detail the number of temporary posts in voting and count centres which will be created for the upcoming referendum; the hourly daily pay for each post; the means by which these posts will be advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41948/12]
Tue, 25 Sep 2012
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Tax Code
John Lyons
96. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review the taxation of home heating oil in view of the difficulties consumers are experiencing with increasing costs. [40141/12]
Thu, 20 Sep 2012
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International Agreements
John Lyons
64. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation with regard to the International Labour Organisation convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers adopted last year in Geneva, if he will consider ensuring that he ratifies said convention in relation to domestic workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39836/12]
Thu, 20 Sep 2012
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National Internship Scheme Data
John Lyons
121. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that a person (details supplied) received all the payments they were entitled to under the JobBridge initiative. [39929/12]
Wed, 19 Sep 2012
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Black Economy Issues
John Lyons
53. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will detail his efforts to tackle the problem of the black economy. [39508/12]
Wed, 19 Sep 2012
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Black Economy Issues
John Lyons
54. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will detail his efforts to tackle the problem of the black economy; and the estimated loss to the Exchequer of revenue as a result of the black economy. [39380/12]
Wed, 19 Sep 2012
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Bioenergy Ireland
John Lyons
146. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the establishment of BioEnergy Ireland; and its plans for an annual 14,700 hectare afforestation programme. [39377/12]
Tue, 18 Sep 2012
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Special Educational Needs Staffing
John Lyons
440. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of secondary education in respect of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [38582/12]
Tue, 18 Sep 2012
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Pension Provisions
John Lyons
491. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if pensions payable to Ministers and sitting public representatives in the Houses of the Oireachtas are co-ordinated or integrated with the social welfare pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38409/12]
Tue, 18 Sep 2012
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Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
John Lyons
798. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the refund of rent supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [38583/12]
Tue, 18 Sep 2012
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Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues
John Lyons
1232. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 460 of 26 June 2012 if he is now in a position to furnish a detailed reply to this question. [38410/12]
Tue, 18 Sep 2012
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Public Sector Reform Review
John Lyons
1698. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a targeted redundancy programme in the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38089/12]
Tue, 18 Sep 2012
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Vehicle Clamping
John Lyons
1932. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on proposed legislation to regulate the vehicle clamping industry; the date on which this legislation will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39051/12]
Thu, 19 Jul 2012
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Mortgage Interest Rates
John Lyons
103 Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will raise with the EBS the need to pass on the recent interest rate cuts to EBS mortgage policy holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36334/12]
Wed, 18 Jul 2012
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Professional Qualifications
John Lyons
90 Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the target to train a further 800 computer software professionals to NFQ Level 8, if he will consider the expansion of cost effective ways of training computer software professionals that meet industry needs in a shorter period of time than it takes to achieve a level 8 qualification (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35706/12]
Wed, 18 Jul 2012
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Languages Programme
John Lyons
98 Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills the Higher Education Authority accredited courses that are currently assessed using the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages; his plans to align all third level foreign language courses with the CEFRL; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35695/12]
Wed, 18 Jul 2012
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School Curriculum
John Lyons
99 Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail for the past ten years the percentage of leaving certificate students who took one foreign language and those who took two foreign languages, including, if possible, which level they took; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35697/12]