Parliamentary questions

Prison Committals

Mattie McGrath

578. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the circumstances of the detention last year of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8677/13]

Mental Health Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

704. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on alcohol addiction (details supplied). [8345/13]

Public Transport Provision

Mattie McGrath

765. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request Bus Éireann to reinstate the the discontinued bus service at Raheen/Burncoat/Kilbehany along the Cork to Dublin bus route due to the considerable inconvenience caused to rural users of that service. [8244/13]

Children's Rights Referendum

Mattie McGrath

39. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the full McCrystal judgement handed down last week in the Supreme Court; the reason her Department used €1.1 million of Exchequer funding to support the "Yes" campaign; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6999/13]

Unfinished Housing Developments

Mattie McGrath

456. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an estate (details supplied) in south Tipperary was not included on the unfinished housing estates list for household charge purposes despite requests from South Tipperary County Council to have the estate listed as unfinished; and if he will ensure that the list is corrected to include the estate. [6859/13]

Noise Pollution

Mattie McGrath

478. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends to undertake a technical update of the guidance on noise, including separation distance and shadow flicker in the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006; and the reason the timeframe for interested parties to make submissions is limited to two weeks in view of the potentially serious consequences of this project. [7426/13]

Private Security Authority Remit

Mattie McGrath

539. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a list of registered debt collectors, bailiffs and other private security firms at December 31 2012 and outline the law in relation to Garda vetting of debt collectors, bailiffs and other private security firms employed by agents of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7398/13]

Firearms Licences

Mattie McGrath

546. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for firearm licences made in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and in January 2013; and the total number of firearm licence holders here. [7429/13]

Defence Forces Deployment

Mattie McGrath

548. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if there is a proposal to send Irish troops to Mali; if so, if there has there been a request from the UN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6784/13]

Garda Transport Data

Mattie McGrath

129. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of patrol cars currently available to each of the Garda districts within County Tipperary; the Garda station they are based; the number of extra patrol cars that will be made available to each of the Garda districts within County Tipperary following the closure of five Garda stations in County Tipperary; the Garda stations these extra patrol cars will be based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6527/13]

Medical Card Applications

Mattie McGrath

191. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will be issued for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6402/13]

Proposed Legislation

Mattie McGrath

774. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on the Human Tissue Bill which has been in preparation by his Department since 2009; when will it be brought before Dáil Éireann; what is contained in the proposed Bill with respect to the presumed consent versus expressed consent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5190/13]

Septic Tank Registration Scheme

Mattie McGrath

532. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the findings of the domestic waste water systems consultation which was carried out in early 2012; the number of submissions received to the consultation; if those who made a submission were supplied with details of the findings of the consultation and if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4213/13]

Charities Regulation

Mattie McGrath

562. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider an amendment to Section 99 (3) of the Charities Act 2009 to specify the Irish Catholic Church in view of the fact that concerns have been raised that many of the signed mass cards on sale are coming from abroad and there is difficulty confirming the authenticity of such cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3909/13]

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Mattie McGrath

205. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the proposals to reduce the salary for graduate nurses under the graduate programme to protect the future of the nursing profession here and to avoid an exodus of graduate nurses from the country in a bid to find employment in a health service that will value their profession; his views on whether the nursing profession have already taken their fair share in cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3611/13]

Disabled Drivers Grant Eligibility

Mattie McGrath

66. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons that availed of the disabled drivers/passengers scheme on new vehicles in each of the years 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3370/13]

Roads Maintenance

Mattie McGrath

205. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the person responsible for the maintenance of a private road being used by Army personnel to gain access to their training base in Kilcoran, Cahir, County Tipperary (details supplied); if his Department will ensure that damage caused to the road by heavy army vehicles will be repaired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3454/13]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Mattie McGrath

464. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure that there are no further fatalities as a result of substandard local authority housing stock; his proposals to ensure that all local authority housing stock receive the required efficiency upgrades; the way he proposes that local authority housing tenants deal with their heating needs when they have so far been left for years waiting for improvement works to be carried out; his proposals for the housing aid for older people scheme to ensure that local authorities receive sufficient funding to deal with their backlog of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2974/13]

Medical Card Delays

Mattie McGrath

201. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the efficiency of the medical card office; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that fully completed applications are no longer being processed within the 15 day timeframe as previously indicated; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that applications are being held for more than one month with the medical officer alone; the measures he will take to ensure that this process is improved to ensure that those who require a medical card on discretionary grounds are not left waiting for long periods of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2100/13]

Fuel Rebate Scheme

Mattie McGrath

91. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the auto-diesel relief for licensed road hauliers measures introduced in Budget 2013 to all passenger transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1733/13]

Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers

Mattie McGrath

272. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students currently waiting for their applications for a higher education grant to be finalised throughout the country; the number of students from County Tipperary currently waiting for their applications for a higher education grant to be finalised; if Student Universal Support Ireland has given his office an explanation as to the reason so many applicants are being asked for information that has already been submitted; the number of students that have been approved for a higher education grant currently waiting for payment to be made; if he is satisfied with the efficiency of the SUSI Office in view of the fact that many students are still awaiting a decision in January; the efforts he will make to ensure that payments are finalised without further delay; the efforts he will make to ensure that there is not a repeat of this situation next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1018/13]

Driving Licence Renewals

Mattie McGrath

1169. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person who has to renew their driving licence now before the introduction of the new driving licence on 19 January 2013 is being charged the new charge of €55 when they will not receive the new licence; the reason a person who is aged over 60 will be charged the full €55 for a ten year licence despite the fact that his licence will expire in less than ten years and they are effectively being charged for a service that they will not receive; if he will consider introducing a reduced rate for the ten year licence for the over 60's; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1531/13]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Mattie McGrath

104. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the assistance that will be given to a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has a grant shortfall of €24,000 for a new extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57149/12]

Schools Refurbishment

Mattie McGrath

111. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the assistance given to a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary which will no longer be in a position to meet loan repayments following the removal of the minor works grant and other cuts in the education budget; if emergency funding will be made available to assist the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57277/12]

Student Support Schemes Issues

Mattie McGrath

119. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports that will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has submitted an application under the disability access route to education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57353/12]

Tax Rebates

Mattie McGrath

128. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the proposed fuel rebate scheme for road hauliers will apply to agricultural contractors; if he will consider a proposal to extend the scheme to agricultural contractors; if his attention has been drawn to an assessment that was carried out on the benefits of such scheme and if this assessment included the agricultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56344/12]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Mattie McGrath

134. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the unfinished housing estates that were exempt from the household charge will be exempt from the new local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56726/12]

Tax Rebates

Mattie McGrath

148. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the reasons a fuel rebate scheme for road hauliers cannot be introduced on 1 January 2013; if he is concerned that jobs and businesses may be lost in the sector due to the late introduction of the scheme; if he has considered introducing legislation to bring this into operation on 1 January 2013; the reasons he did not include the agricultural industry and farm contractors under the scheme; if he will consider including such contractors under the scheme as they too are heavily dependent on the price of fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56342/12]

Crime Prevention

Mattie McGrath

152. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to penalise criminals involved in the sale and supply of laundered, illegal or counterfeit products such as diesel, tobacco and clothing; if he has considered increasing the fines for such activity; his view on the resources available to the Revenue Commissioners and Customs to tackle this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56444/12]

Departmental Contracts

Mattie McGrath

198. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any concerns have been conveyed to him in relation to non-payment, underpayment or late payment for work done on projects funded by his Department since his appointment in March 2011. [56345/12]

EU Presidency Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

272. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has responded to the offer from an airline (details supplied) dated 20 September 2012, to offer an opportunity for the Irish EU Presidency to reduce the cost of the travel for politicians and officials between Brussels and Dublin; the reasons this offer has not been taken up to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56415/12]

Proposed Legislation

Mattie McGrath

273. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the organisations, bodies or persons with whom he has consulted with in relation to the Construction Contracts Bill 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56418/12]

Departmental Contracts

Mattie McGrath

433. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any concerns have been conveyed to him in relation to non-payment, underpayment or late payment for work done on projects funded by his Department since his appointment in March 2011. [56417/12]

Garda Stations Closures

Mattie McGrath

470. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will itemise the amount of money saved, in tabular form, from the closure of each of the following Garda stations in County Tipperary (details supplied); if he has asked the Garda Commissioner to put other measures in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56340/12]

Garda Stations Closures

Mattie McGrath

471. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the impact of his decision to close a further 100 Garda stations in tackling the problem of sale and supply of laundered, illegal or counterfeit products such as diesel, tobacco and clothing; his view on the resources available to the Gardaí, to tackle this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56341/12]

Proposed Legislation

Mattie McGrath

477. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he has taken to address the issues proposed by this Deputy in the Private Members Bill Precious Metal Dealers Bill 2011, which was an effort to regulate the cash for gold and cash for scrap industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56453/12]

Health Services Staff Issues

Mattie McGrath

593. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify reports that the Health Service Executive has announced a tender for 35 external leadership coaches; the proposed cost of such coaches and the budget from which this cost will be met; the purpose of such coaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56210/12]

Departmental Contracts

Mattie McGrath

605. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if any concerns have been conveyed to him in relation to non-payment, underpayment or late payment for work done on projects funded by his Department since his appointment in March 2011. [56416/12]

Proposed Legislation

Mattie McGrath

635. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to amend the law in relation the involuntary admission; the feedback that has been provided to those who made submissions to the Mental Health Commission in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56731/12]

Departmental Contracts

Mattie McGrath

676. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if any concerns have been conveyed to him in relation to non-payment, underpayment or late payment for work done on projects funded by his Department since his appointment in March 2011. [56346/12]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Exemptions

Mattie McGrath

124. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person who cannot live in their home due to a court order/barring order which prevents them from living in their home is exempt from the non principal private residence payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56166/12]

Defence Forces Reserve Issues

Mattie McGrath

3. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider retaining the Reserve Defence Forces centre in the town of Clonmel, County Tipperary in view of the fact that there are two units (details supplied); the way he intends existing members based in the Clonmel centre to be accommodated if they have to travel to barracks in Cork and Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54996/12]

Teacher Training Provision

Mattie McGrath

159. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the teacher refund scheme will be re-opened in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55092/12]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Oversight

Mattie McGrath

101. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the progress he has made with the review of the fair deal scheme; if in this review, active consideration will be given to the role the sheltered housing provided by non-profit housing associations could play in the housing and care needs of older persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54606/12]

HSE Funding

Mattie McGrath

102. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the bodies that are funded under section 38 of the Health Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54607/12]

Services for People with Disabilities

Mattie McGrath

103. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the funding that has been allocated in 2012 for the transfer of residents living in congregated settings into supported housing in the community; his plans in the next three years in relation to funding this transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54608/12]

Drugs Payment Scheme Administration

Mattie McGrath

656. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if there are any regulations or restrictions in place for the drugs payment scheme that prevent a patient from obtaining two months supply of their prescription in any one month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54416/12]

Site Acquisitions

Mattie McGrath

112. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills at what stage is the acquisition of the property, from the Mercy Order, required for the extension to a school (details supplied) to enable the amalgamation of a school; on the last report the acquisition of the site required was being dealt with under the redress scheme and the proposed build is due for the 2015/16 school year, if this timeframe can be verified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53645/12]

Ash Dieback Threat

Mattie McGrath

228. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the forestry were slow in taking action to try to limit the spread of ash dieback; the reason they waited until 90% of Denmark's ash trees were destroyed before starting to introduce measures to try to prevent the importation of additional sources of the disease; in view of the fact that the disease has been spreading across Europe for 10 to 15 years, the reason there has not been an information campaign to warn persons of the risk of importing a disease source; the way he can assure the Irish people that this disease has not been recently imported into several areas of the country through young ash plants, firewood, hurley butts, hurley planks or another source; the measures being taken to prevent the spread of the next tree disease to seep across Europe in years to come; with so many foresters retiring over recent years, if we have the experience and resources within Coillte to identify and tackle tree diseases; the percentage of Coillte employees that are actually trained and actively working foresters with the ability to work on the ground to combat this disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53675/12]

Banks Recapitalisation

Mattie McGrath

245. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the role of the public interest directors in the State funded banks; the way they are representing the taxpayer; the actions they can take or have they taken when a taxpayer has a grievance with their bank; the action that they have taken to review and reduce the remuneration and pension packages of bankers in the best interests of the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52895/12]