Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

EU Budget

Brendan Smith

144. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the reason the State's contribution to the EU budget in the first six months of the year, at €931 million, was up from €810 million in 2011; the reason this figure is €67 million higher than expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33395/13]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Brendan Smith

269. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has engaged in any talks recently to advance cross-Border trade on this island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30792/13]

Trade Agreements

Brendan Smith

270. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made to date in the trade talks between the EU and the USA; if he will outline the potential benefits to Ireland of a successful conclusion to those talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30789/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Brendan Smith

361. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to upgrade broadband connectivity throughout County Monaghan with particular reference to the need to extend the national broadband scheme to those electoral divisions in the county where such service is not available at present; the likely timescale for the proposed roll-out of this particular scheme to the remaining electoral divisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33470/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Brendan Smith

6. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way he can improve the provision of special needs services to post-primary students who require them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32258/13]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

68. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the US Immigration Reform Bill; the proposals, if any, he has to support the work of Irish advocacy groups in support of this legislation; his plans for further discussions with members of the US Congress to progress this legislation to a successful conclusion due to its importance for the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32522/13]

Personal Insolvency Practitioners

Brendan Smith

80. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider his decision to apply VAT to personal insolvency services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31927/13]

Bank Stress Tests

Brendan Smith

131. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the reason bank stress tests will not take place prior to the planned end of Ireland's EU-IMF programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31926/13]

Passport Application Numbers

Brendan Smith

168. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a country by country per annum breakdown of Irish passports given out by embassies over the past ten years; the fees collected per annum; the number of passports issued domestically over the past ten years and fees collected; the number of emergency passports issued domestically over that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32032/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brendan Smith

328. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposed building project for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; the present stage of this project, when it is proposed that the project will move to the next stage; the likely timescale for construction to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31837/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Brendan Smith

481. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline the proposals, if any, there are to upgrade broadband connectivity throughout County Cavan with particular reference to the need to extend the national broadband scheme to those electoral divisions in the county where such service is not available at present; the likely timescale for the proposed roll-out of this particular scheme to the remaining electoral divisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31838/13]

Court Accommodation Provision

Brendan Smith

555. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm that there will be no change to the status of Clones District Court, County Monaghan, as the court building has modern facilities and the court services a large part of County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31582/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Brendan Smith

80. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the most recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with Members of the Northern Executive in relation to the proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31291/13]

EU Funding

Brendan Smith

1. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made to date with the EU budget negotiations; if he will outline the way the outcome of those discussions will affect funding for various programmes here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30910/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Brendan Smith

4. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the most recent discussions at European Union Foreign Affairs Council in relation to Syria; if there is a possibility of a common European position to deal with this ongoing and escalating conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30911/13]

Humanitarian Aid

Brendan Smith

43. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised at the EU Foreign Affairs Council the totally inadequate response of the international community to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and adjoining areas; if the EU is pursuing with other major trading partners the urgent need to provide an immediate and adequate response to the needs of millions of deprived persons in that region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30816/13]

Humanitarian Aid

Brendan Smith

49. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to address the inadequate international response to commitments of humanitarian aid to Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30495/13]

Israeli Imports

Brendan Smith

65. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the proposed labelling measures for goods from Israeli settlements that are currently being discussed at the EU level will take the form of voluntary guidelines or will be mandatory by law; if they will extend to all goods imported from Israeli settlements beyond just fresh agricultural produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30912/13]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Brendan Smith

146. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties that arise for emigrants who have now returned home and who are being deprived of social welfare benefits due to the conditions of the habitual residence clause (details supplied); her plans to remove such unfair restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31012/13]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

Brendan Smith

100. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the introduction of universal health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30445/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Brendan Smith

111. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the latest waiting list figures for day cases and in patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30442/13]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

270. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills when funding will be allocated for a project (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30364/13]

Third Level Admissions Entry Requirements

Brendan Smith

271. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the situation in relation to the circumstances that a student who holds a primary degree in sports science can now qualify for a grant to do a two year masters in physiotherapy in UCD; if there is any special entitlement-scheme for students who are Irish international athletes and who, on this occasion, have been selected for this masters course on the basis of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30365/13]

School Staffing

Brendan Smith

293. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any primary school in counties Cavan and Monaghan will lose teaching positions in September 2013 as a result of changes to the pupil-teacher ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30642/13]

Trade Agreements

Brendan Smith

337. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline the proposals he has tabled to protect the beef sector within the European Union in the event of an EU/US Trade Agreement being formalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30356/13]

Public Sector Staff Redundancies

Brendan Smith

15. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made to date in implementing the targeted voluntary redundancy scheme within the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29676/13]

Passport Statistics

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a breakdown of the number of Irish passport holders in each country throughout the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29941/13]

Aquaculture Licences Applications

Brendan Smith

45. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue the 100 aquaculture licence applications outside of the areas designated under the Habitats Directive which he indicated to Dáil Éireann on the 25 of September had been cleared for payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29367/13]

Fodder Crisis

Brendan Smith

56. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to ensure there will be adequate fodder for the coming winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29352/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Brendan Smith

135. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to the absence of resource teaching hours for children with Down's syndrome, if he intends to reintroduce this service for those children who are suffering a serious disadvantage as a result of this condition in the first instance for those who need one to one teaching in order to help them overcome such difficulties with speech and language impediments, and specifically address the fact that children with Down's syndrome with a mild learning disability have no access to resource teaching hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28952/13]

Rural Social Scheme Administration

Brendan Smith

249. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to provide additional placements for the rural social scheme for Counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29248/13]

Roads Maintenance

Brendan Smith

584. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a proposed project (details supplied) in County Armagh; if likely sources of funding have been identified towards such a development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28991/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Brendan Smith

54. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the further meetings planned at EU Foreign Affairs Council level to discuss the ongoing and escalating conflict in Syria and the humanitarian crisis in that region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28567/13]

International Election Monitoring

Brendan Smith

56. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent allegations of voting fraud in the Venezuelan presidential election; the efforts being made at an EU level to verify the result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28617/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brendan Smith

65. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position on the proposed building project at a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for construction work to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28409/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brendan Smith

72. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position on the proposed building project for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; the current stage of this project; when the project is likely to proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for construction; if this project will be progressed as quickly as possible in view of the high rental costs for temporary accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28518/13]

Rural Recreation Promotion

Brendan Smith

48. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Comhairle na Tuaithe has made any recommendation in relation to legislating for countryside access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28058/13]

Dormant Accounts Fund Deposits

Brendan Smith

66. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the net inflow of funds from dormant accounts in the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28055/13]

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Brendan Smith

114. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the costs of repair and maintenance by country, of property assets owned by the State as part of foreign diplomatic missions, including embassies, consulates, chanceries and other diplomatic representation as well as residential property used by the State for its diplomatic activity; and the costs of any improvement works carried out on those buildings in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. [27072/13]

Rockall Island

Brendan Smith

131. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding negotiations over ownership of Rockall and the steps being taken by him to secure Ireland’s territorial claim; the developments, if any, in the four way talks between Ireland, Iceland, the UK and Denmark; if Iceland made a submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf; if he will confirm whether sovereignty of Rockall does not impact on Ireland’s mineral and fishing rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28034/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Brendan Smith

132. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason his Department has not spent €44 million allocated to it as shown in the end of May Exchequer returns; if he expects this underspend to be corrected by the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28035/13]

Property Taxation Administration

Brendan Smith

162. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify matters in relation to the property tax; the estimate for a full year of this tax and if estimates are available for each county; the estimate for the full county of Dublin, including the four local authorities; if the proceeds from property tax will go into general Exchequer; when the power for a local authority to increase the tax will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26846/13]

Local Government Fund

Brendan Smith

548. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the proceeds from property tax are directly linked to Government grants to local authorities under his Department; if there is any commitment regarding link between where the property tax is raised and where it will be spent; if there will be any restrictions at that stage on the way a local authority spends the additional tax or if it will be up to the local authority to decide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26846/13]

Medicinal Products Availability

Brendan Smith

941. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the position regarding supply and or availability of medication (details supplied) under the various drug schemes; if such medication is available under any circumstances; the extra documentation necessary to support a case for inclusion of this medication under current schemes; if there is an appeal process; if there is an alternative approved medication; if guidance will be offered on the way this necessary medication to curtail this life threatening illness can be obtained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26844/13]

Emigrant Support Services

Brendan Smith

56. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent actions of the Irish International Immigrant Centre in Boston in relation to a young J1 Irish visa holder; his views on the adequacy and suitability of advice provided by such centres; if he has received a comprehensive report on this particular incident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26556/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Brendan Smith

57. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting of 27 May 2013 in relation to the ongoing conflict in Syria and the humanitarian crisis in that region; if any new initiatives were approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26560/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the request of the Irish-Syrian Solidarity Campaign in relation to the call by the local co-ordinating committees of the opposition in Syria for a no-fly zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26561/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Brendan Smith

59. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any new initiatives were discussed at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the urgent need to renew the Middle East peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26562/13]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

61. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the up to date position in relation to the new E3 visa initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26593/13]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

62. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the up to date position in relation to the Immigration Reform Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26594/13]