Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Local Authority Funding

Joan Collins

373. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1131 of 18 September 2012, if he has considered the report of the independent financial consultant engaged by Sligo County Council to review its critical financial position; his response to the recommendations made by the independent consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53883/12]

Local Authority Staff Issues

Joan Collins

374. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the workforce planning group has recommended that between two and three directors of service in addition to a head of finance is optimal for level five local authorities which includes Sligo County Council; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Sligo County Council currently has two directors of service, in addition to two acting directors of service plus a head of finance; the proposals in place to ensure that Sligo County Council complies with the recommendation of the workforce planning group regarding the number of directors of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53886/12]

Petroleum and Gas Exploration

Joan Collins

5. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the current process of granting exploration licences complies with the EU Directive 2003/4/EC on access to information on the Environment and EU Directive 2003/35/EC on public participation in environmental decision making and access to justice; and his views in relation to the granting of the licence to a company (details supplied) to drill in Dublin Bay. [53546/12]

Departmental Agencies Expenditure

Joan Collins

151. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Local Government Management Services Board paid a lump sum of €2,178 to a Dublin law firm (details supplied) in 2008 to provide a guest speaker at a training conference; the location at which this conference took place; the persons that attended the conference; the other speakers that addressed the conference and the fees they were paid; the purpose of the conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52106/12]

Departmental Agencies Expenditure

Joan Collins

152. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form a list of all companies or persons providing an external professional service to the Local Government Management Services Board in 2009 such as legal advice, advertising, project management and including any other external professional service not listed; the amount invoiced by each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52107/12]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Status

Joan Collins

160. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that earlier this year Sligo County Council received tenders for the work for the Grange, Strandhill and Tubbercurry sewerage schemes waste water treatment plants upgrades; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Strandhill scheme is currently overloaded and that the upgrading works are urgently required on all three schemes; the date on which he will approve funding for the schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51751/12]

Local Authority Funding

Joan Collins

161. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact a letter of the 2 November 2012 to the Sligo County Manager, his Department indicated that it was willing to provide approval for the conversion of Sligo County Council’s existing €7.5 million overdraft on its revenue account to a term loan; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Sligo County Manager told the meeting of Sligo County Council on the 5 of November that the Council would seek the €7.5 million loan from the Housing Finance Agency; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the HFA’s function is to advance loan finance to local authorities and the voluntary housing sector to be used by them for purposes authorised by the Housing Acts, 1966-2009, and the Agency is also empowered to lend funds to local authorities for water, waste and environmental capital projects under the terms of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2002; if it is a function of the HFA to lend funds to local authorities to reduce or replace overdrafts on revenue accounts; if the HFA is empowered to lend funds to local authorities to reduce or replace overdrafts on revenue accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51752/12]

Local Authority Funding

Joan Collins

162. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Sligo Council’s overall Revenue Account Debt at the end of 2011 was €12.9 million and that the Council’s Capital Debt was €73 million and that the Council’s revenue account debt continues to increase; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Councils bank refused to increase the Councils overdraft above €7.5 million despite the fact that his Department gave approval for €11 million earlier in 2012; his views on whether Sligo County Council has failed to address, during the course of 2012, the difficulties that arose as a result of councillors adopting the Council’s 2012 budget which was recommended by the County Manager; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51753/12]

Tax Yield

Joan Collins

24. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether a 10% super-tax on all incomes in excess of €100,000 would yield more than €2 billion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50524/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Joan Collins

161. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form a list of all companies or persons providing an external professional service to the Local Government Management Services Board in 2008 such as legal advice, advertising, project management and including any other external professional service not listed; the amount invoiced by each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50582/12]

Local Authorities Management

Joan Collins

163. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will supply the name of the Chairperson of the Finance and Audit Committee of the Local Government Management Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50586/12]

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Joan Collins

376. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the problems encountered by persons on jobseeker's allowance benefit who fill in casual workers weekly employment information forms; particularly as it relates to cash flow issues being paid fortnightly or monthly and weekly by social welfare [49787/12]

Local Authority Funding

Joan Collins

459. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it has been brought to his attention that the Sligo County Manager placed an item on the agenda issued on the 30 October, for the November meeting of the Council seeking approval to borrow a sum not exceeding €7.5 million by way of a loan for 20 years to replace the existing overdraft borrowings of €7.5 million and seeking approval to continue with a temporary overdraft of €4 million for the period up to 31 March 2013; if it has been brought to his attention that the County Manager received a letter on 2 November from an official in his Department (details supplied) stating that the Department is willing to provide approval for the conversion of the Council’s existing €7.5 million overdraft to a term loan and further stating that the said loan would reduce the Council’s banking costs and provide an opportunity for the Council to reduce its overall debt levels; if it has been brought to his attention that at the Council meeting on the 5 of November the County Manager changed his recommendation and sought approval from the Council to borrow a sum not exceeding €7.5 million by way of a long term loan with the existing €7.5 million overdraft staying in place; if it has been brought to his attention that by a majority of one the Council voted to accept the County Managers recommendation; if he will approve the proposed €7.5 million loan in view of the fact that the terms for the loan approval from his Department have been ignored and the existing overdraft is being maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49936/12]

Missing Children

Joan Collins

573. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date on which the 116000 phone line will be operational; if it will be set up before or after the children's referendum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49591/12]

Health Services Provision

Joan Collins

9. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the planning application of the Simon Community, Usher's Quay, Dublin, in relation to a transfer of services from the Rowan ward in Cherry Orchard, Dublin; if he is satisfied with the way the transfer of services has gone to this point; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48745/12]

Labour Court Recommendations

Joan Collins

18. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that there are standard contracts with detailed terms and conditions for workers in the home help sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41678/12]

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Joan Collins

128. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 inclusive, of the arrangements entered into by the Local Government Management Service Board, for the obtaining of advice from a senior or junior counsel and or a firm of solicitors; the subject matter for which advice was sought; the names of the barristers' and solicitors' firms concerned and the fees paid; the nature of the work concerned; if in each case the matter was advertised for competitive tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48800/12]

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Joan Collins

129. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form a list of all companies or persons providing an external professional service to the Local Government Management Services Board for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 inclusive, such as ICT, legal advice, advertising, project management and including any other external professional service not listed; the amount invoiced by each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48801/12]

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Joan Collins

130. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 inclusive the total amount of expenditure on consultancy by the Local Government Management Services Board; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; the nature of the work concerned; the fees paid to each consultant; if the matter was advertised for competitive tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48802/12]

Departmental Bodies

Joan Collins

131. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role and function of the Finance and Audit Committee of the Local Government Management Agency; the persons who are members of the Finance and Audit Committee of the Local Government Management Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48803/12]