Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

John Paul Phelan

92. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the avenues open to an applicant when they are refused rent allowance because the rent was over the maximum limit as laid down by her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28495/13]

EU Funding

John Paul Phelan

700. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of projects which were included in Ireland's response to the most recent call for applications for EU Ten-T transport capital funding support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25049/13]

Rail Network

John Paul Phelan

701. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the latest estimated cost of a proposed transport infrastructure project (details supplied); the scale of the likely contribution required by the Exchequer, as well as the possible scale of financial support that may be available from the EU and European Investment Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25050/13]

Road Network

John Paul Phelan

702. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status and possible timeframe for completion of the N25 New Ross bypass and the link between the proposed New Ross bypass and the existing Waterford bypass, which is also on the N25; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25051/13]

Penalty Point System

John Paul Phelan

16. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the measures being taken to harmonise the penalty points regime on an all-island basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22940/13]

Sporting Events

John Paul Phelan

92. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the current position in relation to the possibility of Ireland bidding to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023 or 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22941/13]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

John Paul Phelan

227. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health in relation to the suspension of funding for the national home support scheme, when same will be resumed in the Kilkenny/Carlow area where elderly persons currently being cared for in St. Luke's Hospital are awaiting funding in order to take up places in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21729/13]

Insolvency Service of Ireland Issues

John Paul Phelan

172. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an individual who is an authorised person by the Central Bank of Ireland to deal in financial services and who is qualified to deal in financial products by the grandfather arrangement of being fully operational before the year 2000, is eligible to practice as a personal insolvency practitioner under the terms of the new Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20886/13]

Youth Guarantee

John Paul Phelan

316. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the introduction of a youth guarantee here; and the proposed pilot project in Ballymun, Dublin. [20245/13]

Departmental Expenditure

John Paul Phelan

509. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide details of the total amount of funding paid directly to vocational education committees to cover the cost of administering local youth work funding including the total pay of VEC youth officers and the total non-pay element of direct assistance to VECs. [20246/13]

Vocational Education Committees Staff

John Paul Phelan

438. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has reviewed the impact statement prepared by Ballyfermot College for Further Education assessing the impact of the new 19:1 student teacher ratio, which is resulting in the redeployment of 18 teaching posts and loss of 10 teaching posts equating to a 20% loss in teaching capacity to the serious detriment of the College’s ongoing capacity to deliver high-quality specialist courses, noting that many of these courses have a proven track record in supporting the employability of BCFE students and which have supported and sustained many domestic small and medium enterprises, including a number of internally-renowned firms in the areas of animation and associated creative and digital fields. [16772/13]

Vocational Education Committees Expenditure

John Paul Phelan

98. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of funding provided to or expended by vocational education committee and-or other bodies under his remit on training for child care staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15763/13]

Vocational Education Committees Expenditure

John Paul Phelan

99. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of expenditure by vocational education committees on training for child care staff, as reported in the annual returns from the vocational education committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15764/13]

Transition Year Programme

John Paul Phelan

251. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if and when funding will be released to the Irish Second Level Students Union to complete a review of the transition year programme as detailed by him at their AGM in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14952/13]

Irish Second-Level Students' Union

John Paul Phelan

252. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made in the past 12 months with regard to granting official partner in education status to the Irish Second Level Students Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14953/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals

John Paul Phelan

347. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15331/13]

Naturalisation Applications

John Paul Phelan

439. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the purpose for which a variable fee is charged for citizenship under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011; the amount raised per year from these fees; and the way these funds are used. [15107/13]

Naturalisation Applications

John Paul Phelan

443. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the purpose for which a variable fee is charged for citizenship under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011; the amount raised per year from these fees and the way these funds are used. [15116/13]

Primary Care Centres Provision

John Paul Phelan

546. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the current position with regard to the proposed provision of a Health Service Executive primary care centre (details supplied) in County Dublin. [14938/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

John Paul Phelan

126. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been taken to tackle inpatient and day case waiting lists in Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene, Kilkenny; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14274/13]

National Debt

John Paul Phelan

219. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the scale of Ireland's national debt at end 2007, both in real terms and as a percentage of GDP; if he will indicate the net increase of the national debt, in real terms, in each of the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; in the case of each year the amount of net debt increase attributable to banking measures and the amount attributable to borrowing to fund current expenditure; the scale of Ireland's national debt both at the end of 2012 and as of today, again both in real terms and as a percentage of GDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13881/13]

Hospital Staff

John Paul Phelan

685. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the measures he will put in place to ensure that the current deficit of intern places for medical graduates which has come about as a result of the State's funding of additional medical school places, without the corresponding increase in intern places, will not lead to medical graduates having to leave the country to fully qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8222/13]

Hospital Acquired Infections

John Paul Phelan

39. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the actions taken to tackle MRSA in hospitals; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7545/13]

Accident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times

John Paul Phelan

58. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the actions taken to tackle overcrowding and the use of trolleys in the accident and emergency department in St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, and the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7556/13]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

John Paul Phelan

141. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of people that are on State pensions who have worked in semi-State companies under his Department and are in pension brackets/bands of between €50,000 and €60,000, between €60,000 and €70,000, between €70,000 and €80,000, between €80,000 and €90,000, between €90,000 and €100,000 and more than €100,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7667/13]

Pension Provisions

John Paul Phelan

248. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons that are on State pensions who have worked in semi-State companies under his Department and are in pension brackets/bands of between €50,000 and €60,000, between €60,000 and €70,000, between €70,000 and €80,000, between €80,000 and €90,000, between €90,000 and €100,000 and more than €100,000 [7668/13]

European Court of Human Rights Judgments

John Paul Phelan

191. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of progress reports which have been submitted to either the European Court of Human Rights or the Council of Europe in relation to the judgement in the ABC v Ireland case; the dates on which these reports were submitted; if he will outline the manner in which these reports were compiled; the other Government Departments, if any, which contributed to each report; the Ministers and Ministers of State who contributed to each report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7073/13]

Public Sector Pensions Data

John Paul Phelan

373. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons on State pensions that have worked in semi-State companies and in the following bands, between €50,000 and €60,000, between €60,000 and €70,000, between €70,000 and €80,000, between €80,000 and €90,000, between €90,000 and €100,000 and over €100,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5928/13]

Work Permit Applications

John Paul Phelan

151. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to alter the existing time limits on the designation of de facto relationships for the purposes of granting working visas for non-EEA citizens, whereby the current two year threshold applies a high burden on those couples wishing to reside and work here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4641/13]

Public Sector Staff Data

John Paul Phelan

90. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons working in education in the public service and under the current Croke Park Agreement who have salaries between €70,000 and €80,000, between €80,000 and €90,000, between €90,000 and €100,000 and over €100,000; the total number of personnel working across all sections of education in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3434/13]

Pension Provisions

John Paul Phelan

114. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons on State pensions from the public service in the bands, between €50,000 and €60,00, between €60,000 and €70,000, between €70,000 and €80,000, between €80,000 and €90,000, between €90,000 and €100,000 and over €100,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3433/13]

HSE Staff Remuneration

John Paul Phelan

246. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons working in the health system in the public service and under the current Croke Park Agreement, who have salaries between €70,000 and €80,000, between €80,000 and €90,000, between €90,000 and €100,000, and over €100,000; the total number of personnel working across all sections of health in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3432/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

John Paul Phelan

116. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update regarding Ireland's commitment to overseas development aid in particular its commitment to the millennium development goals and the promise to increase overseas development aid to 0.7% of GNP in the context of Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56639/12]

Local Authority Housing Provision

John Paul Phelan

435. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a housing in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56426/12]

Health Services Provision

John Paul Phelan

606. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the reason the care needs of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who is suffering from a number of physiological issues, is not being followed up by the Health Service Executive despite the fact that they are aware of his physical living conditions and health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56427/12]

Education and Training Boards Issues

John Paul Phelan

88. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the proposed mechanism for appointment of chairpersons in the education and training boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53085/12]

Education and Training Boards Issues

John Paul Phelan

89. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the proposed numeric and geographic model for representation on education and training boards when established, with particular reference to ETBs where three VECs are amalgamating and the possibility of smaller counties having very limited representation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53086/12]

School Patronage

John Paul Phelan

90. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will update on the consultation process with communities in regard to school patronage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53087/12]

Education Policy

John Paul Phelan

91. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans, if any, to sanction more community national schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53088/12]

Education and Training Boards Issues

John Paul Phelan

92. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views in respect of the proposed education and training boards and the possibility of these boards acting as a resource providing managerial supports to all schools and education centres in their respective regions, not just schools and education centres already under the VECs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53089/12]

General Medical Services Scheme Payments

John Paul Phelan

236. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the measures that are taken to ensure that the list of medical card holders, that doctors are paid for under the medical card scheme, is kept updated in order to ensure that over payment does not occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53289/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

John Paul Phelan

313. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a proposed development at a school (details supplied) in County Dublin. [52853/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

John Paul Phelan

314. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a proposed extension at two schools (details supplied) in County Dublin. [52854/12]

School Patronage

John Paul Phelan

321. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that legislative measures to protect the religious ethos of schools do not act as a barrier to enrolment; if any complaints have been made to his Department in respect of pupils being denied the opportunity to enrol in a school on grounds of religious ethos; if any cases against the State have been taken on these grounds; his plans to review these legislative provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53037/12]

Equality Issues

John Paul Phelan

541. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if any cases have been taken against the State, or any emanation or agency of the State, in regard to Section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Acts 2000-2008 which allows schools to offer preferential treatment in admittance of pupils of certain religious backgrounds; if he is satisfied that the provision has operated satisfactorily to date; his plans, if any, to amend the provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53036/12]

Human Rights Issues

John Paul Phelan

161. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the Chinese Government the issue of alleged human rights violations in China, with particular reference to allegations of organ harvesting and persecution of Falun Gong worshippers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49419/12]

VAT Rates Application

John Paul Phelan

244. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if VAT is payable on a used vehicle imported from the UK, noting that VAT had previously been paid in UK when purchased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48336/12]

VAT Rates Application

John Paul Phelan

245. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if VAT is payable on a used vehicle imported from an EU member state, noting that VAT had previously been paid in the country of origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48337/12]

School Transport Provision

John Paul Phelan

344. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the issue where a school bus has to collect 14 students to take them home and then return for the remaining six students waiting on the side of a regional road, unsupervised, for the bus to return (details supplied). [48154/12]

Motor Tax Collection

John Paul Phelan

722. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any consideration has been given to equalising the cost to the public of taxing their motor vehicles online for a 12 month period, with the six or three month period, due to the financial difficulties that many households face and the possibility that this charge may lead to greater adherence to this tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48353/12]

Cancer Research

John Paul Phelan

976. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the amounts of funding provided through the Health Research Board for research on brain tumour incidence, causes and treatment in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively; his plans for further investment into brain tumour research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47246/12]

Cancer Research

John Paul Phelan

977. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health he amounts of funding provided through the Health Research Board for research on cancer incidence, causes and treatment in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47247/12]

Cancer Research

John Paul Phelan

978. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the amounts of funding provided through the All Ireland Cooperative Oncology Research Group for research on brain tumour incidence, causes and treatment in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively; his plans for further investment into brain tumour research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47248/12]

Cancer Research

John Paul Phelan

979. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the amounts of funding provided through the All Ireland Cooperative Oncology Research Group for research on cancer incidence, causes and treatment in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47249/12]

Sports Funding

John Paul Phelan

1229. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of money that was paid via the Irish Sport Council, to high performance athletes in each of the years 2009 to 2012 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48338/12]

Child Benefit Payments

John Paul Phelan

376. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she has taken to date and future proposals to address the issue of child benefit being paid in respect of children living outside the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46483/12]

Food Imports

John Paul Phelan

544. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of litres of goats milk imported into the State in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44730/12]

School Transport Provision

John Paul Phelan

197. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been refused school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42598/12]

School Textbooks

John Paul Phelan

233. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the excessive cost of school books and the burden it is placing on students and families at this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43244/12]

School Transport Eligibility

John Paul Phelan

234. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review an application of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has to pay for concessionary school transport even though their parents have a medical card. [43245/12]

Departmental Staff Grades

John Paul Phelan

289. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline the different grades that currently exist within the public service; and if he will detail the entry level pay levels associated with each grade [43021/12]

Peace Commissioners Appointments

John Paul Phelan

476. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the name and addresses of current Peace Commissioners in County Kilkenny as of 1 September 2012. [43019/12]

Animal Disease Controls

John Paul Phelan

511. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will outline the number of live goats imported into the State in the year 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43018/12]

Driving Tests

John Paul Phelan

707. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the arrangements in place or planned to ensure the same standards are implemented by driving testers across the country in order to ensure that the large differences in test outcomes throughout the country does not continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43020/12]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

John Paul Phelan

218. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will advise on status of applications made under the sports capital funding scheme in which planning permission has not been received for proposed project subject to the funding application, be it due to a direct refusal of permission, an appeal to an Bord Pleanála or delays due to requests by the relevant planning authority for detailed additional information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42191/12]

School Transport Applications

John Paul Phelan

163. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been refused school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41506/12]

Mental Health Services Report

John Paul Phelan

413. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the 2012 funding for the mental health services with particular reference to the 414 additional staff that were announced for the provision of the service; if as per recent information from his Department it is still hoped that 353 of these positions will be filled before the end of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40171/12]

Public Sector Staff Grades

John Paul Phelan

530. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the different grades that currently exist within the public service: and if he will detail the entry level pay levels associated with each grade. [38368/12]

Peace Commissioners

John Paul Phelan

1230. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the names and addresses of current peace commissioners in County Kilkenny as of 1 September 2012. [38369/12]

Driving Tests

John Paul Phelan

1917. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the arrangements in place or planned to ensure that the same standards are implemented by driver testers across the country to ensure that the large differences in test outcomes throughout the country do not continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38367/12]

Financial Services Regulation

John Paul Phelan

61 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to update the law governing the area of money-lending in view of the increase in the number of persons who are borrowing money at exaggerated interest rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35492/12]

State Banking Sector

John Paul Phelan

64 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if consideration has been given, notwithstanding the creation of the loan guarantee scheme, to the creation of a new national development bank with a remit similar to the role previously filled by the ACC and ICC; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35489/12]

Technological Universities

John Paul Phelan

92 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the establishment of a technological university in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35490/12]

Job Creation

John Paul Phelan

130 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps his Department have engaged in to promote job creation in the south-east region which continues to have an unemployment rate significantly higher than the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35488/12]

Employment Support Services

John Paul Phelan

160 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions being undertaken by her Department in support of implementation of the EU Commission’s Youth Opportunities Initiative to address youth unemployment.
[35591/12]

Commemorative Events

John Paul Phelan

188 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the arrangements and events that are planned by the Government to mark the centenary of the First World War and the role of Irish soldiers in that conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35487/12]

Agricultural College Places

John Paul Phelan

290 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase the places available in agricultural colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35485/12]

Milk Quota

John Paul Phelan

291 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be any extra milk quota available to those suppliers facing large super-levy bills as a result of their dairy herds being restricted by reason of disease in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35491/12]

Traveller Accommodation

John Paul Phelan

431 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding provided by his Department in 2012 for the Traveller accommodation programme; if he will provide a breakdown of the amounts provided to each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35486/12]

Disabled Drivers

John Paul Phelan

103 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if there has been changes recent to the URT rebate on vehicles purchased by the families of disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33172/12]

Disabled Drivers

John Paul Phelan

104 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if the fuel and motor tax rebates for vehicles of families with disabled children have been abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33173/12]

Disabled Drivers

John Paul Phelan

105 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if there are any rebates on URT and VAT for the purchase of MPVs or buses for the purpose of transporting children with spina bifida; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33174/12]