Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Seirbhísí Leathanbhanda

Brendan Griffin

282. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Brendan Griffin den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad iad na pleananna atá aici chun an tseirbhís leathanbhanda a fheabhsú sa Ghaeltacht; an bhfuil sí ar an eolas faoin iliomad fadhbanna sa Ghaeltacht de dheasca easpa seirbhíse leathanbhanda; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34943/14]

Seirbhísí Tacaíochta Teanga

Brendan Griffin

287. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Brendan Griffin den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad iad na pleananna atá aici chun an méid Gaeilge a úsáideann daoine go laethúil i gCill Airne, Co. Chiarraí, a mhéadú; an bhfuil a fhios aige go bhfuil an Ghaelscoil sa bhaile ag fás go tapa, go bhfuil suim mhór sa teanga sa bhaile agus gur mhór an chabhair don tionscal turasóireachta níos mó Gaeilge a bheith á labhairt ann; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34944/14]

Household Benefits Scheme

Brendan Griffin

161. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will permit recipients of carer's benefit to receive the household benefit package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34738/14]

Pension Provisions

Brendan Griffin

202. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on increasing revenue from the approved retirement fund (details supplied). [33258/14]

Flood Risk Assessments

Brendan Griffin

346. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to address flooding problems at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34978/14]

Criminal Law

Brendan Griffin

648. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter regarding legal protection in place to defend home owners (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34037/14]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Brendan Griffin

828. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend BreastCheck to 65 to 70 year olds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33181/14]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Brendan Griffin

901. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a prostate cancer screening programme similar to the BreastCheck programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33417/14]

Hospital Appointments Status

Brendan Griffin

960. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a date for an appointment for a MRI scan will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33716/14]

Teachers' Remuneration

Brendan Griffin

1286. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding teachers' pay conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33562/14]

Water Charges Exemptions

Brendan Griffin

1504. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce additional domestic free water allowances for students over the age of 18 in full-time education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33318/14]

Local Authority Charges Application

Brendan Griffin

1506. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities have the authority to charge rates on vacant commercial premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33375/14]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Griffin

1549. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the payments of public moneys that were made to An Taisce in 2013; the purpose of these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34069/14]

Fáilte Ireland Funding

Brendan Griffin

1681. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a festival (details supplied) in County Kerry will be made eligible for national festival funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33180/14]

Departmental Budgets

Brendan Griffin

1746. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the 2015 Údarás na Gaeltachta capital budget will be returned to €12 million and if the Foras na Gaeilge budget will be protected (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34039/14]

Human Rights Issues

Brendan Griffin

44. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts made to help free the Al Jazeera journalists imprisoned in Egypt; if the Egyptian ambassador has been summoned regarding the issue; his plans on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32360/14]

Foreign Conflicts

Brendan Griffin

45. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts made to help stop the Israeli bombardment of Gaza; if his attention has been drawn to the murder of innocent children and adults in Gaza during these bombardments; if the Israeli ambassador has been summoned regarding the issue; his future plans on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32361/14]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Griffin

46. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts to help the undocumented Irish in the USA; if he will outline any recent positive developments in this area; his future plans on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32362/14]

Garda Operations

Brendan Griffin

57. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the street value of illicit and counterfeit cigarettes seized nationwide over each of the past ten years; if a breakdown of Garda districts exists for these seizures; the amount he estimates the street value of unseized products to be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32368/14]

Garda Operations

Brendan Griffin

58. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the street value of illicit and counterfeit alcoholic beverages seized nationwide over each of the past ten years; if a breakdown of Garda districts exists for these seizures; the amount he estimates the street value of unseized products to be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32369/14]

Garda Operations

Brendan Griffin

59. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the street value of illicit and counterfeit CDs and DVDs seized nationwide over each of the past ten years; if a breakdown of Garda districts exists for these seizures; the amount he estimates the street value of unseized products to be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32370/14]

Garda Operations

Brendan Griffin

60. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the at-the-pump value of laundered fuel seized nationwide over each of the past ten years; if a breakdown of Garda districts exists for these seizures; the amount he estimates the street value of unseized products to be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32371/14]

Tax Code

Brendan Griffin

79. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider reviewing the rate of DIRT tax to incentivise persons to invest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32281/14]

Banking Operations

Brendan Griffin

84. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views that a bank (details supplied) in County Kerry is treating a person fairly following recent representations by this Deputy to his Department; if there has been any progress on this case [32341/14]

VAT Rate Reductions

Brendan Griffin

85. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider reducing the rate of VAT payable by ice cream parlours to 9% in recognition of the labour intensive nature of the business and the heavy dependency that such businesses have on tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32356/14]

GDP-GNP Levels

Brendan Griffin

86. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if illegal trade in counterfeit and illicit alcohol, cigarettes, fuel, CDs and DVDs will be included in overall GDP figures, if so, the impact their inclusion will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32372/14]

GDP-GNP Levels

Brendan Griffin

87. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if black market construction activity will be included in overall GDP figures; if so, the impact the inclusion will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32373/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brendan Griffin

229. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the construction of the new primary and secondary schools in Milltown, County Kerry; the timeframe and completion dates for the projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32347/14]

School Transport Applications

Brendan Griffin

263. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for a school bus service (details supplied) in County Kerry will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32621/14]

Leader's Allowance

Brendan Griffin

292. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the unvouched amounts paid to Independent TDs under the heading of leaders’ allowance from their election to the 31st Dáil to 1 July 2014; if these payments were entirely tax free; the changes now put in place to stop unvouched claims under this heading and to reduce claims; if every eligible current Independent TD claimed the absolute maximum available under the leaders’ allowance until the Government changes were enforced; if any eligible current Independent TD ever returned any of the money involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32339/14]

Leader's Allowance

Brendan Griffin

293. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the gross amount a PAYE worker would need to earn in a year to take home the cumulative amounts paid to Independent TDs under the heading of leaders’ allowance from their election to the 31st Dáil to 1 July 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32340/14]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Griffin

294. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funding that has been drawn down by Kerry County Council and spent directly by the Office of Public Works for works associated with the damage caused by the 2013-14 winter storms; if details of each job will be provided; if more funding will be provided to County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32358/14]

IDA Site Visits

Brendan Griffin

313. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits to County Kerry by prospective Industrial Development Agency companies to date in 2014; the details of these visits; his views on this level of visitation; the action he will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32350/14]

Birth Certificates

Brendan Griffin

326. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider the mandatory paternity testing for registration of fathers on birth certificates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32016/14]

JobsPlus Scheme

Brendan Griffin

355. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will include persons in receipt of farm assist for eligibility on JobsPlus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32365/14]

Irish Language

Brendan Griffin

410. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the construction of the new Irish Language Centre in Baile an Fhirtéaraigh, Contae Chiarraí; the timeframe for the project and when completion is expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32343/14]

Heritage Projects

Brendan Griffin

411. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the renovation and refurbishment of Killarney House and Gardens, County Kerry; the timeframe for the project and when completion is expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32351/14]

Film Industry Development

Brendan Griffin

412. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if increased funding will be provided for film production here; if she will provide in tabular form the amounts provided annually for film production over the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32352/14]

Leader Programmes Funding

Brendan Griffin

484. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when businesses and community groups may expect to be able to apply and receive Leader funding under the new RDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32355/14]

Tax Yield

Brendan Griffin

485. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular format the levy rate and amounts generated by the plastic bag levy per annum since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32357/14]

Severe Weather Events Expenditure

Brendan Griffin

486. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount that has been drawn down by Kerry County Council for works associated with the damage caused by the 2013-14 winter storms; if more funding will be provided to County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32359/14]

Planning Issues

Brendan Griffin

487. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will change the law to allow for independent scrutiny of An Bord Pleanála decisions, particularly in cases where decisions are made completely against the recommendations of inspectors; if he is concerned with the current lack of transparency in the decision making process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32364/14]

Forestry Management

Brendan Griffin

549. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the forestry plantation targets that exist for 2014; if the 2011, 2012 and 2013 targets were met; the measures he plans to improve the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32376/14]

Child Maintenance Payments

Brendan Griffin

564. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider the introduction of more strident penalties for parents who neglect or ignore their maintenance obligations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32034/14]

Legislative Programme

Brendan Griffin

581. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when she will bring forward legislation to provide for the post-release electronic tagging of convicted sex offenders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32345/14]

Road Traffic Offences

Brendan Griffin

582. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fines and penalty points that have been issued for texting and driving since the new law came into force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32353/14]

Crime Data

Brendan Griffin

583. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she considers the act of deliberately ramming a Garda vehicle to be serious enough to warrant its own legislative response; if she is concerned with the figures pertaining to such instances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32354/14]

Drugs Crime

Brendan Griffin

584. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the street value of illegal drugs seized nationwide over each of the past ten years; if a breakdown of the Garda districts exists for these seizures; the amount she estimates the street value of unseized products to be; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32367/14]

Medical Card Reviews

Brendan Griffin

678. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards that have been returned to persons in County Kerry in recent weeks following their initial withdrawal under the reviews of recent years; the number in County Kerry that will be returned and when the return of all cards will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32346/14]

Health Services Provision

Brendan Griffin

679. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the construction of the 40-bed unit at the Cherryfield site, Killarney, County Kerry; the timeframe for the project and when completion is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32349/14]