Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Hospital Staff Recruitment

John Halligan

632. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the official figure for spend on agency staff within Waterford University Hospital, formerly Waterford Regional Hospital, for the years 2013 and to date in 2014; if his Department has any plans to lift the moratorium on recruitment within the sector and to advertise full-time positions to ensure staffing within the hospital is at the correct level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27203/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

John Halligan

3. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether best practice has been used by his Department regarding the length of time a school (details supplied) has been waiting to be placed on a buildings project list; if he will acknowledge it is utterly unacceptable that this school has been waiting patiently for 29 years in prefabricated accommodation for permanent structures to be provided for its students; his views on whether the circa €1.8 million spent renting and maintaining these prefabricated structures represents value for taxpayers' money, especially when the estimated amount to construct permanent structures on this site would have been less than that figure; if he will acknowledge further that this school already owns its own site, has full planning permission for construction and is ready to proceed; if he also will acknowledge this school has waited longer than any other school in the country and should be on top of his list; if he will commit to adding this school to the current buildings project list without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23539/14]

Summer Works Scheme Expenditure

John Halligan

6. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to his recent announcements regarding school improvements under the summer works scheme, in which only applications within categories 1 to 3, inclusive, 5 and 6 have received funding, if his Department has any plans to make any further announcements regarding applications received within the other categories; if he will be in a position to make any further funding available to cover unsuccessful applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23358/14]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

John Halligan

10. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the serious issue of large class sizes within the education system; his views on whether the current pupil-teacher ratio is far in excess of where it needs to be in order to provide a comprehensive education to our young students; the way our pupil-teacher ratio compares with other EU member states; if he will make a firm commitment to reduce the ratio over the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23359/14]

School Enrolments

John Halligan

39. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will be making a formal decision in relation to school enrolment policy; when we can expect to see legislative proposals; if he will be broadly following in the UK's footsteps by bringing enrolment policy in line with postcodes, now that we are to be allocated postcodes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23361/14]

Special Educational Needs Expenditure

John Halligan

42. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he or his Department has plans to make additional funding available for psychological services and employment of special needs assistants within the system; his views on whether cutbacks to the services over the past few years have resulted in hundreds of students who are in desperate need of assistance failing to qualify for same; if he will acknowledge that in order to create a calm and productive educational environment for all students, those both with and without special needs requirements, it is vital that all students who require assistance are provided with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23360/14]

Commission for Energy Regulation

John Halligan

494. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources following the establishment of the Commission for Energy Regulation, the extent of the authority this body has to direct energy providers to make changes to its processes and its dealings with customers based on its findings; if there is a penalty for non-compliance with the directions of the CER where it has found in favour of a complainant and advised an energy provider to implement its decisions; the number of complaints in relation to Electric Ireland that have been received by the CER since its establishment; his views regarding a case (details supplied) where Electric Ireland executives refused to respond directly to a customer's complaint and further to this declined to implement the findings of the CER following a formal complaint and assessment of Electric Ireland's dealings with a complainant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22591/14]

Television Licence Fee Collection

John Halligan

670. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will confirm in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 the number of persons that were convicted for non-payment of their television licences; if she plans to follow the recent precedent set within UK courts not to prosecute persons for such offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22587/14]

Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage

John Halligan

787. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will review the details of a case (details supplied) where a patient who has recently undergone a serious medical procedure now finds that the items-products required to aid their recovery are not covered by either their medical card or the drug refund scheme and the personal cost of same is prohibitive; if he and his Department have any current plans to review the lists of products and medications covered by medical cards and the DRS; his plans to lift the Health Service Executive embargo on new products being added to these lists; if he will acknowledge that there are many other products and treatments regularly prescribed by GPs and consultants that should be added to the lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22590/14]

HSE Legal Cases

John Halligan

3. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the cost of medical negligence claims to the State in 2013; the amount of that sum that went on legal fees for those defending the Health Service Executive; his views on whether, in cases of negligence at birth, the HSE has a tactical policy of deliberately delaying or withholding admission of liability, resulting in a lengthy litigation process for vulnerable families; his views on whether a radical overhaul is needed of the way clinical negligence is managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21354/14]

Hospital Services

John Halligan

29. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the assurances given by him and his Department that certain services would be retained by Waterford Regional Hospital and reinforced by the move to hospital trusts; the original timeframe given in relation to these assurances; his views that the lack of progress in this area is raising serious concerns in the local community in relation to the move from WRH to the establishment of hospital groups and the transition then to independent hospital trusts; if he will reiterate his promise to the people of Waterford and the south-east region that WRH will continue as the hub for the south-east renal services and will continue to be a regional trauma centre; if he will ensure WRH continues to provide the full range of elective and trauma orthopaedic services and invasive cardiology services and will also implement a 24-7 cardiology service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21145/14]

Hospital Staff Data

John Halligan

33. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if the physiotherapy posts in Waterford Regional Hospital have been filled; the number of persons working within the unit; if he will confirm on average the number of patients that come under their remit; the average waiting times for patients; his views on whether these are acceptable timeframes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21147/14]

Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times

John Halligan

55. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the current average waiting time, compared with last year, for patients on trolleys before they are admitted to Waterford Regional Hospital; the extent to which these waiting times have improved; his views on whether sufficient improvements have been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21146/14]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

John Halligan

59. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Waterford Regional Hospital is currently struggling to cope with lists of patients waiting to be seen and-or awaiting medical procedures, as the hospital is operating without a full complement of consultants; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that both the dermatology and urology departments currently have no consultants and that many other departments have limited cover; his plans to ensure the vacant positions are filled as soon as possible; if he will confirm that the reason consultants are not taking up these positions is that the remuneration packages being offered are well below the national average for identical positions within the health system and are simply not attractive to potential candidates; if he agrees that in order to attract competent professionals to take up these positions, the package offered needs to be in line with the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21144/14]

Hospital Waiting Lists

John Halligan

166. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the current status of circa 5,000 patients who were outsourced from Waterford Regional Hospital, WRH, in the past year; the facilities to which these patients were outsourced; the number of these patients who have received their recommended complement of procedures in full; the number of these patients who are currently in the process of completing their treatment; the number still waiting to be seen at the facilities to which they have been outsourced; if any of the patients' case files have been returned to the remit of WRH; if he is confident that the decision to outsource these patients resulted in the most efficient and complete episode of care possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21355/14]

Community Radio Stations Funding

John Halligan

123. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the fact that community radio stations make a major contribution to life in local areas across the country and that they are currently struggling to survive due to both the current economic climate and the many cutbacks to funding, his plans to address the shortfall in their funding and to offer a more substantial level of support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19945/14]

Electricity Transmission Network

John Halligan

129. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to previous questions in relation to EirGrid's plans to install overhead pylons in County Waterford and other areas of the countryside, where this process now stands; if his Department has taken steps to request an international assessment of EirGrid's proposal; if EirGrid has consulted with him following the initial consultation process; the outcome of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19944/14]

Insurance Industry

John Halligan

155. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance if he is monitoring the situation regarding the collapse of Setanta Insurance which is affecting over 75,000 Irish citizens, some of whom have been left without cover or reimbursement for premiums paid and others who have been left uncovered during claim proceedings; if his Department has plans or authority to intervene in the situation in view of the fact that the European Commission is to investigate the closure and indeed the EU legislation which allowed it to sell insurance here; if he has sought clarification from the Financial Regulator here regarding this foreign regulation; if he will be sending a representative from his Department to represent Irish interests at the meeting of creditors being held in Malta next week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20123/14]

Mobile Telephony Services Provision

John Halligan

273. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has investigated the high charges imposed by mobile telephone providers here; his views on whether the charges are excessively high in direct comparison with the rest of mainland Europe; if he will now commit to addressing the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19946/14]

Job Creation

John Halligan

3. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale behind taxing income gained through employment on Tús programmes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17796/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

John Halligan

5. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way rent allowance limits can differ so drastically by county and in local areas throughout the country, particularly in Waterford where the rent allowance limits are so much lower than in the neighbouring county of Kilkenny (details supplied); her views on whether the current rent limits brought in to run from June 2013 to December 2014 accurately reflect the recent rise in rents charged by landlords and whether this is resulting in a serious lack of availability of rental accommodation which would comply with the rental limits making it almost impossible for applicants to comply with the regulations; her views on whether the current rental limits need to be radically reviewed in line with local rents payable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17797/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

John Halligan

25. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she and her Department are taking to address the delays in processing rent allowance applications; if there are staffing issues here that could be resolved; her views that delays of this magnitude are placing undue hardship on families waiting for approval; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17575/14]

Social Welfare Schemes

John Halligan

27. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way the medical assessment criteria differ for certain applications within her Department, particularly in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17574/14]

Family Income Supplement Applications

John Halligan

35. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the family income supplement renewal process (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17576/14]

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

John Halligan

81. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to revise the criteria associated with applications for jobseeker's assistance where the applicant has been self-employed; the current application process sees such applications fully means tested with no automatic entitlement to a set period of payment unlike applications from their PAYE counterparts; if she will confirm if she has entered into discussions with ISME in relation to its recent calls for this current method of assessment to be addressed; if she has considered the possibility for self-employed persons or proprietary company directors paying a higher rate of PAYE contributions to ensure they have entitlements to social welfare assistance should their business fail; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17798/14]

National Internship Scheme Eligibility

John Halligan

100. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to revise the criteria for eligibility to make an application for internships; her views on whether adults currently dependent on their partners' claims and who are not permitted to take up internships would like to be permitted to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14507/14]

Community Development Initiatives

John Halligan

689. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans regarding the aligning of community projects like Waterford Traveller Community Development Project; the number of social inclusion officers that will be available to Waterford City Council to cover city and council areas (details supplied). [13488/14]

Higher Education Schemes

John Halligan

63. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he or his Department considered linking the requirements of those persons engaged in Springboard courses to the possible provision of State-supported child care facilities; if he will acknowledge that vast numbers of people are forced to relinquish places on such courses as they are unable to make provision for their child care needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12243/14]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

John Halligan

65. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 245 of 18 February 2014, if he will clarify the following discrepancies, €26 million difference between the figure noted in his reply to my question and the budget allocation noted on page 2 of the Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016; 50 school projects going into construction announced in press release December 2012 announcing the 2013 capital investment, 56 school projects scheduled for 2012 announced in December, 2011 and this year 70 school building projects announced in December 2013; the exact number of school building projects planned under the CIP 2012-2016; the number of these projects that have been shelved for various reasons; what new projects have been added to the list to replace them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12282/14]

Garda Recruitment

John Halligan

143. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the criteria laid down for entrance to An Garda Síochána; the system used to shortlist the approximately 30,000 applications received for the recently advertised positions to 14,000; if any applicants who were already engaged in the reserve force were given any priority during this process; the number of applications if any received from outside Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12244/14]

Naturalisation Applications

John Halligan

151. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in the case of a person (details supplied), if he will confirm where an applicant for naturalisation holds a valid stamp 4, if the applicant may apply to have their stamp 4 permission amended to another basis prior to the expiry date of their current permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12347/14]

Garda Investigations

John Halligan

429. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe in which An Garda Síochána is currently forensically examining computer equipment following removal; the length of time it is taking for the risk assessments relating to child pornography cases to be processed; if he or his Department have looked into the possibility of allocating additional staff to speed up the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12060/14]

Medicinal Products Prices

John Halligan

561. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health his understanding of the pricing structure of generic drugs as in certain chemists in County Waterford these so-called generic medications seem to be as costly as their named brand counterparts; his views on whether the pricing structure of medication should be on a par throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12061/14]

Educational Disadvantage

John Halligan

270. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the circular or policy document that prompted his Department to subsume concessionary legacy posts where the schools in question showed that their enrolment had risen to a level to warrant an additional teacher; his views that this move only penalises these schools; his views that not to directly notify the DEIS 2 schools which still held their CLP that they were in danger of losing same were their enrolment to exceed a certain level shows a serious lack of transparency; his further views that this move will undoubtedly result in the unnecessary displacement of many children within these schools; that the decision to remove these posts is in direct contradiction of the DEIS report which recently praised the scheme and outlined how well DEIS as a model is working; if he will review the situation with a view to reversing the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9102/14]

Financial Services Ombudsman

John Halligan

220. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a case in which a bank (details supplied) in County Waterford is refusing to acknowledge receipt of or to apply a TRS payment to a mortgage holder's account even though the Revenue Commissioners' TRS section has confirmed to the mortgage holder that the payment was made to the bank on the person's behalf; if his attention has been drawn to any similar instances; the action he and his Department will take in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8227/14]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

John Halligan

245. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of 2013 building projects that have been completed; if any of these projects were completed under budget; if he will consider making any of the unspent funds available to schools with delayed projects such as a school (details supplied) which is waiting to be added to a buildings programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7557/14]

Summer Works Scheme Eligibility

John Halligan

289. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason colleges of further education are not now eligible to apply to his Department for funding under Circular 59/2013; when and the reason their eligibility ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8225/14]

Building Regulations Amendments

John Halligan

523. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013, SI No. 80 of 2013, which are due to come into force on 1 March 2014, will expressly prohibit Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, CIAT, members from providing architectural services here; if he will acknowledge that members of this group have the necessary experience, knowledge and skills and should be, therefore, eligible to register with the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland as an interim measure until CIAT members are granted a register in their own right; if he will acknowledge that failure to grant them eligibility will ultimately result in many unnecessary business closures and redundancies across the industry; in view of the fact that he has the authority to extend the regulations to include a register for chartered architectural technologists if he will commit to reviewing the parameters of the register with a view to admitting members of CIAT to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8226/14]

Hospital Staff

John Halligan

690. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the number of persons currently employed at Waterford Regional Hospital under the JobBridge scheme; the type of positions they hold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7556/14]

Inter-Country Adoptions

John Halligan

5. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will review an application to the Adoption Authority of Ireland for the registration of a child adopted from Vietnam in October 2012 who is now registered and residing here (details supplied); if she will confirm that at the time of this adoption both Vietnam and Ireland had signed up to the Hague Convention and a bilateral agreement that had been put in place by her; if she will consider directing the Adoption Authority of Ireland to progress the registration of this child on the basis that its parents were in full compliance with the 1991 Act in view of the adoption process having begun prior to the 2010 Act being introduced (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6695/14]

Inland Fisheries Stocks

John Halligan

350. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to this Deputy's various recent questions and in view of the recent positive reports from Inland Fisheries Ireland, which has agreed that eel stocks in the Suir and Barrow rivers could sustain a commercial harvest (details supplied), if he will now reconsider the eel ban in the Waterford-New Ross district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6436/14]

Anti-Social Behaviour

John Halligan

382. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm the number of anti-social behaviour officers currently employed in counties and cities here; the cost to his Department of same in the past year; the number of successful prosecutions that have been brought before the courts in each county as a result of anti-social behaviour complaints; and of those the number of properties that were taken back into the housing pool; if he is satisfied that the system in place to deal with anti-social behavioural problems within local authority housing areas is working; if his Department has any current plans to make any alternative proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6435/14]

Hospital Waiting Lists

John Halligan

596. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm for the months, November 2013, December 2013 and January 2014, the number of persons that were left waiting on trolleys for more than12 hours prior to being given a bed; the way these figures compare to the same months in the preceding year; his views on whether the Health Service Executive is providing a sufficient level of care to the public here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6434/14]

City of Culture Initiative

John Halligan

5. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the current selection process or nomination process involved in the selection of Ireland's city of culture; if he will consider granting Waterford the status of the next city of culture; the formal representations Waterford city would need to make to his Department in this regard; if he or his Department has thus far given any consideration to choosing the next city of culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4342/14]

Appointments to State Boards

John Halligan

91. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to appoint a new chairman to the Arts Council; considering the vast investment that individual local authorities make to the arts in their respective local areas from their annual budget, which in most cases is way in excess of the sum they receive from the Arts Council, and further considering that these local authorities have been appointing arts officers for more than 25 years, his views on whether representatives of these local authorities should be appointed to the board of the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4388/14]

Hospitals Expenditure

John Halligan

685. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 5 December 2013, the exact breakdown on where the funds collected from parking facilities at Waterford Regional Hospital were allocated; if any of the funds were used to top-up salaries for executives associated with the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3621/14]

Job Creation

John Halligan

5. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to outline the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland in County Waterford in 2013; the net increase or decrease in the number of jobs created in 2012; if he considers this figure to reflect a success under the target set out in the Horizon 2020 document for regional development, which aims for 50% of all jobs created through the IDA's dealings in 2013 to be located outside of Dublin and Cork; his plans to review the targets originally set out in the Horizon 2020 document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3181/14]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

John Halligan

78. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance the number of illicit cigarettes that have been seized by the Revenue Commissioners and Garda in 2013; if this represents either an increase or decrease in the number of illicit cigarettes seized by the Customs Service since 2012; the inroads the Department has made in combating this issue; the level of funding allocated to stamping out the smuggling of illicit cigarettes into the State; his views on whether the Department and all other associated Departments and agencies involved in the tracking down and seizing of these goods are becoming more successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54665/13]

Family Income Supplement Payments

John Halligan

134. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 24 October 2013, in which this Deputy requested details of the number of public service workers currently supplementing their income with family income supplement payments, if she will provide a further breakdown the 3,595 public service workers in receipt of FIS in the year 2013; the number of same that are members of the armed forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54670/13]

Hospital Services

John Halligan

246. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health following on from various commitments and promises made to the people of Waterford in relation to the change of Waterford Regional Hospital to Waterford University Hospital as the proposed second largest hospital in the southern group, when WUH can expect to see a fulfilment of the guarantee of service given by him and his Department in the recent reconfiguration announcements, where 24-7 cardiology treatment was promised; when the necessary capital expenditure to provide and additional cath lab and a staff compliment of five cardiologists and allied supporting staff will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54666/13]

Hospital Services

John Halligan

247. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health where critical care capacity inadequacies have been acknowledge within Waterford University Hospital resulting in the regular cancellation of elective cancer surgeries due to the lack of critical care beds, when will the shortfall be addressed by his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that WUH currently has one consultant gastroenterologist and only one colorectal surgeon on staff which is completely insufficient to meet the ongoing demand particularly where this hospital is to be a critical care centre; when the provision of additional critical care personnel will be sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54667/13]

Hospital Services

John Halligan

248. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the level of support Waterford University Hospital can expect to receive from University College Cork in terms of further development of cancer services in Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54668/13]

Hospital Services

John Halligan

249. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health when the five promised professional academic posts will be filled in Waterford University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54669/13]

HSE Expenditure

John Halligan

272. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the cost to the State of Health Service Executive agency doctors at Waterford Regional Hospital in 2013; the cost in each of the years 2009 to 2012, inclusive; the average monthly cost of agency doctors at Waterford Regional Hospital in 2013; in comparison, the amount it would have cost the State to have these posts permanently filled during the same periods; his views on whether this is an economic use of State funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54739/13]

Defence Forces Equipment

John Halligan

5. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Defence the number of drones purchased by the Irish Defence Forces over the past decade; the reason for their purchase; the cost of same; the level of usage these drones have seen; if these tracking devices have been made available to An Garda Síochána as an aid to its intelligence gathering agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52919/13]

Electricity Transmission Network

John Halligan

307. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he first became aware of certain proposals being made by EirGrid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52752/13]

Electricity Transmission Network

John Halligan

308. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the regular contact between his Department and EirGrid during the initial consultation period; if he is closely monitoring the outpouring of adverse public reaction to the EirGrid proposals, which have been seen across the country in the potentially affected areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52753/13]

Inland Fisheries Issues

John Halligan

309. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will address the ongoing concerns of many trout anglers, who are extremely concerned after being informed by the CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland that a compulsory angler registration charge is to be levied on every angler in Ireland as part of the new inland fisheries legislation (details supplied); when this charge will come into effect; the amount the charge will be; the way this charge will be monitored; and the amount of the revenue raised from this charge that will be put back into the development of the fishing industry. [52782/13]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

John Halligan

218. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if any person in either Waterford Regional Hospital or any other Health Service Executive operated institution within Waterford city and county has been in receipt of any top up payments similar to those currently being reported in the media; if so which institution; the member of staff that has received the top up payment; where the associated additional funds have come from; his views on officially appointed members of staff receiving top up payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52299/13]

Hospital Charges

John Halligan

219. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health regarding Waterford Regional Hospital car parking facilities, the amount annually that has been collected in the past five years from 2008 to 2012, inclusive; the person or company that operates the car parking facilities and where these funds are allocated; if they are reinvested in the hospital itself; if so, in which areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52300/13]

Social Welfare Code

John Halligan

79. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection when local government employees reach the age of 65 and are required to retire and make application to her Department for jobseeker's allowance, if the obligation to make themselves available for work will be strictly imposed; if these persons will be means tested as per the usual procedure after the allotted nine months or so on the payment; her views on whether this is an economic use of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51151/13]

Local Authority Staff

John Halligan

97. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the rationale behind imposing an obligation on local government employees to retire at the age of 65 without the option of working on until they reach the pensionable age of 66; his views that it is an extraordinary situation where these people are being forced to retire, leaving an already stretched local government with an even greater staffing shortage as under the moratorium these positions will not be filled while at the same time adding additional obligations onto the Department of Social Protection as these people will be forced to make applications for jobseeker's allowance; if he will commit to looking into the possibility of permitting those affected to extend their service up to the age of 66 and allow them to make a valid contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51152/13]

Crime Data

John Halligan

118. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons that were put off the road for drunk driving offences under the Intoxicating Liquor Act over the past five years, 2008 to 2012, inclusive; the number of these persons that have since re-offended and have once again been put off the road for similar offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51150/13]

Haddington Road Agreement Savings

John Halligan

122. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that after all the deductions and restitution due under the Haddington Road agreement there will still be a permanent gap of 7.5% between pre and post-2011 teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42443/13]

Jobs Initiative

John Halligan

295. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any statistics regarding the age of persons who are currently managing to gain employment and remove themselves from the live register; those taking up work placement schemes either through JobBridge, Tús or similar such schemes; if she will acknowledge that in the current climate there are additional obstacles put in place where a person who is making job applications is of a certain age; her plans to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49311/13]

Public Private Partnerships Cost

John Halligan

732. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will clarify the reason the Government will pay in the region of €10 million in subsidies over the next decade to a Spanish company (details supplied) and its operating concessionary partner for tolls generated on the M3 motorway and also the Limerick motorway in view of the deplorable state of the roads here, particularly rural roads; the steps he intends to take to renegotiate the current contracts held with the companies concerned as the Portuguese Government has recently done; his views on whether the outlay could be easily redirected to address road surfacing issues throughout the country; if his Department is looking into the possibility of renegotiating these contracts; if so, the steps that have been taken to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49312/13]

Hospital Services

John Halligan

3. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the current moratorium on recruitment within the Health Service Executive is negatively impacting on the provision of services across the spectrum and it is only a matter of time before the entire service is irreparably damaged; if the Health Information and Quality Authority has given its recommendations for minimum requirements regarding staffing levels; if he will make them available; his views on whether it is unacceptable that in a centre of excellence such as Waterford Regional Hospital the orthopaedic department has at times been running at less than 50% capacity with at least three of the surgical posts being unfilled which is exacerbating an already overstretched service and is resulting in waiting times escalating to years rather than months; if he will acknowledge that the orthopaedic department in Waterford Regional Hospital is now forced to set aside what are considered to be elective surgeries, although they are essential, as it does not have the capacity to maintain a full schedule for both inpatient and outpatient procedures; if he will make a firm commitment to review the moratorium and the effects it is having with a view to lifting the restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48347/13]

Medical Card Eligibility

John Halligan

5. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the situation whereby in assessing income for eligibility of a medical card, persons aged over 70 years are assessed on gross income but persons aged under 70 years are assessed on net income; his plans to rectify same and assess income based on net income for all applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48353/13]

International Relations

John Halligan

50. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has intervened with the Egyptian Government to demand the release of four Irish citizens who are being held in an Egyptian prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47710/13]

Child Protection

John Halligan

299. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the criminal concerns the Garda had, as distinct from child protection concerns, in the case of the seven year old child taken from a Roma family in Tallaght; if it is criminal concerns that explains the removal of the child from the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47712/13]

Racial Profiling

John Halligan

300. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way racial profiling is used in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47713/13]

Salmon Hardship Scheme

John Halligan

625. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 17 July 2013, in view of the fact that both the eel and salmon fisheries in Ireland were suspended without any form of compensation or diversification being offered which resulted in recent tragedies where affected fishermen were forced to take greater risks making a living at sea in inadequate boats in order to support their families, if he will consider putting in place a set aside payment package for those fishermen interested in continuing to fish and a buyout package for those fishermen who wish to exit the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46736/13]

Salmon Hardship Scheme

John Halligan

626. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his view's that traditional commercial fishing is an important part of the heritage of rural life and is a tradition which stretches back generations over hundreds of years; his views that it is essential that we retain and pass on this heritage which is vital to the conservation of the traditions in rural fishing communities here; if he will consider re-opening the eel commercial fisheries on a pilot scheme as has been done on salmon rivers as a means to preserve these traditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46737/13]

Connemara Oil Field

John Halligan

22. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the details of an oil find by Statoil in 1997 in the Connemara field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45049/13]

Property Taxation Collection

John Halligan

73. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance in relation to the local property tax, if he will confirm since its collection the percentage of those persons considered to be the responsible person who have registered for the tax; the percentage who have actually made arrangements to pay the tax; if he will confirm the figure that has been collected to date per county; of the figure collected, the amount that has been distributed to the relevant local authority; the amount that has been retained by the Exchequer of the figure collected; the amount that has been allocated to paying off the national debt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45472/13]

Family Income Supplement Application Numbers

John Halligan

140. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of public service workers who are currently supplementing their income with family income supplement; the number of those public service workers currently with applications awaiting approval; her views on whether, in certain cases, the reduction of public service hours in an effort save money on wages has put an additional burden on her Department, specifically in respect of family income supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45474/13]

Electricity Transmission Network

John Halligan

156. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the input his Department has had in the choosing of the areas where EirGrid are currently proposing to erect pylons within Ireland; if other options were considered, that is underground lines or lines at sea; the agreements that have been made between his Department and EirGrid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45475/13]

Electricity Transmission Network

John Halligan

157. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether there may be a conflict of interest on the part of the consulting engineering company (details supplied) that EirGrid has employed to advise them on the selection of what they call the least constrained corridor in view of the fact that this company has also been employed by Tipperary County Council and a decision there could greatly impact on any decision made in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45476/13]

Electromagnetic Fields Studies

John Halligan

173. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to any research having been carried out in Ireland or the EU in relation to the impact pylons have on a person's health; his views on whether these pylons may trigger cancer cells to develop; if the World Health Organisation have made any assessment on the health effects of pylons to persons living within close proximity to these pylons; his views on whether the erection of pylons will have a detrimental effect on those living in the surrounding areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45477/13]

Defence Forces Medals

John Halligan

206. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Defence following on from the plan in 2006 to issue replacement certificates to the families of the military veterans of 1916 and the War of Independence, his plans to issue replacement medals to the families of those servicemen prior to the celebration of the 100-year anniversary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45473/13]

JobsPlus Scheme

John Halligan

48. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the higher subsidies for employers who employ a person who is two years unemployed under the JobsPlus scheme as against a lower payment for persons unemployed for a shorter time will inevitably encourage employers to ignore applications from those out of work for a shorter period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43414/13]

Public Sector Staff Issues

John Halligan

5. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public sector workers currently employed here; the number of job losses which will be seen up to the end of 2015; his views on whether his plan to further reduce the numbers of public service workers is flawed and will ultimately result in already stretched Departments reaching breaking point; his views on whether having a public service that currently barely functions having no cover for either sick leave or maternity leave seriously affects the service it provides; his views on whether the backlogs in various Departments are accumulating as a direct result of the cutbacks and reduced staffing levels; if he will commit to putting in place an alternative strategy to reach the €1 billion in spending cuts he hopes to achieve by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42740/13]

Teachers' Remuneration

John Halligan

102. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact that he has indicated that he will continue to pay ASTI members the annual supervision and substitution allowance of €1,769, gross, the amount he intends to allocate for this allowance in budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42184/13]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

John Halligan

19. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to put pressure on banks to arrive at more permanent and sustainable solutions for distressed mortgage holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41473/13]

Corporate Tax Regime Issues

John Halligan

39. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce measures in budget 2014 to increase the tax contribution of highly profitable corporations through the introduction of a minimum effective corporation tax rate by closing off loopholes which facilitate aggressive tax avoidance by some corporations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41474/13]

Special Educational Needs Staffing

John Halligan

98. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm the rationale behind the decision to introduce the supplementary allocation panel for special needs assistants; the reason entry onto this panel is only open to special needs assistants who have been working for the past school year and were to lose their positions on 31 August; the way a panel such as this could so blatantly discriminate against special needs assistants who had the misfortune to lose their positions at an earlier date; the number of persons currently on this panel; if a school is obliged to state on any job advertisements that applicants will be taken from the panel only; if there should be an obligation on his Department to have those best suited for the available positions added to the panel; the way he can justify this panel as it stands; and if he will make a commitment to look into the implications of this oversight and make the necessary arrangements to have entry to such panels opened to all qualified applicants [41563/13]

Foreign Conflicts

John Halligan

28. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will condemn the closure of Gaza from both the Israeli and Egyptian sides, which has resulted in a severe shortage of medicine and medical disposables entering the Gaza Strip and which combined with electricity shortages has placed nearly one thousand patients at risk of death; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41183/13]

Foreign Conflicts

John Halligan

49. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a large sewage treatment plant being constructed in Gaza with funding from the World Bank may not become operational due to a shortage of required electric power, and that an appeal for more electricity made to Israel has been ignored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41184/13]

Pension Provisions

John Halligan

68. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company has prepared a funding proposal in relation to the funding status of the defined benefit pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40888/13]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

John Halligan

129. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale behind the recent decision to impose an obligation on those moving from a VTOS payment to a back to education allowance, BETA, payment to apply for a jobseeker's payment before being assessed for BTEA; if she will acknowledge this change is causing undue stress to those wishing to move to a BTEA in 2013; if she will commit to enable those persons in the VTOS system to move seamlessly to a BTEA payment and restrict the change to new entrants to the schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40167/13]

Asylum Applications

John Halligan

181. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers currently awaiting a decision; the average waiting time associated with applications for asylum; the number of residential establishments currently housing asylum seekers in the State; the weekly cost to the State to provide residential accommodation for each asylum seeker; during these placement's the attempts made at preparing these persons for future integration into the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40165/13]

Garda Operations

John Halligan

182. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current guidelines covering the correct and appropriate use of pepper spray by An Garda Síochána; his views that the recent use of this agent against Irish citizens outside Dáil Éireann was both warranted or necessary; if he will make a commitment to review the use of pepper spray in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40168/13]

Aquaculture Development

John Halligan

210. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the guidelines and parameters that have been set down by his Department to govern the oyster and mussel collection by a company (details supplied) at Woodstown Beach, County Waterford; if any restrictions have been placed on this company in relation to bringing heavy machinery onto the beach; the regulatory checks carried by his Department in relation to the irrevocable damage and destruction being caused on the beach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40166/13]

Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations

John Halligan

51. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the conclusion of the recent Common Agricultural Policy negotiations, if he will confirm if Ireland will retain its current funding levels under Pillar 1 and Pillar 2; if the level of funding has been reduced; if he will further confirm the level of funding has been approved for Ireland under each pillar; if his Department has begun the process of determining what the elements of the new programme will be; the elements of the current programme which are to be retained; if he will further confirm when his proposed programme for implementation for 2014 to 2020 will be put to the commission for their consideration; the timeline for delivery of commitments arising from same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39615/13]

VAT Rate Application

John Halligan

208. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a commitment to keep the VAT rate at 9% to benefit the hospitality sector which will have a positive knock-on effect for all of those linked with the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37837/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

John Halligan

321. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills in terms of the criteria set down by the student grant scheme, which state that an applicant is judged as having dependent/independent residence from the October prior to their first point of entry into higher education unless they have had a break of three years or more between courses, if an application is made prior to applicants' 23rd birthday they are automatically deemed to be dependent on their parents regardless of their personal situation, if he will clarify if his Department has any plans to review these criteria; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that very many students who are living independently from their parents and who are fully supporting themselves are having their applications refused on the basis that they are dependent on their parents even though the vast majority of them have very clear evidence to the contrary; if he will commit to revising these criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37710/13]

Fisheries Protection

John Halligan

771. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the conservation levels of salmon stock in both the Suir and in the Nore have reached acceptable levels and they have therefore been reopened for net snap fishing, if he will confirm that once the conservation levels of the stock of salmon on the Barrow has also been reached and snap net fishing is reopened there, if it will then follow that this will lead to the traditional drift net fishery being reopened on the Suir further down where the three rivers flow together; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37715/13]

Public Broadcasting Charge Introduction

John Halligan

800. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the fact that every household, business or institution here with a television or equipment capable of receiving a television signal must have a television licence which is a certificate that states that they have paid the appropriate fee to the Government and contributed to the cost of public service broadcasting in Ireland; if he will confirm what service is provided by public service broadcasting for this fee where the household also pays a monthly subscription to an independent television provider for satellite service; if the Government is receiving VAT on inter alia the initial television purchase, the television service provider subscription fee and the ESB usage associated with the television set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37845/13]

Fire Service

John Halligan

910. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm the number of false alarm calls that have been made to Waterford city and county fire services in each of the past five years; the number of calls in these years that were categorised as having malicious intent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37711/13]

Garda Vetting Applications

John Halligan

1003. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will address the delay in receiving Garda clearance (details supplied). [36993/13]