Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Housing Adaptation Grant Applications

Joanna Tuffy

123. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the position of local authorities regarding the provision of central heating when none existed previously to assist older persons under the terms of the housing aid for older person's scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41108/12]

Planning Issues

Joanna Tuffy

143. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his plans to review the planning and development regulations with a view to amending the regulations in which applicants are required to place planning notices in a national newspaper for proposed developments of a minor scale, such as an extension to a house; in view of the fact that the cost of placing such a notice is very costly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39706/12]

Medical Card Eligibility

Joanna Tuffy

260. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce an alternative scheme for persons on special diets like coeliac patients who due to the recent cuts announced by the Health Service Executive will no longer be entitled to free or subsidised gluten free food products for their condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39945/12]

Tax Yield

Joanna Tuffy

60. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance the estimated tax yield from the abolition of reliefs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39607/12]

Tax Yield

Joanna Tuffy

61. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance the estimated tax yield if a 1% levy was applied in Budget 2013 to all earners whose individual incomes surpassed €100,000 or on couples whose joint income surpassed €200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39608/12]

Public Sector Staff Issues

Joanna Tuffy

62. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff employed in the Revenue Commissioners in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and currently in 2012; the numbers of staff in each of those years assigned to collection of capital taxes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39609/12]

Commemorative Events

Joanna Tuffy

143. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the events planned to date to commemorate the 1913 lockout; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39610/12]

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Joanna Tuffy

156. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the information kept by his Department in respect of compulsory purchase by local authorities; if there are any reporting requirements for local authorities regarding the terms of price paid, and the way price was reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39602/12]

Bank Branch Closures

Joanna Tuffy

236. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on his policy on the closure by banks of branches in local towns and villages and the impact this has on the local communities effected and the need to ensure that banks serve the needs of local communities, including small businesses, residents served by poor transport links and people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37715/12]

Personal Debt

Joanna Tuffy

237. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if those with equity release loans (details supplied) have been taken into account by him in his plans to help those with large debts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37717/12]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Joanna Tuffy

248. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the number of applications for tax relief in respect of the third level registration fee; the amount refunded in total to those qualifying for the relief and how this compares with his estimates for this tax relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38087/12]

Tax Credits

Joanna Tuffy

321. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will re-examine an application for incapacitated child allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38758/12]

Third Level Funding

Joanna Tuffy

406. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of funding from his Department to institutes of technology and universities from the State on a college by college basis and under the heading which that funding was made available in the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; if any moneys were returned during these years to the Department as unspent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38088/12]

Third Level Admissions Reform

Joanna Tuffy

414. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to implement the recommendation of the Points Commission report in 2000 that colleges be obliged to publish the number of places available on courses those colleges offer through the CAO, in order to lead to more transparency and accountability regarding the way public funding is being used by colleges for third level education and also help inform public policy in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38269/12]

Employment Rights

Joanna Tuffy

609. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation following the enactment of the Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Workers) Bill, the steps being taken by him to ensure that employers and or recruitment agencies have made or will make backdated payments to their staff; if the staff will be retrospectively paid to 5 December 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38067/12]

Garda Recruitment

Joanna Tuffy

1208. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to resume Garda recruitment in the near future in view of the rising crime levels and the retirement of 300 plus gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37862/12]

Health Services Allowances

Joanna Tuffy

1670. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 255 of 16 February 2012, if he will provide an up-to-date position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37776/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

Joanna Tuffy

1730. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the Health Service Executive had to carry out a major recruitment drive for doctors outside of Ireland in response to a shortage of doctors in the HSE last year, if he will give an update on this shortage; if he foresees similar shortages in future; if he has brought this shortfall to the attention of Irish hospitals that provide clinical training for medical students and also to the attention to of the Department of Education and Skill and that there is a need to increase places to study medicine at colleges here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38283/12]

Vaccination Programme

Joanna Tuffy

1731. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on reports that 300 children were given the wrong vaccines at a GP practice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38284/12]

Health Service Executive Savings

Joanna Tuffy

1755. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details regarding the Health Service Executive's proposals to make savings of €37 million through cash and stock management initiatives; if these proposals include medical stocks; if so, the way he proposes to manage the situation in order that the services are not compromised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38433/12]

HSE Expenditure

Joanna Tuffy

1768. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the cost to the Health Service Executive of private beds in public hospitals each year; the amount of this cost that is recouped by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38586/12]

Home Help Service Provision

Joanna Tuffy

1860. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny with regard to a reduction in their home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39300/12]

Tax Reliefs

Joanna Tuffy

107 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if there are any bands of income that avoid paying the minimum rate of tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36475/12]

School Accommodation

Joanna Tuffy

208 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the inventory school accommodation available to his Department to inform its discussions in relation to the school building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36481/12]

Public Service Obligation Services

Joanna Tuffy

827 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position on proposals regarding the tendering of public service obligation services; if he will provide details of the number of tenders he intends to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36347/12]

Sports Facilities

Joanna Tuffy

830 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount that was spent on the developing of a database of sports facilities (details supplied); if this database will be accessed by the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36511/12]

Sports Facilities

Joanna Tuffy

831 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if decisions on applications for the sports capital grant will be based on evidence of where facilities are needed including that contained in the sports database prepared on behalf of his Department by consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36512/12]

Dáil Reform

Joanna Tuffy

61 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Taoiseach his plans to review the changes to the way the Oireachtas conducts its business including the changes to Dáil and Seanad Standing Orders that have taken place in the current Oireachtas term, the changes to committees and the new committees; if this review will be carried out on a cross party basis to ensure that the changes are working well; when is it intended to bring in the outstanding changes that are outlined in the programme for Government; if the matter of reform of the way the Oireachtas does its business will be an ongoing matter of consultation on a cross party basis to ensure there is a genuine shift over the course of this Oireachtas term of power from the Executive to the Dail and the Seanad, and that the changes outlined in the programme for Government are something to be built upon in future beyond the term of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34349/12]

Third Level Fees

Joanna Tuffy

182 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to recent reports that a university intends to provide loans to students parents in an arrangement with a bank; if he has any oversight in relation to this arrangement to ensure that students are protected from incurring long-term debt and interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35341/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Joanna Tuffy

360 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if any monitoring is taking place regarding local caps on rent allowance by local authorities to ensure that the rental cap is not lowered to a level whereby tenants will be priced out of the rental market; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35345/12]

Rental Accommodation Scheme

Joanna Tuffy

502 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of tenants transferred from rent supplement to the rental accommodation scheme by local authorities; if he will provide a breakdown by county or local authority and in particular regarding an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35350/12]

Rental Accommodation Scheme

Joanna Tuffy

501 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he is expecting local authorities to take to assist those tenants on rent supplement that wish to move to the rental accommodation scheme, the onus not just being left on the tenant to source a landlord willing to enter this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35346/12]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Joanna Tuffy

777 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if the backlog of general practitioner referral letters for X-rays at Tallaght hospital, Dublin, has now been dealt with; the current waiting period for people awaiting X-ray results at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34723/12]

Public Sector Pay

Joanna Tuffy

92 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the number of public servants who earn salaries (details supplied) after 1 March 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34254/12]

Pilot Training Courses

Joanna Tuffy

274 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action he is taking to assist 80 Irish trainee pilots currently stranded in Florida after their courses were cancelled due to a dispute between the Pilot Training College in County Waterford and the Florida Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34251/12]

Human Rights Issues

Joanna Tuffy

77 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the appropriate authorities the situation regarding a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33188/12]

Invalidity Pension

Joanna Tuffy

230 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin and if she will expedite the matter.
[33179/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Joanna Tuffy

282 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the amount of funding provided in respect of rent supplement for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33611/12]

Waste Disposal

Joanna Tuffy

103 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) has notified customers of an increase in their bin collection charges, due to an increase in landfill levy by 30% from €50 to €65 per tonne from July 2012; if further attention has been drawn to these increases will place an additional strain on financially strapped families and old aged pensioners.
[32838/12]

Waste Management

Joanna Tuffy

104 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding proposals to put in place a national household waste collection waiver system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32839/12]

Social and Affordable Housing

Joanna Tuffy

107 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has issued any guidelines to local authorities in respect of local authority tenants who are married, separated and where one of the spouses is in need of separate accommodation; if there is any onus on the council to provide separate accommodation for the spouse concerned; if he has not issued guidance to local authorities on this issue; his plans to do so, to ensure sympathetic treatment of families in this situation by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32853/12]

Anti-Social Behaviour

Joanna Tuffy

120 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action he will to take to tackle anti-social behaviour problems, including an increase in physical violence, on our streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32832/12]

Professional Qualifications

Joanna Tuffy

143 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health the procedures that are in place to give the appropriate recognition to persons who have qualified as physiotherapists in other EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32864/12]

National Substance Misuse Strategy

Joanna Tuffy

148 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the recommendations of the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group’s report on alcohol; if and when he will implement the recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32882/12]

Local Authority Housing

Joanna Tuffy

179 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of funding provided for the construction of local authority housing in the State from 2008 to date in 2012; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of houses built in each local authority area during these dates; if an assessment has been carried out regarding future social housing needs; the projected number of local authority houses believed necessary by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32653/12]

Rental Accommodation Scheme

Joanna Tuffy

181 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of funding provided to fund the rental accommodation scheme from 2009 to date in 2012; the amount that will be required to fund this scheme up to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32661/12]

Redundancy Payments

Joanna Tuffy

363 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a statutory redundancy case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32018/12]