Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Renewable Energy Exports

Nicky McFadden

615. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure transparency in the process of developing a national renewable energy export policy and planning framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46059/13]

Housing Adaptation Grants Funding

Nicky McFadden

663. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding that will be provided to local authorities in counties Westmeath and Longford for housing adaptation grants as a result of the announcements made in budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46063/13]

Irish Sign Language

Nicky McFadden

729. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if Irish sign language will be given legal recognition in accordance with the UN Human Rights Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45649/13]

Preschool Standards

Nicky McFadden

980. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the new national pre-school quality standards will be launched; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45673/13]

Preschool Standards

Nicky McFadden

981. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide detail on the increase in minimum qualification requirements for childcare staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45674/13]

Preschool Standards

Nicky McFadden

982. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the new pre-school laws to establish statutory registration of preschool services and new powers of inspectors to ensure standards are met will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45656/13]

Cochlear Implants

Nicky McFadden

1031. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on progress in relation to the proposed business plan by the Health Service Executive and Beaumont Hospital to introduce a bilateral cochlear implant programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45651/13]

Special Educational Needs Policy

Nicky McFadden

184. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a clear definition exists to describe the role and responsibilities of special needs assistants; if this definition is clearly articulated to principals, teachers, parents and SNAs; how SNA support is managed within schools in order to ensure the best possible support and outcomes for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44360/13]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Nicky McFadden

524. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the Health Service Executive's position on the provision of community funding for sequential compression biomechanical devices, or art assist devices, to suitable patients; if he will acknowledge the cost-effectiveness of providing the devices for home use and avoiding costly hospital stays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44352/13]

Student Grant Scheme Administration

Nicky McFadden

51. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps taken to date in this academic year to improve the processing of student grants through Student Universal Support Ireland; if an improved system of collecting and recording documentation has been implemented; if the rate of processed applications has improved this year on the same period last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43111/13]

Closed Circuit Television Systems

Nicky McFadden

253. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if further funding will be made available to Granard Town Council for CCTV projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43106/13]

Ambulance Service Response Times

Nicky McFadden

399. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the way ambulance response times are currently assessed by the Health Service Executive; if an assessment of ambulance response times will be carried out nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43072/13]

School Meals Programme

Nicky McFadden

124. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools nationally operating the school meals programme; the number of those schools that are in counties Longford and Westmeath; the way the school meals programme is administered; if it will be extended in order to ensure children receive the necessary nutrition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42610/13]

Family Income Supplement Expenditure

Nicky McFadden

128. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if the family income supplement scheme will continue to be administered in order to provide financial support to those on low wages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42644/13]

Early Child Care Education Issues

Nicky McFadden

178. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress being made in relation to the development of a national early years strategy, regarding the provision of affordable childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42643/13]

Literacy and Numeracy Strategy

Nicky McFadden

199. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made since the 2011 roll out of the new national literacy and numeracy strategy; if data is collected on the number of children leaving school with the necessary literacy and numeracy skills; the way success of the strategy is monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41862/13]

Third Level Participation

Nicky McFadden

215. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that any decisions made in relation to third level education in budget 2014 will protect equality of opportunity; that financially vulnerable students will be adequately supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41980/13]

Freedom of Information Legislation

Nicky McFadden

272. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if details held by the Garda on those persons guilty of sex offences and who are subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 will be made subject to freedom of information legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42031/13]

Companies Law Issues

Nicky McFadden

284. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the current requirement for companies, which otherwise could avail of the audits exemption to complete two years statutory audits where annual return filings have been submitted late to the Companies Registration Office, will be removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41850/13]

Social Welfare Code Issues

Nicky McFadden

301. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which volunteering is promoted within social welfare offices here; if all social welfare officers are encouraged to promote volunteering as an option available to jobseekers and to make jobseekers aware of volunteering services available in their locality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41864/13]

Social Welfare Code Issues

Nicky McFadden

302. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if current internal guidelines in social welfare offices for the voluntary work option will be updated to ensure that no anomalies occur between deciding social welfare officers; if public guidelines will be updated to ensure that job seekers can clearly find eligibility criteria for the voluntary work programme and examples of suitable roles and acceptable levels of voluntary work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41868/13]

Social Welfare Code Review

Nicky McFadden

332. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the number and location of social welfare offices currently delivering the full Intreo service; the locations of the expected 43 offices to be delivering the service by the end of 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42356/13]

National Strategy on Volunteering

Nicky McFadden

383. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a national policy or strategy on volunteering will be developed in order to address barriers to volunteering and to set objectives and goals to ensure that volunteering is measured and valued; to provide for consistent and sustainable nationwide supports for volunteering; if he will provide strategy and direction for the existing volunteering infrastructure to deliver national priorities at a local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41889/13]

Motor Tax Collection

Nicky McFadden

396. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if an extension will be made to the initial deadline for registering the non-use of motor vehicles, particularly in view of the large queues present at motor tax offices recently and the possibility that some persons may have not had the opportunity to register on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42080/13]

Garda Vetting Applications

Nicky McFadden

427. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the efforts made to date to reduce waiting times for applications made to the Garda vetting unit; if improvements will be made as soon as possible to facilitate volunteers who wish to work with and for young persons and vulnerable adults here; if he will ensure that waiting times will no longer act as a barrier to volunteering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41886/13]

Sex Offenders Notification Requirements

Nicky McFadden

444. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the information provided to the Garda upon conviction of a sexual offence; if sex offenders are supervised after release; the way sex offenders from other jurisdictions are monitored here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42029/13]

Intreo Service

Nicky McFadden

335. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of Intreo offices currently in operation in counties Westmeath and Longford; if further offices will open in counties Westmeath and Longford this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40448/13]

Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions

Nicky McFadden

575. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the progress being made to reduce the number of hours worked by non-consultant hospital doctors in order to ensure compliance with the EU working time directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40443/13]

Air Ambulance Service Provision

Nicky McFadden

576. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding the air ambulance service operating from Custume Barracks, Athlone; if the service will continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40444/13]

Carer's Allowance Payments

Nicky McFadden

130. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if the half rate carer's allowance will be protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40176/13]

VAT Rate Application

Nicky McFadden

145. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Finance if the VAT rate of 9% for restaurant and catering services, hotel and holiday accommodation, admissions to cinemas, theatres, certain musical performances, museums and art gallery exhibitions, fairgrounds or amusement park services, the use of sporting facilities, hairdressing services, and printed matter will be maintained; if he will acknowledge the significant role this VAT rate plays in developing the food, tourism and hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36797/13]

Banking Sector Regulation

Nicky McFadden

211. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Finance if a system of auditing banks is in place to ensure that they are delivering on lending promises and targets; the body that oversees such an audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37901/13]

Services for People with Disabilities

Nicky McFadden

381. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered the policy recommendations set out by the National Council for Special Education in its Policy Advice Paper on the Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Ireland, November 2011; how many of the main recommendations relating to early intervention and school age years have been adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38275/13]

Public Procurement Regulations

Nicky McFadden

452. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures taken by his Department to reform regulations and procedures in relation to public procurement in order to make it easier for Irish small and medium enterprises to gain access to public contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37904/13]

Proposed Legislation

Nicky McFadden

458. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a register for all lobbyists will be introduced; the way the introduction of such a register will contribute to a more open and transparent Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38274/13]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Nicky McFadden

484. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if targeted measures will be introduced to increase working capital in small and medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36854/13]

Job Creation Data

Nicky McFadden

517. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new jobs that have been created in the digital gaming sector here in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37900/13]

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Nicky McFadden

540. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures taken by her Department to allow those who avail of temporary work opportunities to return to social welfare protection in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36819/13]

Arts Plan

Nicky McFadden

750. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures taken by his Department in conjunction with the Arts Council to protect the State's investment in regional arts infrastructure, particularly in the midlands region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38272/13]

Post Office Network

Nicky McFadden

801. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has considered the Irish Postmasters' Union 2012 Report on The Future of the Post Office Network in Ireland; the measures that can be taken at Government level to support the continuation of the post office network here; if he has consulted with the Board of An Post on potential service contracts that might be available to the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37909/13]

Register of Electors

Nicky McFadden

921. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a voter registration drive will be launched nationally in conjunction with local authorities and community groups in order to promote active citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37906/13]

Unfinished Housing Developments Data

Nicky McFadden

922. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline, in tabular form, the amount of funding that has been allocated to local authorities in counties Westmeath and Longford to date to address urgent public safety issues on unfinished housing estates; the number of developments in each county that have had safety works carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37907/13]

Unfinished Housing Developments Data

Nicky McFadden

923. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of unfinished housing developments in counties Longford and Westmeath that have had issues resovled and have had site resolution plans drawn up since the establishment of the national co-ordination committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37908/13]

Fire Service

Nicky McFadden

924. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a timeframe for the roll-out of a new computer-aided mobilisation project system for handling fire service emergency calls; the way the system will improve the fire service's call-taking and mobilisation service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37912/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Nicky McFadden

925. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of leasing arrangements that have been established between Westmeath County Council, Longford County Council and the National Asset Management Agency to make properties available for the purpose of social housing; the number of persons in counties Westmeath and Longford that have been adequately housed as a result of these agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37914/13]

Waste Management

Nicky McFadden

947. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on progress being made in implementing the resource opportunity waste management policy, particularly in relation to keeping costs down for the consumer and waste enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38276/13]

Garda Operations

Nicky McFadden

990. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the number of Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems currently operational in counties Longford and Westmeath; if funding will be made available for the installation of further CCTV systems in the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36804/13]

Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes

Nicky McFadden

1092. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the range of rehabilitative programmes, counselling and psychology services available in the prison service to sex offenders; if participation in and completion of such programmes are mandatory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37902/13]

Immigration Policy

Nicky McFadden

1093. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress being made to reform the immigration, residency and asylum systems, particularly in relation to introducing a statutory appeals system and improving transparency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37952/13]

Residency Permits

Nicky McFadden

1112. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of subsidiary protection and leave to remain applications that were approved in July and August 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38422/13]