Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Youthreach Programme Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

374. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the detail of changes to the positions and job titles of Youthreach co-ordinators; the reason for these changes; if he will provide the detail of any changes to the terms and conditions of their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13790/14]

Quality and Qualifications Ireland Administration

Jonathan O'Brien

387. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of funding that would be required for his Department to subsidise the cost of Quality and Qualifications Ireland fees for community education providers. [13968/14]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

932. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set out the number of social work posts currently filled by persons on temporary contracts. [12870/14]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

933. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set out the number of social work posts below which the Health Service Executive risk analysis would deem the service to be unsafe. [12869/14]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

934. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set out the number of social worker positions that are vacant in the Child and Family Agency; and the date on which these will be filled. [12871/14]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Jonathan O'Brien

936. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to outline the progress on bilateral agreements with Russia and Ethiopia on inter-country adoption; her plans to speed this process up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12950/14]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

955. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set out the number of education welfare officers in Dublin on maternity leave or sick leave or any other form of leave; their locations; and if they have been replaced. [13483/14]

Health Services Staff Data

Jonathan O'Brien

999. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the number of midwives he believes should be employed in Cork University Maternity Hospital in order to comply with international best practice; if he will recruit extra midwives to this hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12990/14]

Hospital Staff Data

Jonathan O'Brien

1045. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the number of midwife positions currently vacant in each maternity hospital. [13281/14]

Maternity Services

Jonathan O'Brien

1046. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the date on which he will receive the Health Service Executive review of maternity services. [13282/14]

Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage

Jonathan O'Brien

1133. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of patients had been taking a drug Fampyra for treatment of MS through Bon Secours, Tralee, as part of a trial; that this trial has ended and it will cost patients €250 to continue treatment on this; that the drug payment system or long-term illness scheme will not contribute anything to the cost; his plans to rectify this matter so that treatment can be continued [13750/14]

Immigration Data

Jonathan O'Brien

165. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who currently have pending applications with his Department for residency based on the Zambrano judgment; the number of these persons waiting longer than six months; the number of these people waiting longer than 12 months; and the number of persons waiting longer than 18 months to have a final decision made on their application. [12526/14]

Driver Licences

Jonathan O'Brien

285. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a driving licence in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [12528/14]

Driving Test Regulations

Jonathan O'Brien

288. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to an anomaly in the rules regarding driving tests for persons who drive scooters which means that they are compelled to drive a motorbike rather than a scooter during their driving test to secure a full licence; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are major differences between scooters and motorbikes in design and operation, including in acceleration mechanisms and power and distance between wheel base and tyres which require differing methods of manoeuvring at different speeds; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this rule puts scooter drivers at an unfair disadvantage as they will be required to hire a motorbike for the driving test to hold a licence to drive a scooter; and his plans to rectify this as a matter of urgency so that no unnecessary barriers are placed in front of those who wish to hold a full licence. [12576/14]

Broadband Service Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

110. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will review broadband provision in the Clogheen-Kerry Pike area in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12253/14]

Student Grants Data

Jonathan O'Brien

124. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Irish citizens whose applications for Student Universal Support Ireland grants were not accepted for 2011-12 and 2012-13 on the basis of not fulfilling the habitual residency condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11655/14]

Departmental Funding

Jonathan O'Brien

128. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of funding provided by his Department to the NAPD; if schools are allowed to fund their principal's membership of the organisation from voluntary contributions paid by parents to the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11718/14]

School Funding

Jonathan O'Brien

129. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department monitors the way voluntary contributions are spent by schools. [11719/14]

Teacher Training Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

130. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the guidelines governing the persons deemed qualified to deliver CPD to teachers. [11720/14]

Teacher Training Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

131. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered establishing a register of qualified persons to deliver CPD. [11721/14]

Bullying in Schools

Jonathan O'Brien

132. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has identified any schools that have not established an anti-bullying policy; and any action taken. [11722/14]

School Management

Jonathan O'Brien

135. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are restrictions on the usage of profits that have been made or may be made in the future from the sale of school premises and lands by religious orders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11764/14]

Early Retirement Scheme

Jonathan O'Brien

138. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers who are being asked to work extra days due to having previously missed days due to strike action in order to avail of early retirement. [11770/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

151. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the length of time a returned emigrant with Irish citizenship who had left Ireland for a period must be in the State before they will qualify for a Student Universal Support Ireland grant; and the length of time a person must be absent from the State that will render them unqualified for a SUSI grant payment. [11950/14]

Local Authority Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

352. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the appointment of a lollipop person to supervise the crossing of children and parents outside schools in Clogheen/Kerry Pike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11815/14]

Education Welfare Service Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

497. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of educational welfare officers in Dublin; and their locations. [12195/14]

Road Safety

Jonathan O'Brien

602. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has been alerted to the need for speeding restrictions in the village of Clogheen-Kerry Pike, County Cork, and his plans to address same. [11822/14]

Schools Administration

Jonathan O'Brien

68. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the legal provisions or statutory instruments governing the processes for trustees, boards, or patrons who wish to amalgamate or close schools. [11222/14]

Education Policy

Jonathan O'Brien

73. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposal in the programme for Government to develop a national strategy for international education. [11342/14]

Early Start Programme

Jonathan O'Brien

74. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the details of investment in any targeted early childhood education programmes for disadvantaged children during each of the past four years. [11344/14]

School Evaluations

Jonathan O'Brien

75. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all schools have drawn up a five year development plan for their schools and individual teachers. [11345/14]

School Curriculum

Jonathan O'Brien

76. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which science will become a compulsory junior certificate subject. [11346/14]

School Evaluations

Jonathan O'Brien

77. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the new system of self-evaluation will be introduced to schools; and the information that schools will be required to publish. [11347/14]

Literacy Levels

Jonathan O'Brien

78. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the implementation of the national literacy strategy for children and young persons. [11348/14]

Teacher Training Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

79. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the improvements that have taken place in pre-service and in-service training in teaching of literacy for primary and secondary school teachers. [11349/14]

Literacy Levels

Jonathan O'Brien

80. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of minutes per day DEIS schools and non-DEIS schools are teaching literacy. [11350/14]

Suicide Prevention

Jonathan O'Brien

96. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to make suicide awareness-prevention training available to frontline staff in social welfare offices who deal with very distressed members of the public on a daily basis. [11223/14]

Research Students

Jonathan O'Brien

176. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way he defines high-value research students. [11343/14]

International Students

Jonathan O'Brien

183. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of international students studying here during 2010 and 2013; the number of those students from India, China and the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11389/14]

International Students

Jonathan O'Brien

184. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if non-EU postgraduate students are allowed to work here for a year after they have completed their studies. [11390/14]

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Jonathan O'Brien

64. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason 11 months after the establishment date of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012, he has not enabled sections 21 and 22 of this Act by bringing forward the requisite commencement order and regulations; his views on whether the right to appeal an adverse decision of the Caranua board is a right under section 22 of this Act; the number of applications the board have approved and paid to former residents under section 3(1) of the Act; the number that were rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10263/14]

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Jonathan O'Brien

65. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has exercised his powers under section 30(3) of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to seek an advance from the investment account managed by the National Treasury Management Agency to enable him to make a payment for the operation of an appeals process; if he has given any consideration to the 2014 budgetary requirements of an appeals officer and any staff of an appeals officer; if so, if he will disclose those figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10261/14]

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Jonathan O'Brien

67. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the details of all contracts and consultancy arrangements entered in to by the Caranua board; the consultancy and contract arrangements that were approved by him under section 7(7) of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012, including the costs of each of these arrangements and names of consultancy firms and contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10314/14]

Schools Complaints Procedures

Jonathan O'Brien

68. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the mechanisms open to parents to make a complaint about a school principal or the board of management to his Department; the procedures involved; the details of the capacity of his Department to ensure that schools provide the standard of education to which children are entitled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10316/14]

Teacher Training Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

72. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views of the findings in the chief inspector's report that the depth of mathematical knowledge required to deliver the objectives of projects maths is challenging to some teachers; his plans to improve training for teachers in this subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10382/14]

Teacher Training Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

73. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve the teaching of maths in second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10383/14]

School Transport Fees

Jonathan O'Brien

107. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of any cost-benefit analysis undertaken by his Department regarding the payment of fees by parents for school transport, particularly with regard to having a monthly payment option, since 2007. [10880/14]

School Curriculum

Jonathan O'Brien

111. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the resources he has allocated to training teachers for implementation of the new junior certificate reforms. [10892/14]

School Curriculum

Jonathan O'Brien

112. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of any costing or feasibility studies undertaken for the new junior certificate programmes. [10893/14]

School Curriculum

Jonathan O'Brien

113. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of supports and supervision that will be available to teachers on introduction of the new junior certificate reforms. [10894/14]

School Curriculum

Jonathan O'Brien

114. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the provision that has been made for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to implement reform of the junior certificate curriculum. [10895/14]

School Curriculum

Jonathan O'Brien

115. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the professional advice, best practice or research on which he has based his reforms of the junior certificate programme. [10896/14]

Planning Issues

Jonathan O'Brien

270. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities or An Bord Pleanála have any powers under existing legislation to compel developers to refrain from knocking trees in the process of developing; if failure to comply with such an order given by a local authority or An Bord Pleanála constitutes a breach of planning legislation; the penalties that would attach to such a breach; and if a developer can be compelled to restore trees knocked in contravention of such an order. [10489/14]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Jonathan O'Brien

393. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will supply details of the remuneration package received by a person (details supplied), including salary, pension packages, and any other forms of remuneration [10215/14]

Garda Deployment

Jonathan O'Brien

185. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to appoint a sergeant to Coachford Garda station, County Cork; if he will restore a full-time Garda station to Coachford Garda station; if he will downgrade Coachford Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10096/14]

Teaching Qualifications

Jonathan O'Brien

72. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department feels that primary school teachers are qualified to work with preschool age groups in preschools attached to primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9740/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

73. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the departmental circulars that govern the use of ABA-early intervention for education for children with ASD. [9741/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

74. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the use of ABA teaching methods for children with autism; his plans to expand same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9742/14]

Teaching Qualifications

Jonathan O'Brien

75. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the training available to teachers through the Special Education Support Service in teaching children with autism including ABA, TEACCH, and PECS; the length of these courses; the number of teachers who have applied for and the number who have participated in them during each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9743/14]

Teaching Qualifications

Jonathan O'Brien

76. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of postgraduate programme places for teachers involved in learning support and special education; and the number of teachers who have availed of these places during each of the past three years. [9744/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

77. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 125 of 27 June 2013, the names of the international experts referred to in his reply and titles of their research papers and documents used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9745/14]

Autism Support Services

Jonathan O'Brien

217. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that applied behavioural analysis for children with autism is viewed as a medical treatment in the US rather than an educational service; his views on same; his plans to ensure that ABA is considered a medical treatment in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9753/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

100. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the anomalies within the Student Universal Support Ireland grant application system that are causing extreme hardship for many students. [9431/14]

Schools Amalgamation

Jonathan O'Brien

103. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are proposals by a number of patron bodies to amalgamate primary schools and the distress that this is causing to parents and pupils as a result; and his plans to address this situation. [9432/14]

Schools Amalgamation

Jonathan O'Brien

133. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to recent proposals by religious patrons to close a number of primary schools across the State and the consequences this will have for children and communities. [9165/14]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Jonathan O'Brien

138. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to accommodate the 15% increase in the numbers beginning second level education over the next five years; his plans to address teaching shortages in some subjects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9163/14]

School Curriculum

Jonathan O'Brien

140. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is concerned at some of the lessons that are being taught to children by external groups in schools for sex education; and if he is concerned at some of the teaching methods they use which have been the subject of recent media reports. [9162/14]

Third Level Staff Recruitment

Jonathan O'Brien

141. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the staffing shortage in the third level sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9164/14]

Third Level Funding

Jonathan O'Brien

146. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which he will receive the Higher Education Authority report on funding third level education. [9215/14]

School Curriculum

Jonathan O'Brien

282. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific qualifications required to teach the new politics course at leaving certificate level. [9229/14]

Fire Stations Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

467. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposed fire station in Kanturk, County Cork, which was announced in 2007; when work will commence on this fire station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9246/14]

School Textbooks

Jonathan O'Brien

113. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by schools, such as a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5, which worked hard to introduce a book rental scheme and as a result are not now entitled to the grant of €150 per pupil attending DEIS schools to set up book schemes; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that their current per capita grant of €21 is not nearly enough to keep their current book rental scheme running and that parents must contribute to help with the scheme; and if he will re-examine this scheme with a view to implementing it fairly so that schools who already set up book schemes are not effectively financially penalised for doing so. [8762/14]

Bullying of Children

Jonathan O'Brien

269. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the Net Children Go Mobile study on children’s use of the Internet in Ireland, recent research which found that 22% of children have experienced bullying online; and his plans to address this matter within the school system. [7862/14]

Election Management System

Jonathan O'Brien

485. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider allocating a minimum of 20% of positions in polling stations and count centres to unemployed persons and ensure it is part of the returning officer's role to do so; if he will ensure that returning officers put in place a more transparent recruitment system which gives unemployed persons an equal opportunity to access these positions; if he will further ensure that such a system is widely publicised so that unemployed persons are made aware of how to register their interest in these positions; and if he will ensure that recruitment processes positively encourage and welcome applications from unemployed persons. [8164/14]

Election Management System

Jonathan O'Brien

517. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will work with the Department of Social Protection to provide greater opportunities for unemployed persons to avail of work in polling stations and count centres across the State in the forthcoming elections. [8163/14]

Prison Education Service

Jonathan O'Brien

576. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the education facilities available in each prison here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8130/14]

Sexual Offences Data

Jonathan O'Brien

582. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to fund another sexual abuse and violence in Ireland report. [8221/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

100. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 22 January 2014, the way a person under 23 years of age may prove their estrangement from their family in order to be assessed on their own means for Student Universal Support Ireland grant applications in cases where a social worker will not see them because they are over 18 years, a youth worker or family support worker will not see them as they have never been linked in to that worker before, and they are not in need of a Health Service Executive counselling service; and if he will list any other appropriate officers of the HSE who may be able to attest to a person being estranged from their family. [7208/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

101. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provision of evidence from a GP will be accepted as evidence of estrangement for the purposes of persons under 23 years of age applying for Student Universal Support Ireland grants based on assessment of their own means. [7209/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

102. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason married persons under 23 years of age who reside with their spouses in a separate home from their parents are still assessed on their parents' means for the purposes of Student Universal Support Ireland grant applications. [7210/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

103. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason persons aged over 23 years who have a gap of a number of years in their education are still assessed on their parents' income for the purposes of a Student Universal Support Ireland grant if they began their third level education when they were under 23 years. [7211/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

104. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Student Universal Support Ireland will not accept the same standard of proof that a person under 23 years of age is not residing in the family home and is estranged from their family for the purposes of assessing them on their own means for grants that the Department of Social Protection accepts for assessing eligibility for social welfare payments. [7212/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

105. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 22 January 2014, the relevant legislative provision, circular or statutory instrument which stipulates that independent verification of estrangement for assessment of Student Universal Support Ireland applications may only be provided by the persons listed in this reply; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that SI 159 of 2013, section 21(3)(b), contains no such list of persons and states that a student may be assessed on their own means where it is established to the satisfaction of the relevant awarding authority that the student is irreconcilably estranged from their parents and that financial supports are not being provided to them; the reasons SUSI is not satisfied with evidence of proof of estrangement in the form of records of living outside the family home, letters from GPs, college counselling services or correspondence from other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7226/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

108. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that under the Mental Health Act, a general practitioner is considered an approved officer of the Health Service Executive to make a recommendation for a patient to be involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric facility in their capacity as that person's GP; and the reason a person's GP is not deemed sufficiently qualified by Student Universal Support Ireland to attest to the fact a person is estranged from their family for the purposes of assessing an application for a grant. [7265/14]

Youth Services Data

Jonathan O'Brien

232. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of youth workers employed by the Health Service Executive and their locations. [7200/14]

Family Support Services

Jonathan O'Brien

233. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of family support workers employed by the Health Service Executive and their locations. [7201/14]

Further Education and Training Programmes Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

75. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will include in the new adult literacy and numeracy strategy being developed as part of the further education and training strategy the following elements: awareness raising of learning opportunities and support for greater engagement by persons with literacy and numeracy needs in FET; integrated literacy and numeracy into all FET programmes, thereby ensuring that relevant literacy and numeracy are developed as part of the subject specific learning; intensive learning programmes for people who are unemployed in the workplace and supporting families; blended learning and recognition of prior learning to acquire qualifications at NFQ levels 1 to 4; and an efficient system for evaluating, monitoring and reporting progress and achievement against national targets. [7073/14]

Education Grants

Jonathan O'Brien

77. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update regarding students of the two-year diploma course run by Trinity College (details supplied) who had previously received the student grant and maintenance payment but have been told they are no longer entitled to same and they must repay moneys received; the reason a change in the status of the course occurred; and if he will ensure that students who received grants and maintenance to do this course will not be forced to repay the moneys. [7112/14]

Health Services Staff Data

Jonathan O'Brien

228. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners are considered officers of the Health Service Executive. [7193/14]

Health Services Staff Data

Jonathan O'Brien

229. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the grades at which employees would be considered officers of the Health Service Executive. [7194/14]

School Guidance Counsellors

Jonathan O'Brien

186. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department liaises with each school to ensure it has developed a school guidance plan in order to meet the needs of students. [6253/14]

Education Welfare Service Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

187. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the mechanisms used by the National Educational Welfare Board and the National Educational Psychological Service to provide support to guidance counselling in schools. [6254/14]

Education Welfare Service Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

188. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of psychologists employed by the National Educational Psychological Service; the number of vacancies and their job titles in NEPS; the methods used to promote positive mental health among the general student body and provide assistance in supporting pupils with particular social, emotional or behavioural difficulties. [6255/14]

School Guidance Counsellors

Jonathan O'Brien

189. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to meet the national executive of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors to discuss its concerns regarding cutbacks on the provision of guidance in schools. [6256/14]

School Guidance Counsellors

Jonathan O'Brien

190. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the guidelines drawn up in the framework document for considering the provision of guidance in post-primary schools, September 2012, which have not been implemented due to the severe curtailment of resources and the reassignment of guidance counsellors to subject teaching duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6257/14]

Migrant Integration

Jonathan O'Brien

462. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether the document Migration Nation is outdated; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a national integration plan does not exist; and his views on the potential to develop one. [6741/14]

Children in Care

Jonathan O'Brien

548. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the language supports available to migrant children in care with poor standards of English; and the supports available to their foster carers in order that they may be able to assist them with normal activities such as helping with homework. [6379/14]

Child Care Services Inspections

Jonathan O'Brien

549. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied with the adequacy of inspections and the standard of child care provided throughout the State; if follow-up inspections and sanctions were imposed on those who have been found to be in breach of the relevant regulations and guidelines during the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6380/14]

Speech and Language Therapy

Jonathan O'Brien

653. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder two and a half years ago and has a disability, that they have been on an early intervention list for speech and language therapy but has not received any yet at Ashgrove House for over two years and that when they turn six years, they will not be eligible for this list; if he will personally intervene in this case to ensure that the child receives the therapy they are entitled to. [6913/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Jonathan O'Brien

57. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update regarding the location and development of a school (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the lack of clarity is causing huge concern for parents and students; if he will meet with the board of the school to discuss this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5724/14]