Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Qualifications Recognition

Jonathan O'Brien

206. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many highly skilled immigrants work below their skill-set or are unemployed as a result of a limited number of conversion courses available to upgrade qualifications to the Irish standard; his plans to increase the number of conversion courses and eligibility for advanced entry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5063/14]

Proposed Legislation

Jonathan O'Brien

207. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider the development of a State recognised directory of accredited interpreters. [5064/14]

Foreign Language Assistant Scheme

Jonathan O'Brien

208. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to immigrant parents who often have difficulty negotiating the school system; if he will consider introducing statutory guidelines for schools for the purpose of facilitating migrant parents' engagement in their children's education. [5065/14]

Teacher Recruitment

Jonathan O'Brien

209. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will amend the Employment Equality Act to prevent schools from recruiting or dismissing teachers based on their religious ethos. [5066/14]

In-service Training

Jonathan O'Brien

210. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the type of in-service training available for teachers on racism and managing diversity in schools; and his plans to improve same. [5067/14]

School Curriculum

Jonathan O'Brien

211. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will introduce a module on interculturalism, including the use of existing anti-racist education programmes. [5068/14]

Foreign Language Assistant Scheme

Jonathan O'Brien

212. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will increase language supports for migrant students. [5069/14]

After-School Support Services

Jonathan O'Brien

213. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will utilise under-employed teachers and trainee teachers for after-school programmes. [5070/14]

School Curriculum

Jonathan O'Brien

214. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will create a State-wide secondary school English language immersion framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5071/14]

Teacher Training Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

215. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that continual professional development courses for English as an additional language teachers are available. [5072/14]

Modern Language Teaching

Jonathan O'Brien

216. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will conduct a feasibility study to determine the costs of reinstituting the modern languages primary school initiative. [5073/14]

Adult Education

Jonathan O'Brien

217. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the provision of vocational courses combined with English teaching at further education colleges and university level. [5074/14]

English Language Training Organisations

Jonathan O'Brien

218. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide a comprehensive standard curriculum and recommendations for State-funded English language providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5075/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

219. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a lack of awareness of immigration categories by colleges and grant-awarding authorities which results in misjudged refusals of applications for grants and the free fees scheme; and his plans to rectify same. [5076/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

220. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that non-EU nationals, despite meeting residency conditions, cannot qualify for free fees or receive the maintenance grant; and his plans to address this matter. [5077/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

221. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to allow migrant students to change their fee status during their course. [5078/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

222. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will allow non-EU students to pay their third levels fees in instalments. [5079/14]

Special Education Review

Jonathan O'Brien

229. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which he will receive policy advice on education for children with autism from the National Council for Special Education. [5205/14]

School Staffing

Jonathan O'Brien

241. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the management structure at a school (details supplied) in County Waterford. [5398/14]

National Internship Scheme Data

Jonathan O'Brien

242. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of JobBridge interns currently working for an organisation (details supplied); and the number who have previously completed internships in same and their roles. [5402/14]

International Agreements

Jonathan O'Brien

278. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the timeframe, including a target date, for the ratification of the ILO Convention on domestic workers; and if consideration has been given to applying these protections to the unregulated au pair sector. [5080/14]

Water Charges Introduction

Jonathan O'Brien

423. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to include in the forthcoming consumer protection and competition Bill provisions to mandate the amalgamated National Consumer Agency and Competition Authority to play a statutory role, which is fully resourced, in independently promoting and protecting the interests and welfare of consumers who will be negatively impacted by the introduction of household water charges. [5387/14]

Deportation Orders Data

Jonathan O'Brien

520. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons, and their nationality, who, in 2012 and 2013, after being refused leave to land in Ireland, were subsequently placed on a flight and returned to Istanbul in Turkey; Dubai and Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates and any other locations. [5202/14]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

603. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date on which all social worker vacancies will be filled. [5631/14]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

604. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers on long-term sick leave broken down by county; and the number of same who have been replaced by a temporary worker. [5632/14]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

605. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers employed by the new Child and Family Agency broken down by county; and the number of vacant social worker posts broken down by county. [5686/14]

Health Services

Jonathan O'Brien

711. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that transgender persons undergoing transition in the Munster area can receive treatment in the endocrinology unit in Cork; and his plans to expand availability of such treatments across the State. [5476/14]

Irish Water Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

131. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of employees that are working in the regional section of Uisce Éireann in Mallow, County Cork; the number of those employees that are former local authority staff; and the remuneration they received upon leaving employment in the local authorities. [4497/14]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Jonathan O'Brien

279. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the names of schools, broken down by county, that will be able to avail of funding for the new book rental schemes. [4037/14]

Hospitals Funding

Jonathan O'Brien

689. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will provide separate breakdowns in tabular form of all moneys allocated to Mercy University Hospital, Cork and Cork University Hospital from 2007-2014. [3644/14]

Hospitals Funding

Jonathan O'Brien

690. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health to set out the level of funding to the Mercy University Hospital, Cork and Cork University Hospital in 2014; and how it compares with 2013. [3645/14]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Jonathan O'Brien

691. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will provide timeframes for when the academic posts committed to for Mercy University Hospital, Cork and Cork University Hospital will be appointed. [3646/14]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Jonathan O'Brien

692. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health to outline the position on the consultant posts to be filled in Mercy University Hospital, Cork and Cork University Hospital; if the positions have been advertised; and when will they be filled. [3647/14]

Hospital Staff Data

Jonathan O'Brien

693. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of staff numbers employed in the Mercy University Hospital, Cork and Cork University Hospital from 2007-14. [3648/14]

HSE Agency Staff Expenditure

Jonathan O'Brien

694. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full breakdown in tabular form of all money spent on agency staff at the Mercy University Hospital, Cork and Cork University Hospital from 2007-14. [3649/14]

Hospitals Expenditure

Jonathan O'Brien

695. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of all public money used by Mercy University Hospital, Cork and Cork University Hospital or his Department to treat patients in private hospitals. [3650/14]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Jonathan O'Brien

696. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a separate breakdown of inpatient and outpatient waiting times in all specialties at Mercy University Hospital, Cork and Cork University Hospital. [3651/14]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Jonathan O'Brien

697. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information on the number of elective procedures and surgeries cancelled at the Mercy University Hospital Cork and Cork University Hospital from 2008-14. [3652/14]

Proposed Legislation

Jonathan O'Brien

2. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the new timetable for the delayed workplace relations legislation. [3011/14]

Job Creation Data

Jonathan O'Brien

7. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs created in IDA Ireland-supported enterprises arising from international relocation; and the number of jobs filled by internal transfers within such companies. [2945/14]

Industrial Development

Jonathan O'Brien

18. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he will take with the Industrial Development Agency following its failure to again meet the target of 50% of investment located outside of the major urban centres of Cork and Dublin. [2947/14]

Local Enterprise Offices Establishment

Jonathan O'Brien

23. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the proposed local enterprise offices will be fully functioning in 2014. [2948/14]

Youth Employment Initiative

Jonathan O'Brien

31. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will confirm that the building of youth employment will be a key priority and theme for the action plan for jobs 2014. [2946/14]

Microenterprise Loan Fund Applications

Jonathan O'Brien

32. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he will take to review and enhance the microenterprise loans fund and loan guarantee scheme to ensure that lending targets are reached in 2014. [2949/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

60. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the exact persons and their job titles employed by the Health Service Executive who Student Universal Support Ireland will accept as qualified to attest to the veracity of a claim that a student is estranged from their family in order to assess their eligibility for a grant based on their own income when they are under 23 years and estranged from their family. [2978/14]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Jonathan O'Brien

125. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will reverse the decision to charge fees of up to €1,433 to low-earning apprentices for the college part of their courses; and if his attention has been drawn to the hardship this is causing. [2681/14]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Jonathan O'Brien

137. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the issues raised in his proposed book rental scheme in view of the manner in which the information regarding existing schemes was collected by his Department. [2342/14]

Education and Training Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

141. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reverse the fees imposed on apprentices for off-the-job training. [2338/14]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Jonathan O'Brien

145. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for new laws that will monitor teacher performance. [2340/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

148. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools here that operate withdrawal or timeout rooms for children with autism; and his plans to regulate and monitor the use of them. [2339/14]

Education Policy

Jonathan O'Brien

155. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that is ring fenced to ensure schools have the capacity to deliver the new junior certificate reforms. [2341/14]

Departmental Expenditure

Jonathan O'Brien

318. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form a list of all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, capital, advertising and accountancy, the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 May 2011 and 31 December 2013 for all agencies under the aegis of his Department. [2383/14]

Corporation Tax Regime

Jonathan O'Brien

326. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the input from his Department to the Department of Finance report, Principal Risks to Ireland’s Corporation Tax Strategy; if he has read the report; and his views on the report. [2951/14]

Departmental Funding

Jonathan O'Brien

86. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding options available for community based migrant groups who wish to start language lessons for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1819/14]

Consultancy Contracts Data

Jonathan O'Brien

87. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of consultants or consultancy firms employed by his Department during each of the past five years; the purpose and duration of each of these consultancies or consultancy contracts; the names of the consultants or firms; and if he will list architectural consultancies separately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1820/14]

Severe Weather Events Expenditure

Jonathan O'Brien

88. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of any damage to schools or educational facilities during the recent severe weather spell that he has been notified of and the cost to repair any damage. [1821/14]

Teaching Qualifications

Jonathan O'Brien

90. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the qualifications needed to teach as a learning support teacher and the reasons for these particular qualifications. [1832/14]

Teaching Qualifications

Jonathan O'Brien

91. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and his plans to address this anomaly. [1833/14]

Departmental Expenditure

Jonathan O'Brien

96. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form a list of all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, capital, advertising and accountancy; the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 May 2011 and 31 December 2013. [1926/14]

State Examinations Commission

Jonathan O'Brien

174. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total allocation of funding to the State Examinations Commission in each of the past six years. [55196/13]

State Examinations Commission

Jonathan O'Brien

175. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of staff employed by the State Examinations Commission. [55197/13]

State Examinations Commission

Jonathan O'Brien

176. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of retired teachers employed by the State Examinations Commission. [55198/13]

State Examinations Commission

Jonathan O'Brien

177. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the top ten rates of pay of staff in the State Examinations Commission and their job titles. [55199/13]

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Jonathan O'Brien

178. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rates of pay that will be allocated to the ten staff of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55201/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

217. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will personally intervene in the case of a student (details supplied) in Dublin 7 and ensure that she is assessed for a SUSI grant in her own right as an estranged young person under 23; if he is aware that she has been told by SUSI that she will not be assessed as estranged unless she can produce a letter from a Health Service Executive social worker or other officer attesting to this fact; if he is also aware that she has had no HSE social work involvement in her life and the HSE social workers or officers will not see her unless she is under 18; if he is also aware that SUSI will apply no flexibility to these rules; if he is further aware that the Department of Social Protection are satisfied that she does not reside with her family; if he will ensure that she receives a payment from SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1032/14]

School Transport Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

224. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will indicate the circular which states that fees for school transport may be paid in two instalments. [1136/14]

School Transport Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

225. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has examined the costs involved in amending the payments system for school transport fees to allow a monthly payment system for parents. [1137/14]

School Enrolments

Jonathan O'Brien

228. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of parents in Greystones, County Wicklow, regarding the enrolment policy of the new school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the proposed enrolment policy for the school when the patron sought patronage; the current enrolment policy being used; and his views on the changes and plans to address this matter. [1189/14]

Home Tuition Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

229. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 102 of 18 December 2013, if he will ensure that persons (details supplied) in County Cork both have separate home tutors on the basis that their needs, behavioural profiles and attention spans are very different and a single pooled home tutor will be unable to meet either of their needs adequately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1202/14]

State Examinations Commission

Jonathan O'Brien

234. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide any changes made to any accommodations scheme administered by the State Examinations Commission for students with dyslexia that may result in them being deducted marks for spelling mistakes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1303/14]

Hospital Services

Jonathan O'Brien

739. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the epilepsy monitoring unit at Cork University Hospital was refurbished in autumn 2012 but still has not opened, despite it being pledged for the third quarter of 2013; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the hospital has diverted funding received for the unit to other services and projects within the hospital; if he is aware that this is a most crucial yet basic service for persons with difficult to control epilepsy and there is only one other functioning unit in the country at Beaumont, which re-opened this summer having also been closed for more than nine months with many people continuing to be referred abroad for essential monitoring as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55227/13]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Jonathan O'Brien

740. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the number of persons sent abroad for epilepsy related treatments during each of the past 48 months and the cost per individual treatment. [55228/13]

Hospital Services

Jonathan O'Brien

741. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the level of funding that was set aside for the epilepsy monitoring unit at Cork University Hospital; and where this funding was redirected [55229/13]

Hospital Facilities

Jonathan O'Brien

742. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the date on which the epilepsy monitoring unit at Cork University Hospital will open. [55230/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Jonathan O'Brien

743. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on waiting lists for epilepsy monitoring. [55231/13]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Jonathan O'Brien

744. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the date on which nurses and EEG technicians will be recruited to staff the epilepsy monitoring unit at Cork University Hospital. [55232/13]

Hospital Facilities

Jonathan O'Brien

745. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the date on which the epilepsy monitoring unit at Beaumont Hospital will be reopened. [55233/13]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

862. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the ring-fencing of isolated beds in Cork University Hospital for cystic fibrosis patients; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Build4Life raised money for cystic fibrosis beds and now management wish the charity to hand over the money with no guarantee of cystic fibrosis beds; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that cystic fibrosis patients are at constant risk of cross-infection due to exposure to the general hospital environment; and his plans to address this situation as a matter of urgency. [1317/14]

School Funding

Jonathan O'Brien

128. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of subscriptions paid by schools to the National Association for Principals and Deputy Principals; if schools pay their annual subscription from State funds; and the detail of this funding stream or if it is paid from voluntary contributions made by parents. [54804/13]

Citizenship Applications

Jonathan O'Brien

265. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a person born outside of Ireland whose grandfather was born in Ireland and parent was born outside of Ireland but received Irish citizenship after this person was born, would be entitled to Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55020/13]

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Certification

Jonathan O'Brien

87. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if FÁS has ever certified someone as being qualified in a trade despite them not having completed an apprenticeship programme due to their practical experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54605/13]

Schools Establishment

Jonathan O'Brien

96. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will meet with representatives from Maynooth schools group to address its concerns regarding the proposed new post-primary school in Maynooth. [54588/13]

Schools Establishment

Jonathan O'Brien

97. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons there should be two separate post-primary schools located on the same site in Maynooth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54589/13]

Schools Establishment

Jonathan O'Brien

98. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has had a cost-benefit analysis conducted of plans to have two separate schools located on the same site in Maynooth, County Kildare; if he had a cost-benefit analysis conducted on having one amalgamated school on the same location; if he will release this information to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54590/13]

Home Tuition Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

102. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there have been any cases where the rule regarding the collective pooling of home tuition for children from the same family has been disregarded due to the differing nature of children's conditions or any other reason; the number of occasions on which this has occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54675/13]

Schools Establishment

Jonathan O'Brien

104. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the members of the new schools establishment group were made aware of the error in the report to the new schools establishment group on the patronage of the new post-primary school to be established in Maynooth in 2014, clarified by the forward planning section on 19 September 2012. [54678/13]

Schools Establishment

Jonathan O'Brien

105. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the error in the report to the new schools establishment group, clarified by the forward planning section on 19 September 2012, on the patronage of the new post-primary school to be established in Maynooth in 2014 when he announced on 25 July 2012 the successful patron for the new post-primary school to be established in Maynooth in 2014. [54679/13]

IDA Site Visits

Jonathan O'Brien

117. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits promoted by the Industrial Development Agency of potential investors to Mullingar, County Westmeath for each of the past three years . [54704/13]

Housing Issues

Jonathan O'Brien

156. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the concerns of those who purchased affordable homes through local authorities in the boom years who cannot resell their properties. [54591/13]

Housing Issues

Jonathan O'Brien

157. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of affordable housing units purchased through Cork County Council; the number of these loans in arrears for three months or more; the number of these loans in arrears for six months or more. [54592/13]

Exports Data

Jonathan O'Brien

104. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach the value of exports, imports and trade surplus for the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector for each year since 2003. [53698/13]

Pharmaceutical Industry

Jonathan O'Brien

274. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons employed in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector each year since 2003. [53697/13]

Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists

Jonathan O'Brien

385. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons on the social housing waiting list in Cork city on 1 December of each of the past six years. [53759/13]

Quality and Qualifications Ireland Accreditation

Jonathan O'Brien

170. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the FETAC and FÁS arbitrary increasing of fees for special purpose certification without a reasonable notice period that affects essential health and safety training on the FÁS construction skills certification scheme and is passing the burden of the increase on to small business and training providers; and his plans to address the matter. [52478/13]

Student Grants Data

Jonathan O'Brien

173. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of students during each of the past ten years who have applied for higher education grants assessed on the basis they are estranged from their parents; and the number of these grants that were granted. [52571/13]

Student Grant Scheme Administration

Jonathan O'Brien

174. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of times each month since its establishment that Student Universal Support Ireland issues regular payments to students; the number of times SUSI have transferred money to a student in an emergency situation outside of the days where payments have been made automatically because of late processing of the application on the part of SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52572/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Jonathan O'Brien

176. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that when a student under 23 is estranged from their parents that Student Universal Support Ireland will only accept evidence of estrangement from a Health Service Executive social worker for the purposes of attesting to the veracity of the claim for the purposes of the student grant system; that students who do not have previous social worker involvement will be unable to comply with this, as a HSE social worker will not see them if they are over 18; the ways in which a student may prove their estrangement from their parents in the absence of ability to see a HSE social worker; and his plans to address this barrier to accessing education for students. [52589/13]

School Patronage

Jonathan O'Brien

179. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons the vocational education committee, VEC, was awarded patronage of the new schools in Maynooth, County Kildare; and his plans to hold an inquiry into this matter. [52622/13]

Student Grant Scheme Payments

Jonathan O'Brien

185. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who had been awarded grants from Student Universal Support Ireland but not yet received a payment from SUSI as of 1 December 2013. [52732/13]

School Funding

Jonathan O'Brien

189. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average payment of voluntary contributions by parents per student for each of the past three years. [52749/13]