Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Schools Building Projects Status

Michael Creed

115. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills the band rating of a school building project (details supplied) in County Cork; if this rating reflects the fact that there is provision within this project to establish a three classroom autism spectrum disorder unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20722/13]

School Transport Provision

James Bannon

116. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review the secondary school bus routes in view of new regulations regarding school boundaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20731/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Niall Collins

117. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm plans by his Department to facilitate the expansion of schools (details supplied) in Dublin 24; if he will confirm the schedule to be followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20789/13]

FÁS Training Programmes

Paul Connaughton

118. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that can be taken to allow Irish persons now living and working in Australia to complete their apprenticeships (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20800/13]

Flood Relief Schemes Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

119. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he intends to provide funding this year for the clearance of the Clare river in Claregalway, Lisheenavalla and Caherlea which was part of the programme agreed after the flooding in 2009; the amount that will be spent this year; the works that will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20583/13]

Public Sector Staff Numbers

Sean Fleming

120. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason examining the costs and the benefits is not an appropriate tool for considering the cost of reducing the number of staff in the public service compared with the ongoing benefits of cost reductions in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20586/13]

Public Sector Pensions Issues

Sean Fleming

121. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when his officials will meet with the Alliance of Retired Public Servants in relation to the decision to legislate for certain changes in respect of public service pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20599/13]

Departmental Programmes

Sean Fleming

122. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a timeline in relation to the banking and financial management shared services project being led by his Department; if he will outline the objectives and a cost benefit analysis of this shared service project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20603/13]

Departmental Programmes

Sean Fleming

123. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the future expansion of the banking shared service project is it intended to include local authorities, the Health Service Executive and universities in third level institutions in this project and if the will provide a timeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20605/13]

Registration of Title

Michael Healy-Rae

124. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the transfer of lands from the Office of Public Works to Kerry County Concil (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20627/13]

Public Sector Pensions Issues

Olivia Mitchell

125. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the portion of pension resulting from the payment of AVCs will be subject to the proposed public sector pension reduction;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20681/13]

Public Sector Pensions Issues

Olivia Mitchell

126. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if, in the proposed pension reduction legislation, a pension above the threshold, that is, €33,000, will be subject to the reduction on all of the pension or just on the portion in excess of the threshold €32,500; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20682/13]

Companies Law Issues

Tom Fleming

127. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding an audit of limited companies by guarantee; and if he will clarify the most up to date exemption levels [20792/13]

Foreign Direct Investment

James Bannon

128. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to encourage the Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Board to bring companies to locate in County Longford, where it is an attractive location to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20732/13]

Enterprise Support Schemes

Tom Fleming

129. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the take up of the competitive feasibility fund for female entrepreneurs to enable the selected entrepreneurs to investigate the viability of new growth orientated business propositions that have the potential to become high growth potential start ups; who are the selected applicants; and the number of jobs approximately it is envisaged will be created; and his plans to provide more funding for this scheme in the future. [20788/13]

National Skills Register Establishment

Tom Fleming

130. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will set up a national skills register to allow employers to find persons with the skills they need and the register would be open to all persons whether in work or not and would be free of charge to all users. [20791/13]

Pension Provisions

Michael Healy-Rae

131. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the recently published OECD report recommendations regarding increasing the working age (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20794/13]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Dara Calleary

132. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if she will expedite this application in view of the length of time it is taking to process the claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20514/13]

State Pension (Non-Contributory) Appeals

Brendan Griffin

133. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an appeal for a non-contributory State pension payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20566/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Pat Deering

134. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive an answer to their appeal in relation to the case of their parent. [20572/13]

State Pension (Contributory) Appeals

Clare Daly

136. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that the pension of a person (details supplied) is paid from 22 February 2013. [20629/13]

State Pension (Contributory) Appeals

Clare Daly

137. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was issued with a letter from the State pension contributory social welfare office on 12 March explaining that a self-employed pension was dependent on payment of PRSI contributions, as outlined in section 110(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, yet a month later a follow-on letter was received stating that the relevant section was section 23.4 of the Act and as this provision had not been met, the payment would not be made. [20630/13]

Social Welfare Code Reform

Clare Daly

138. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a new social welfare payment can be introduced combining the disability payment with the mobility allowance for those who meet the criteria irrespective of age. [20631/13]

Respite Care Grant Payments

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

139. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if the respite care grant will be reinstated to 2012 levels in budget 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20645/13]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Sean Fleming

141. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when carer's allowance will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20666/13]

Farm Assist Scheme Appeals

Sean Fleming

142. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for farm assist in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20687/13]

Civil Registration Issues

Willie O'Dea

144. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason there has been a delay in registering humanists as solemnisers for wedding ceremonies here; the reason, despite the passing of the legislation last December by all party agreement, there has only been one registration and there are some 11 other humanists awaiting registration leaving couples in limbo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20710/13]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Róisín Shortall

145. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [20739/13]

Tax and Social Welfare Codes

Ciara Conway

146. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 162 of 24 April 2013, if her attention has been drawn to the information contained in the response (details supplied) and further to this response, if she will specify the issues that need to be considered and addressed before her Department can make these deductions at source; if this is currently under active consideration; if there is timescale for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20796/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

147. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of money paid out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to farmers in the Twelve Bens/Maam Turk complex in Connemara in interim funding for each of the years 2011 and 2012; the amount allocated for payment in 2013; if this includes payments covering the period from November 2012 until the beginning of the new agri-environment options scheme 3 programme; if farmers have entitlement to this payment on foot of the written agreement entered into in relation to the destocking of this area of Connemara; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20577/13]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Applications

Martin Heydon

148. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding compensation for turf cutters in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20620/13]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Áine Collins

149. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the fact that many small farmers in western Duhallow are suffering serious loss of income as most of the area is a designated special area of conservation, they cannot plant trees, put up wind turbines or draw hen harrier subsidies as this scheme is closed; the way this issue can be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20626/13]

Alternative Energy Projects

Robert Troy

150. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has carried out any cost benefit analysis of the potential exporting of wind energy to the UK. [20707/13]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Robert Troy

151. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland will not have any advisory role in his deliberations on the proposed wind turbines for the midlands in view of the apparent conflict of interest of the chairperson; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20709/13]

Inland Fisheries

Michael Moynihan

152. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a breakdown between sea angling, coarse angling and game angling in terms of numbers of the general public and tourists taking part each year in each activity; the revenue generated for the State by each activity; the contribution of each activity in jobs, tourism business, and income for local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20818/13]

Inland Fisheries

Michael Moynihan

153. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the official national figures for salmon and sea trout caught and killed by rod and line for the most recently available five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20819/13]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Sean Fleming

154. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of mortgage accounts issued by local authorities; the total value of the balance on these accounts at the end of December 2012; the number and the percentage in arrears over 90 days for local authorities and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20602/13]

Register of Electors Issues

Dominic Hannigan

155. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are any plans to extend the right to vote in general and presidential elections to EU nationals living here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20683/13]

Voluntary Housing Sector Issues

Bernard Durkan

156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of voluntary housing organisations, the companies for which were in abeyance or struck off in the past ten years, the capital for which was provided for in its entirety through the capital allowance scheme; if in such cases the housing stock concerned reverted to the local authority as provided for under the scheme; if any specific action under the provisions of company law followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20930/13]

Septic Tank Inspections

Pat Deering

157. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a commencement date has been set for a septic tank inspections; when the grant for upgrading malfunctioning systems will be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20904/13]

Unfinished Housing Developments

Barry Cowen

158. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of money made available to upgrade unfinished estates in 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20596/13]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michelle Mulherin

159. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the value of contracts that have been submitted for approval by Mayo North East Leader Partnership to him and which may be funded under the Leader element of the Rural Development Programme 2007 to 2013 as recently announced by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20563/13]

Local Government Reform

Michael Healy-Rae

160. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason at a time when there will be reductions in town councillors elsewhere, the number of councillors in Dublin county is proposed to increase by more than 50; if he will explain this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20621/13]

Local Government Reform

Michael Healy-Rae

161. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason it is necessary to increase the number of councillors in the Dublin area by up to 50 seats at a time when all town councils are being abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20622/13]

Register of Electors Administration

Andrew Doyle

162. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person is allowed change their name and address on the Register of Electors from English to Irish with a local authority (details supplied) in view of the fact that Article 8.1 of Bunreacht na hEireann states the Irish language as the national language is the first official language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20635/13]

Derelict Sites

Eric J. Byrne

163. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether current legislation governing derelict sites is too restrictive when it comes to the rights of residents and communities to attempt to have property owners repair or maintain buildings which are clearly becoming derelict. [20642/13]

Derelict Sites

Eric J. Byrne

164. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether the Chapelizod Old Village Association is fighting an uphill struggle to get the village recognised for the Tidy Towns competition for prize-winning as a result of the dereliction on the main street, comprising local authority and private owned buildings which are detracting from the judges' ability to award prizes. [20643/13]

Derelict Sites

Eric J. Byrne

165. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to amend the legislation to facilitate serious groups and individuals to challenge property owners to maintain their properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20644/13]

Water Services Funding

Andrew Doyle

166. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding he has provided for County Wicklow through the rural water programme block grant allocation for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20649/13]

Property Taxation Administration

Nicky McFadden

167. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that revenue collected from the local property tax is allocated in each local authority to the provision of adequate local services such as street lighting and waste collection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20671/13]