Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Unemployment Levels

Alan Farrell

126. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection her method of determining up to date figures on unemployment hotspots around the country; the measures she has introduced to target these areas specifically; the proposals in place to target these areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53166/12]

The Gathering Expenditure

Alan Farrell

141. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his role in the gathering 2013 in particular with regard to possible events that focus on our reputation in the arts and that will promote Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53168/12]

Domestic Violence Incidence

Alan Farrell

195. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the current facilities available if an emergency barring order is required for victims of domestic violence and if there is a requirement to extend this facility; the possibility of revisiting legislation surrounding domestic violence in the near future relating to funding and the extension of protection to persons who are not cohabiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53282/12]

Medicinal Products Supply

Alan Farrell

222. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his plans in relation to epilepsy medication in the Health Bill 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53165/12]

The Gathering Expenditure

Alan Farrell

252. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the events that are confirmed as part of the Gathering 2013 that will focus of our reputation in the arts and that will promote Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53167/12]

The Gathering Expenditure

Alan Farrell

723. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will advise on the marketing strategy for The Gathering worldwide; when the campaign was launched overseas; the cost of this project to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52723/12]

Road Safety Strategy

Alan Farrell

724. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the road safety strategy for 2013 and if he will advise specifically in relation to the speed limit review and the role of education in road safety matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52724/12]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Alan Farrell

725. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the Sports Capital Grants for 2012; when an announcement will be made; if there will be an earlier application date set for 2013 due to the large volume of applicants in 2012; the other supports that will be provided to sporting clubs outside of this grant system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52725/12]

Sport and Recreational Development

Alan Farrell

726. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline his contact with the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland and his views on the future and sustainability of professional football in Ireland, particularly with reference to the wage level of League of Ireland footballers, and funding provided to the Football Association of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52726/12]

Dublin Bus Services

Alan Farrell

744. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of routes that Dublin Bus are operating at a loss; his views on the cost of outsourcing these routes to private transport companies as a cost reducing measure while protecting routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52859/12]

Child Benefit Eligibility

Alan Farrell

61. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the feasibility and cost of taxing child benefit for high income earners who may fall over a defined high income threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52097/12]

Tax Code

Alan Farrell

68. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the possible impact that a sugar tax would have on inflation; his views on the possibility of reducing VAT for some healthier foods in order to neutralise the impact of inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52099/12]

State Properties

Alan Farrell

96. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the State owned buildings currently not in use; his proposals for these buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52094/12]

State Properties

Alan Farrell

97. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the use of the former Garda Station building in Rush, County Dublin; the possibility of this building being offered on a short term basis to a local community group as requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52095/12]

Employment Support Services

Alan Farrell

132. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the success rate on the pathways to works scheme since its establishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52096/12]

Health Services Provision

Alan Farrell

199. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on planned advances in diabetic paediatric services to widen the availability of insulin pumps for children under five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52092/12]

Health Services Provision

Alan Farrell

200. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the diabetes services that have been funded in the Health Service Executive National Service Plan and the services currently in place, particularly with reference to the number of footcare posts and a retinopathy screening programme [52093/12]

Tax Code

Alan Farrell

201. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his views in relation to the proposed impact of a sugar tax on the food and drinks industry; its international success rate of reducing consumption of unhealthy foods; if he will consider the possibility of reducing VAT for some healthier foods in order to neutralise the impact of inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52098/12]

Public Procurement Tenders

Alan Farrell

41. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made through reform of the procurement services throughout the country; the method that has been applied and the savings that have been achieved in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51431/12]

Public Sector Reform Review

Alan Farrell

47. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of days' annual leave that employees are permitted to carry over to a following year; the timescale in which they are required to be taken; if there is provision within the Croke Park agreement to impose a cap on the number of days allowed to be carried over; his views on the way a restriction on carried over days may improve services due to the elimination of prolonged annual leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51428/12]

Credit Availability

Alan Farrell

144. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the research his Department has regarding the current availability of student loans; the engagement his Department has undergone in relation to ensuring colleges offer a direct debit facility for student contribution fees or the plans he may have to follow this strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50882/12]

Teacher Recruitment

Alan Farrell

148. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline his Department's forecast in relation to the recruitment of teachers between now and 2016 when an extra 80,000 pupils will be in the system; when this recruitment will commence; if these posts will be of a permanent stature irrespective of the recruitment embargo; the effect this will have on public service reduction in the medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51214/12]

Budget 2013

Alan Farrell

180. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance his views on the possibility of reforming the budget process to take into account the impact that budget 2013 announcements have on the retail industry in the run up to the Christmas period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51002/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Alan Farrell

238. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will advise on the tendering process for building the eight proposed new schools to be funded by the European Investment Bank Private Public Partnership; the conditions of eligibility that will apply; if the process will be open to developers in receipt of assistance through the National Assets Management Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51001/12]

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Alan Farrell

354. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have been identified as participating in full-time study while incorrectly claiming jobseeker's payments in 2011 and 2012; the number of these persons who continued to claim these benefits by proving that they have ceased their education in order to continue to receive their benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50998/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Delays

Alan Farrell

355. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a review process for persons that are initially refused social welfare payments based on the same information on which they win their appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50999/12]

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Alan Farrell

437. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of empty housing units in Dublin in which the development is under the remit of the National Assets Management Agency; the number of housing units required by Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; his views on the viability of using State owned properties that are under the remit of NAMA as accommodation for these families and persons as an alternative to sourcing extra funding for new properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51003/12]

House Purchase Schemes

Alan Farrell

438. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on his proposal to offer families in social housing an incentive to buy their properties, while at the same time introducing a mortgage to rent scheme which will in turn bring private properties owned by a person and the bank to within the remit of his Department and social housing organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51004/12]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Alan Farrell

439. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost to local authorities of continuous maintenance of local authority housing in 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51005/12]

Property Taxation Application

Alan Farrell

440. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his Departments role from 2013 onwards in administering and managing funds for local authorities once a local government tax is introduced; if details of the expenditure will be available to public representatives through Dáil questions; if overall accountability will be held by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51006/12]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

Alan Farrell

583. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his views on the establishment of independent hospital trusts under the universal health insurance system particularly in relation to the agreement of funding and staffing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50996/12]

HSE Savings

Alan Farrell

584. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive tendering process for payroll services will be offered only to Irish service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50997/12]

Mortgage Interest Relief Extension

Alan Farrell

46. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the benefits to extending the current rate of mortgage interest relief for first-time buyers; the projected cost of extending the scheme to the Exchequer, and his rationale for the possible cessation of the scheme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50254/12]

Tax Code

Alan Farrell

51. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the projected implications of introducing a higher rate of tax on income earners over €100,000 on industry and competitiveness here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50253/12]

Pension Levy

Alan Farrell

86. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance his views on the possibility of imposing a levy or tax on the pension sums of more than €100,000 administered to former employees of banks only covered by the State guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50319/12]

Tax Relief Application

Alan Farrell

87. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the number of businesses that have availed of tax relief on research and development as outlined in the Finance Bill 2012; the way this compares to 2010 and 2011; if there are available statistics on the benefit of the scheme; if it is due to be increased in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50320/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Alan Farrell

143. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the impact of rising rental properties in Dublin, as outlined by the recent survey carried out by a company referred to in the Minister's Rent Limit Review Report in 2011, will have on the allowable rent rates for rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50257/12]

Medical Card Applications Data

Alan Farrell

239. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card applications that have been successfully reviewed and awarded after failing a means test; the number of these that are patients who are in need of continuous mental health treatment; if he will provide a list of conditions that have been considered eligible by the Chief Medical Officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50258/12]

Mobility Allowance Decision

Alan Farrell

240. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the office of the Ombudsman Report entitled Too Old to be Equal; the recommendations therein; and if he has begun the process of changing the mobility allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50259/12]

Structured Court Settlements

Alan Farrell

781. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views regarding the possibility of reforming the process of court awarded medical expenses from a lump sum to a payment that is issued on a periodic basis to match the medical expenses of the person each year throughout the course of their lifetime to ensure that there is no shortfall in funds; his view on whether legislative changes are required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47730/12]

Health and Safety Regulations

Alan Farrell

150. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there are any health and safety regulations in place for sports clubs nationwide to prohibit the use of dangerous chemicals to line pitches such as lime, petroleum products and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45535/12]

Social Welfare Fraud Cost

Alan Farrell

91. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims of a fraudulent nature that have been made to her Department in 2011; the number of incorrect payments made by her Department in 2011; the cost of these payments in total to the Exchequer; the funding allocated to the investigation and recouping of these payments in 2011 and to date in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44507/12]

Judicial Appointments

Alan Farrell

320. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the process whereby a member of the judiciary may be disciplined if they have not been able to fulfil their duties in a competent manner, if there has been any issue of misconduct or if there is a question over of their ability to practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40510/12]

Site Acquisitions

Alan Farrell

73. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has identified a permanent site for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39563/12]

Site Acquisitions

Alan Farrell

74. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the stage of the planning process in relation to the provision of a permanent school premises for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39564/12]

Departmental Staff

Alan Farrell

368 Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals officers working in the appeals office at the moment; the number of cases assigned to each officer at this time; the number of applications awaiting assignment to an appeals officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32169/12]

Social Welfare Appeals

Alan Farrell

369 Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the turnaround time for appealing social welfare decisions; the measures being considered or implemented to reduce this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32170/12]