Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Cancer Screening Programmes

Anne Ferris

205. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health in view of the commitment given in the programme for Government, when he will extend BreastCheck screening to women aged between 65 and 69; if he will ensure that funding is provided for this extension of breast screening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28859/14]

Garda Investigations

Anne Ferris

377. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the most appropriate method of satisfying the public interest requirement for an investigation into the case of a person (details supplied) who died in tragic circumstances during February 2002 in Clara, County Offaly in view of the decision by GSOC, due to legislative constraints, not to proceed with an investigation into a complaint relating to this case and in view of the existence of independent pathologist reports obtained privately by the person's family that contradict certain findings of a report by a former State Pathologist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27874/14]

Garda Investigations

Anne Ferris

378. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will release to the family of a person (details supplied) a full unredacted copy of letter referenced P.S. 343/03; if for some reason this is not considered possible, the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27875/14]

Garda Investigations

Anne Ferris

379. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will release to the family of a person (details supplied) the full report of State Pathologist into their review of the post mortem findings of her predecessor and the independent opinions of two other pathologists engaged privately by the person's family, carried out by the State Pathologist as part of a second Garda investigation into the case commenced in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27876/14]

VAT Rate Reductions

Anne Ferris

160. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Finance in view of recent good weather and the calls from the Irish Cancer Society for people to wear sun protective creams, if he will consider reducing the VAT rate on these products as they attract the luxury VAT rate of 23%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27274/14]

Patent Legislation

Anne Ferris

252. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the recommendation of the interdepartmental group led by his Department on the issue of whether to host a local division of the unified patent court will be considered; the impact analysis his Department has conducted if the decision is not to host a local division here, particularly on Ireland's intellectual property, IP, ranking and the way it might have an impact on a future referendum result; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that uncertainty over the decision to opt for a local division is causing concern amongst the IP sector here and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27012/14]

Property Tax Exemptions

Anne Ferris

88. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the full criteria for exemptions to the local property tax for unfinished estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23438/14]

Foreshore Issues

Anne Ferris

143. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the assessment by his Department of the most recent foreshore lease application made by a company (details supplied) for the carrying out of geotechnical and geophysical site investigation works off the coast of County Wicklow near Greystones, County Wicklow; if an independent landscape and visuals consultant has at any time been engaged by his Department to assess the visual impact of the offshore wind farm development from protected landscape areas in Bray, Greystones and along the Wicklow coast; in view of the fact that there is no longer a plan in place for an intergovernmental energy export agreement if this application should be considered legally premature and returned to the applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20476/14]

Charities Regulation

Anne Ferris

831. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health the specific health and safety standards, other employment protections and the hourly rate of payment offered to employees/trainees of Rehab who have been engaged in commercial activities for the organisation including the outfitting of coffins, the processing of recyclable waste materials and retail enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19180/14]

Charities Regulation

Anne Ferris

832. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health the extent of oversight and audit arrangements that are in place for Rehab to ensure that employees/trainees receive a fair industrial wage, appropriate career development opportunities and health and safety and other workplace protections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19181/14]

School Transport Provision

Anne Ferris

95. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the schools in County Wicklow that are facilitated with school buses; if he will provide a breakdown of each school and location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18386/14]

Tourism Capital Investment Programme

Anne Ferris

692. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date on which he expects Fáilte Ireland to issue the call for expressions of interest in connection with the possible development of a national diaspora centre, which he said in his statement of 3 March would be made within a matter of weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17495/14]

Garda Strength

Anne Ferris

459. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda personnel in Cork city; the number of gardaí assigned to the Togher area; the figures for crime in Togher in the past 12 months and a breakdown of these crimes; if there has been a reduction in Garda numbers and-or resources in Togher in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16543/14]

Free Travel Scheme Administration

Anne Ferris

289. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department discussed with the National Transport Authority what will happen to bus passes on Dublin Bus routes 17, 17a, 18, 75, 76, 76a, 102, 104, 33a, 33b, 45a, 59, 63, 111, 114, 161, 184, 185, 220, 236, 238, 239 and 270 once these are put out for tender under a public service contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15166/14]

Free Travel Scheme Administration

Anne Ferris

290. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm she will not cut the Department's budget for bus passes on Dublin Bus routes 17, 17a, 18, 75, 76, 76a, 102, 104, 33a, 33b, 45a, 59, 63, 111, 114, 161, 184, 185, 220, 236, 238, 239 and 270 once these 23 routes move to a contract under public service obligation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15167/14]

Departmental Strategies

Anne Ferris

134. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the national landscape plan; the way the plan will deal with offshore views and prospects; the way the plan will manage conflicts that can currently exist in the level of protection afforded to similar landscape types in different county development plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9775/14]

Electricity Transmission Network

Anne Ferris

139. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has received the terms of reference from the chair of the pylon review group; if he will provide details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9774/14]

Charities Regulation

Anne Ferris

185. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on concerns that an interim charity regulator lacks sufficient authority to bring about change in the sector; if he plans on tasking the new charity regulator with a broad remit to instil a rights based culture and set standards for management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9907/14]

Criminal Prosecutions

Anne Ferris

186. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the head of Child and Family Agency’s suggestion that criminal records be wiped at 18 except for the most serious offences; if officials in his Department have considered proposals along these lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9908/14]

Adoption Legislation

Anne Ferris

211. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the adoption (information and tracing) Bill; the way it is envisaged that the legislation will protect the family rights and other rights, under the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitution, of the thousands of adoptees, natural mothers and their broader birth families who are currently being denied the opportunity to act as natural family units due to difficulties in accessing birth and adoption records; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9776/14]

Tourism Project Funding

Anne Ferris

282. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 920 of 15 January 2014, when it is expected that the call for expressions of interest to develop a diaspora centre will be issued; the form the call will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9922/14]

Public Service Obligation Services

Anne Ferris

289. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that the Dublin Bus routes that will be publicly tendered under the PSO contract will be obliged to offer full ticketing integration with both Dublin Bus and the Leap card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7221/14]

Public Service Obligation Services

Anne Ferris

290. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that the Dublin Bus routes that will be publicly tendered under the PSO contract will be obliged to offer full wheelchair accessibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7222/14]

Public Service Obligation Services

Anne Ferris

291. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that the Dublin Bus routes that will be publicly tendered under the PSO contract will be obliged to accept bus passes as per the present arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7223/14]

Weight of Schoolbags

Anne Ferris

63. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the concerns of parents that children's schoolbags are too heavy because of the weight of books; the action his Department will take in consultation with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7151/14]

Child Abuse Reports

Anne Ferris

185. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her response to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child report on the Vatican's child protection procedures; her views on the level of co-operation between church authorities here and the relevant civil agencies under the new child protection reforms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7152/14]

VAT Rate Reductions

Anne Ferris

47. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Finance the impact the retention of the 9% VAT rate has on the tourism sector in Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6034/14]

Office of Public Works Properties

Anne Ferris

75. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of the various Office of Public Works tourism and heritage sites in Wicklow along with their corresponding footfall figures for the four quarters in 2011, 2012 and 2013; the funding that each site receives including funding allocated for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6033/14]

Magdalen Laundries

Anne Ferris

128. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for the Magdalen redress scheme that have been processed; the payments made and the contribution to date of the four religious orders implicated in that scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6032/14]

Homelessness Strategy

Anne Ferris

134. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date by the Irish Prison Service in targeting the problem of homelessness among women; if he will provide a list of the agencies with which the Irish Prison Service has co-operated to this end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6031/14]

Magdalen Laundries

Anne Ferris

15. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for the Magdalen redress scheme that have been processed; the payments made and the contribution to date of the four implicated religious orders to that scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5250/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Anne Ferris

738. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including Crohn's disease in the long-term illness scheme in view of the financial hardship it is causing persons who do not qualify for medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55225/13]

Organ Donation

Anne Ferris

23. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health the number of submissions received on an opt-out system of consent for organ donation; if he will provide an overview of such submissions; the time-line for proposals on an opt-out system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53980/13]

Flood Prevention Measures

Anne Ferris

113. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the target dates for inviting tenders, appointing a new contractor and recommencing the Bray flood defence works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54635/13]

Flood Prevention Measures

Anne Ferris

114. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the interim measures planned to provide the maximum possible flood defences in Bray this winter; if this is to include the clearing of the great quantity of gravel and other debris that has accumulated in the part of the river known as the Slang and the removal of the obstacle caused by the temporary bridge structure at Rehill's Land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54636/13]

Planning Issues

Anne Ferris

158. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the input his Department has had to date into the preparation of the national landscape plan by the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht; if, in view of the strong link between landscape protection and wind farm-grid development, he will consider the possibility of his Department taking over responsibility for landscape planning as an intrinsic element of town planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54634/13]

Adoption Legislation

Anne Ferris

211. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has considered the possibility of holding a referendum to make a constitutional amendment to allow the citizens of Ireland to decide whether adopted persons will be allowed full access to information on files about their adoption held by the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54637/13]

Adoption Records Provision

Anne Ferris

212. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of adoptees and the number of natural parents currently registered on the national adoption contact preference register; the number of matches made and communicated in the past 12 months; the average duration each person has been on the register and the average time spent on the register prior to a match being made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54638/13]

Medical Card Applications

Anne Ferris

157. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if he will expedite a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51159/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Anne Ferris

239. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow is granted the full rate of the Student Universal Support Ireland grant payment in view of their great need and the fact that all documentation requested has been forwarded to SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50597/13]

Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure

Anne Ferris

77. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date on which the contractor on the Bray flood relief scheme (details supplied) referred the dispute, which has resulted in substantial delays in the project, to formal third party conciliation; the dates on which the parties to the dispute formally agreed to extend the ambit of the conciliation process; and if the said conciliation process is expected to conclude prior to the end of 2013, bearing in mind the increased flood risk during this winter season and the fact that a portion of the work which remains outstanding is not subject to seasonal constraints. [48604/13]

National Landscape Strategy

Anne Ferris

104. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he intends to commence the making of a national landscape plan which would identify, in the interest of environmental protection, constraints to be considered in the context of major development proposals, such as those relating to grid pylons and wind farms, in a uniform manner in view of the inconsistencies that can occur between individual county development plans in terms of landscape designation and protection. [48605/13]

Living City Initiative

Anne Ferris

201. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the living cities initiative to the historically important pre-1915 houses of the Victorian seaside resort of Bray, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46473/13]

School Transport Provision

Anne Ferris

254. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there was a change in the timetable of the bus collecting children from a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow without consultation with parents; that the changes have resulted in the students aged between 14 and 17 waiting unsupervised for up to an hour for the bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45745/13]

Office of Public Works Properties

Anne Ferris

371. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans that have been put in place for the conservation and future replacement of historic trees in the grounds of Leinster House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46475/13]

Flood Prevention Measures

Anne Ferris

372. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reasons behind the substantial two year mid-contract delay to the construction of the Bray flood protection works, a delay which is increasing the flood risk in Bray, County Wickow. [46476/13]

Medical Card Eligibility

Anne Ferris

1156. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health if his Department will prepare a handbook outlining, in a transparent manner, the eligibility requirements for a medical card and appeal arrangements for those transferred to a general practitioner card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46478/13]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Anne Ferris

1157. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent by his Department on the purchase of prescription drugs distributed under medical cards and distributed under general practitioner cards; the corresponding amount contributed by recipients in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46479/13]

Magdalen Laundries Issues

Anne Ferris

896. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the inclusion of the Sisters of Mercy laundry, also called House of Mercy, on Baggot Street to the redress scheme for the Magdalens in view of the fact that the House of Mercy in Wexford was recently added; if he will detail and explain the reason one House of Mercy was added while the other on Baggot Street was not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34747/13]

Hospital Appointment Delays

Anne Ferris

547. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for non-emergency routine MRI scans; if he will provide a breakdown by hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33412/13]