Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Pensions Ombudsman Remit

Ciara Conway

396. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Pension Ombudsman is obliged to deal with scheme queries within any regulated timeframe, for instance six or 12 months; the remedies that are available to those dissatisfied with the length of time taken to reach a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9232/14]

Pension Provisions

Ciara Conway

397. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Social Protection the length of time after a pension scheme closes that members can challenge the decisions of the trustees, or submit queries to the Ombudsman; if there is a statute of limitations on such queries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9233/14]

Planning Issues

Ciara Conway

449. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will use his powers under section 9 of the 2000 planning Act to require the Waterford and Kilkenny local authorities to deliver an agreed metropolitan area joint plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8888/14]

Medical Card Eligibility

Ciara Conway

230. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if the local property tax can be considered as a legitimate outgoing expense for the purposes of calculating means in respect of eligibility for the medical card, if he will amend the regulations to officially deem this an allowable expense; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8641/14]

Traffic Calming Measures

Ciara Conway

102. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce congestion charges in the city centres of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7725/14]

Parent and Student Charter

Ciara Conway

275. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the proposed creation of a parent and student charter; when the discussion paper that is being prepared on the matter will be published; when he expects the charter to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7958/14]

Public Park Access

Ciara Conway

325. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to reopen Mount Congreve Gardens, County Waterford, to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8127/14]

Job Creation Targets

Ciara Conway

344. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on his Department's progress in relation to job creation in County Waterford; if he will provide an update on plans by the Industrial Development Agency to build an advanced manufacturing facility in Waterford City; if he will list in tabular form and by year for each of the last five years, the number of IDA visits to Waterford city and to Waterford county; the number of IDA jobs created for each of those years; the number of IDA jobs lost for each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8123/14]

Job Creation Targets

Ciara Conway

345. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on his Department's progress in relation to job creation in County Waterford; the number of Industrial Development Agency visits to Waterford city and to Waterford county; the number of IDA jobs created for each of those years; the number of IDA jobs lost for each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8124/14]

Job Creation Data

Ciara Conway

346. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details on companies in County Waterford, including company names, number of jobs created and type of support received that have received support from his Department for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8125/14]

National Emergency Plan Implementation

Ciara Conway

451. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if consideration is being given to investing in an advance warning system for Ireland in view of the recognised threat posed by earthquakes and plate tectonic movements which could result in a large scale and potentially devastating tsunami on a small island nation; the work that has been done on this to date; when we can expect such a system to be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7471/14]

Building Regulations Amendments

Ciara Conway

529. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider amending SI. No. 80 of 2013 - Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 - to include architectural technologists in the schedule of those eligible to certify under this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8281/14]

Building Regulations Amendments

Ciara Conway

530. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will examine a submission (details supplied); if he will detail the consultations he has had with this body; if he will respond to the substance of these complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8282/14]

Private Bus Operators

Ciara Conway

832. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide full details of the reason bus routes (details supplied) in County Waterford went for private tender; if he will provide the full criteria and rationale for this decision particularly in the context of developments elsewhere; if he will provide details of selected routes and assurances on protections afforded to those currently employed; his views on the impact on fares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8153/14]

Maternity Services

Ciara Conway

247. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health to set out his plans to increase investment in maternity services, including the lifting of the moratorium on employment of perinatal psychiatrists beyond Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7271/14]

Public Health Policy

Ciara Conway

248. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health to outline the actions he will take to improve awareness and knowledge of sexual health and healthy sexual relationships, particularly among young persons, in view of the debate on the age of sexual consent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7272/14]

Departmental Funding

Ciara Conway

166. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will earmark or set aside some funding to compensate those who fish for a living due to the fact they have been unable to take out their boats for at least five weeks in some instances and in many cases their boats have been in harbour since before Christmas due to dangerous and stormy weather conditions; the supports available to these citizens in view of the fact that they have had no income and no recourse to earning income during this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6977/14]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Ciara Conway

279. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact Ballytruckle post office in Waterford city was closed recently due to flooding; the options open to citizens requiring any payments they may be due to collect from the social welfare office while this disruption continues; if she will confirm when the post office will reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6215/14]

Garda Youth Diversion Projects

Ciara Conway

32. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of children engaged in the Garda diversion programme; the number with juvenile liasion officers; his plans to review and develop the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53276/13]

Direct Provision System

Ciara Conway

497. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form a county breakdown of the number of persons in each of the direct provision centres around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4893/14]

Direct Provision System

Ciara Conway

498. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form a county breakdown of the number of children in each of the direct provision centres around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4894/14]

Direct Provision System

Ciara Conway

499. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will publish a table specifying a breakdown by county and direct provision centre, the time, in three monthly periods, spent by persons in these centres; the actions he is taking to ensure that persons spend as little time as possible in these facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4895/14]

Direct Provision System

Ciara Conway

591. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the role the Child and Family Agency has in ensuring the well-being of children living in direct provision centres; the work her Department has engaged in to date in relation to ensuring child welfare concerns for children in direct provision centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4896/14]

Haddington Road Agreement Implementation

Ciara Conway

609. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if any representative lobby groups from the Health Service Executive have sought exemptions from the Haddington Road agreement; if any such exemptions have been granted within the HSE and are they being paid over the threshold of current pay levels; if he will provide further details in relation to this; if he will confirm whether these extra payments were approved and by whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4914/14]

Health Services Staff Data

Ciara Conway

622. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the number of vacant consultant posts throughout the country; the specific positions involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4910/14]

Haddington Road Agreement Implementation

Ciara Conway

623. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if the Haddington Road agreement is being implemented for all pay grades in the Health Service Executive; if there are any positions outside of this; if he will provide details of these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4911/14]

Haddington Road Agreement Implementation

Ciara Conway

624. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if any representative lobby groups have sought exemptions from the Haddington Road agreement; if any such exemptions have been granted and are they being paid over the threshold of current pay levels; if he will provide further details in relation to this and if he will confirm whether these extra payments were approved and by whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4912/14]

Departmental Funding

Ciara Conway

205. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full list of section 39 agencies that receive funding from his Department; if he will further provide, in tabular form, the amount that has been received by each of these organisations for each of the past ten years; the purpose for which same was given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4698/14]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ciara Conway

766. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the length of the waiting list for a service (details supplied) in Dungarvan Community Hospital, County Waterford; if he will provide a specific breakdown outlining patients waiting in excess of one month, three months, six months, nine months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4148/14]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ciara Conway

767. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in a service (details supplied) in Dungarvan Community Hospital, County Waterford; if this is due to staff shortages; the measures that are being taken to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4149/14]

Employment Rights

Ciara Conway

102. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on zero hour contracts; if he will commit to ending same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3086/14]

Community Radio Stations Funding

Ciara Conway

446. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a a recent Crowe-Horwath consultancy document for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, which commented on the social benefits of community media; his views on whether the community radio sector should be funded by means other than commercial income; if he will look at ways to assist the development of community media across the state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55511/13]

Community Radio Stations Funding

Ciara Conway

464. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on funding the community media sector particularly community radio; his views on whether not-for-profit radio should be funded by means other than commercial income; if he will look at ways to assist the development of community media across the State in view of the social benefits to local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1336/14]

Court Accommodation Refurbishment

Ciara Conway

599. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a commitment that while renovations are carried out in Waterford Courthouse, the District Court, Circuit Criminal Court, Family and Civil Court and High Court will each continue to sit in Waterford and will not be transferred out of the city to Kilkenny; if he will confirm that, on completion of works in Waterford Courthouse, all the aforementioned court sittings will be reinstated and held at Waterford Courthouse as was the norm before renovation works. [1733/14]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Ciara Conway

865. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update with a timeline on plans to ring-fence beds at Cork University Hospital for children with cystic fibrosis, for the provision of specialist day clinics and in patient beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1329/14]

Child Abuse Reports

Ciara Conway

76. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress to date in implementing the lessons learned from the various child abuse inquiries; the findings of the recent examination of such recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53275/13]

National Car Test

Ciara Conway

156. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a national car test incurs VAT at the standard rate of 23%; his views that given that the NCT is required by law it might be more appropriate for a reduced rate of VAT to be applied; if he will consider a reduction to this effect; if he will provide in tabular form the value to the Exchequer of the NCT; the amounts gathered in VAT annually for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54180/13]

Capitation Grants

Ciara Conway

256. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine lists (details supplied); if he will confirm, in the case of each student listed whether or not a capitation grant is paid in respect of that student; the educational institute/school to which that grant is paid; if he will list the amounts involved in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54428/13]

Heritage Sites

Ciara Conway

269. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the transfer of Mount Congreve, County Waterford into public ownership; if he will provide a timeline for this project; when the gardens will be open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54045/13]

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments

Ciara Conway

316. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will recognise and vindicate the exceptional welfare needs of women and children who experience domestic abuse, as the system currently creates several barriers to women moving on from domestic abuse situations (details supplied); if she is aware that delays in processing social welfare payments such as jobseeker’s payment and one-parent family payment, can result in families remaining in refuge, thereby blocking the service from other clients or the family returning to the abuser; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54074/13]

Housing Issues

Ciara Conway

379. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is not possible for a woman to obtain a housing needs assessment in circumstances where she is not in receipt of permanent social welfare payment, meaning the family is effectively prohibited from applying for housing or rent allowance and is left with limited options; if his Department has taken into consideration that it is virtually impossible for a woman who is owner or part owner of the family home and is out of home for reasons of domestic abuse to have her housing needs assessed; his plans to acknowledge and resolve the aforementioned issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54074/13]

Charities Regulation

Ciara Conway

459. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress that has been made on establishing a charities regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54431/13]

Early Years Strategy Publication

Ciara Conway

164. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the key recommendations in the Right from the Start early years strategy; the responsibilities of the new child and family agency vis-à-vis its implementation; if she will provide a roadmap for its implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53290/13]

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Ciara Conway

230. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will examine correspondence (details supplied); if he will answer the questions raised including a rationale for the decision not to base the salmon population figure on survey evidence rather than logbook returns; the reason the tributaries mentioned are open to fishing while the River Bride continues to be closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51782/13]

Tourism Project Funding

Ciara Conway

469. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the funding allocated for the purposes of promoting tourism and tourism-related projects in Waterford city and county, including funding to Fáilte Ireland, for each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51504/13]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Ciara Conway

644. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health in view of recent concerns regarding top-up payments, his views on whether it is appropriate that Health Service Executive employees working in, but not seconded to, section 39 agencies should be in receipt of additional private top-up payments from those agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50704/13]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Ciara Conway

645. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health his plans to conduct audits of section 39 agencies, including doctors' co-operatives such as Caredoc, Westdoc, Lukedoc, Eastdoc and so on, to assess whether Health Service Executive employees working in, but not seconded to, those agencies are receiving additional top-up payments from those agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50705/13]

Broadband Service Provision

Ciara Conway

136. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the options or remedies available to a small business owner (details supplied) in the Nire valley in County Waterford in view of the fact that this area has very poor broadband connection; the rural broadband provided by 3 is wholly inadequate and is resulting in ongoing problems making it very difficult to run a business; if there are plans to improve services in this area; the options open to businesses and persons in this area who are unsatisfied with the broadband infrastructure; if he will investigate same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49762/13]

Youth Services Funding

Ciara Conway

176. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the two Comhairle na nÓg's in County Waterford will remain equally funded after the amalgamation of Waterford City and County Councils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49657/13]

Hospital Services

Ciara Conway

185. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progress of a 24/7 cardiac unit in Waterford Regional Hospital; if the resources are in place; when this will be open and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49622/13]