Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Seamus Healy

39. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in view of the fact the current rent supplement scheme is not fit for purpose and is creating hardship and homelessness for housing applicants, her plans to introduce a revised scheme including increased rent caps and increased rent supplement payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4988/15]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Payments

Seamus Healy

49. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will restore the back to school allowance to 2009 levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4986/15]

IDA Site Visits

Seamus Healy

243. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency-sponsored visits to County Tipperary in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and the number of planned visits for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3866/15]

Legislative Measures

Seamus Healy

317. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the recent traumatic events in France and the recommendation of the Constitutional Convention, the plans the Government has to hold a referendum to exclude blasphemy from the Constitution Article 40.6.1°(i); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3864/15]

Nursing Home Inspections

Seamus Healy

407. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the way it is planned to meet the Health Information and Quality Authority requirements in respect of a nursing home (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if a fully costed and funded plan has been submitted to HIQA; if not when it will forward a plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3873/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Seamus Healy

577. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the plans he has for the provision of an effective broadband service for an area (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3872/15]

Pension Provisions

Seamus Healy

26. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation as pay and pensions in payment are now processed separately in the public service, if he will introduce legislation to give the Alliance of Retired Public Servants a statutory right to access to the Labour Court and Labour Relations Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48118/14]

Water Charges Administration

Seamus Healy

228. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is, at present, no requirement for charges to be imposed on domestic dwellings for the use of water from public mains for domestic purposes under the EU water framework directive and that Article 9.4 formally and legally absolves Ireland from the requirement to charge for domestic water; if he will ensure, on behalf of the Government, that this exemption is renewed before 1 January 2015 in order that the Government will retain the power to charge or not to charge for the use of water for domestic purposes into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49031/14]

Public Sector Pensions

Seamus Healy

87. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as pay and pensions in payment are now being processed separately in the public service, if he will introduce legislation to give the Alliance of Retired Public Servants a statutory right to an audience with the Government and pension authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48118/14]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Seamus Healy

252. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the new arrangements to replace the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service from 2015 onwards announced in his budget statement; in view of growing demand on public services in a range of areas, if he will provide an assurance that these new measures will halt the reduction in overall numbers employed in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48119/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Seamus Healy

401. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will approve the redevelopment of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary which is operating for the past 20 years in substandard conditions and is a major health and safety concern; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47074/14]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Seamus Healy

407. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for a new school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47181/14]

Departmental Investigations

Seamus Healy

228. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there was a Garda investigation into a matter (details supplied); if officials of his Department were interviewed in the course of any investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43985/14]

Garda Investigations

Seamus Healy

286. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will confirm if there was a Garda investigation into a matter (details supplied) and if officials of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine were interviewed in the course of any investigation. [43986/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Seamus Healy

569. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of 17 September 2014, in which he states that he expects some 6,000 social housing units to be delivered across the range of programmes in the calendar year 2014, if he will provide a breakdown of this delivery by number, in each category; if the 6,000 contains the number of additional payments of rent supplements and-or housing assistance to tenants in private accommodation expected in 2014; if so, the number of additional payments; if the number contains new leasings of privately owned accommodation units; if so, the number; if it contains the number of refurbishments of existing social housing units; if so, the number; if it contains new houses to be built in 2014 by local authorities and approved housing associations; if so, the number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36894/14]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Applications Data

Seamus Healy

3. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of mortgage to rent transactions completed in each calendar year since the inception of the scheme; his plans to increase these numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34561/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Seamus Healy

5. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the number of households on social housing waiting lists by county; his plans for the construction of social houses to provide for this waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34562/14]

Unfinished Housing Developments

Seamus Healy

6. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government whether he is satisfied with the taking in charge process; if he intends to change the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34317/14]

Mortgage Arrears Rate

Seamus Healy

14. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of local authority mortgage arrears, including the number in arrears of more than 90 days, more than 180 days and more than 365 days; if a process is in place for dealing with such arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34313/14]

Motor Tax Rates

Seamus Healy

21. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reduce the penal additional charges paid by motor tax customers who, due to financial constraints, may only tax their vehicles for three and six month periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34315/14]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Seamus Healy

25. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he proposes to introduce a new local authority house purchase scheme; if he will give an outline of the main features of the scheme; if he will include approved housing bodies (voluntary housing agencies) in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34314/14]

Water Meters Installation

Seamus Healy

33. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of water meters due to be installed on a county basis; the total number installed to date by county; the total number of houses that will not have a water meter installed at the end of the process; the way it is intended to deal with apartments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34316/14]

Electricity Transmission Network

Seamus Healy

3. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the work of the expert panel appointed to review the Grid Link routes, with specific reference to the undergrounding of cables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31679/14]

Broadband Service Provision

Seamus Healy

5. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the provision of high-speed broadband throughout the country; the progress being made in the provision of high-speed broadband services to rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31680/14]

Broadband Service Provision

Seamus Healy

12. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the roll out of high speed broadband to rural areas of County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31290/14]

Energy Schemes

Seamus Healy

27. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is replacing the existing grant scheme operated with community not-for-profit organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31289/14]

Departmental Funding

Seamus Healy

29. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will grant increased funding on a multi-year basis to TG4, in view of the fact that its funding is significantly below similar services in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31291/14]

Wind Energy Generation

Seamus Healy

34. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details of the contribution by wind energy towards the overall energy and electricity bills for the country on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31293/14]

General Medical Services Scheme Administration

Seamus Healy

754. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the procedure to be followed by medical card holders in order to claim and receive a monetary refund where these medical card holders have been charged for the taking of bloods by general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29646/14]

School Enrolments

Seamus Healy

194. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of small schools nationwide affected by the increased enrolment thresholds for two, three and four-teacher schools; the financial benefit resulting from these changes; the maximum pupil-teacher ratio for small schools; if he will offer to reverse the decision to raise these thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28534/14]

Inland Fisheries

Seamus Healy

271. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will reverse the decision to close the River Suir indefinitely to snap net fishermen from 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28531/14]

Election Management System

Seamus Healy

346. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will arrange for public access to all election counts in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28532/14]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Seamus Healy

590. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the extension of BreastCheck to the 65 to 69 year age group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28530/14]

Departmental Schemes

Seamus Healy

591. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28533/14]

Banks Recapitalisation

Seamus Healy

44. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 18 April 2012, details supplied, and in view of the statement made by him in the reply that €1.2 billion was put into Bank of Ireland by the National Pensions Reserve Fund on behalf of the State, following the Central Bank's 2011 prudential capital assessment review, the portion of ownership of Bank of Ireland that passed into the hands of the State as a result of NPRF putting the €1.2 billion into the bank; the type of shares in Bank of Ireland purchased by the NPRF in this transaction; when the transaction was completed; the portion of Bank of Ireland owned by the State on each of the following dates, 1 January 2011 and the day following the date of completion of the €1.2 billion transaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26474/14]

Civil Service Code of Conduct

Seamus Healy

81. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that the current Secretary General of his Department will not take up a position with a private sector entity until the standard Civil Service time interval has elapsed; if bodies such as the Central Bank of Ireland, National Treasury Management Agency and the National Asset Management Agency and similar agencies have adopted the Civil Service protocol as previously promised by him (details supplied). [22162/14]

Banking Sector

Seamus Healy

117. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance the monetary amount at current share values by which the equity in Bank of Ireland held by the State was reduced due to the share placing by Bank of Ireland used to raise the money required to purchase the preference shares of the State in recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22694/14]

Refugee Appeals Tribunal Decisions

Seamus Healy

190. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the recent remarks by Ms Justice Maureen Harding Clark in her recent written explanation of a High Court judicial review, which quashed a decision of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and which included the comment: "Sometimes the Court is called upon to review a decision which is so unfair and irrational and contains so many errors that judicial review seems an inadequate remedy to redress the wrong perpetrated on an applicant. This is such a case."; the support of Amnesty International for the applicant; the accountability there is for members of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal; the means, if any, that exist for the censure or removal of RAT members where blatant abuse of process take place; in view of the defiance by a second RAT member of the High Court judicial review in this case in a second hearing and the decision of the chair of the RAT to hold a third hearing, if she intends to make any inquiry into such an inexplicable and potentially costly waste of time and legal expense, not to mention the distress caused to the applicant in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21943/14]

IBRC Liquidation

Seamus Healy

68. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of a statement by the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland (details supplied), he will now instruct the liquidator to halt the relevant sale; if he will agree to the request of the organisation representing Irish Bank Resolution Corporation mortgage holders for a meeting with him because it received no redress in respect of its concerns at a recent meeting with the liquidator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21761/14]

State Banking Sector

Seamus Healy

221. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance the value of the preference shares, which were held in Bank of Ireland by the State, sold in recent times to Baggot Securities; the nature of the company Baggot Securities; if the company is connected in any way with Bank of Ireland; the monetary amount by which the equity in Bank of Ireland held by the State was reduced due to the rights issue by Bank of Ireland; if the money was raised through the rights issue used by Bank of Ireland to purchase preference shares held by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21517/14]

Irish Water Administration

Seamus Healy

491. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the rights of the householder in respect of supply of water from Uisce Éireann; if the householder has to consent to the termination of supply from the local authority; if the householder will have the right to agree or disagree a written contract with Irish Water; if so, the date on which the contractual document will be issued; Uisce Éireann has informed citizens that the water meter is the property of Uisce Éireann but the householder is responsible for the repair/replacement of the meter even when it is installed on the public road, if this is correct; if so, his views that this position is unfair; if there are health and safety reports on all meters being used by Uisce Éireann; if so, if he will supply the reports; if Uisce Éireann requires permission from the relevant local authority to begin installing meters on a specific street; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21515/14]

Water Charges Administration

Seamus Healy

492. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the announcement by him that a single healthy adult living alone will get a free annual allowance of 30,000 litres of water, if he will state the free water allowance a household, in which three healthy employed adults dwell, will receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21516/14]

Broadband Service Provision

Seamus Healy

124. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will include the village of Skeheenarinky, County Tipperary in the national broadband roll-out announced recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20668/14]

IBRC Mortgage Loan Book

Seamus Healy

147. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance the fraction of the book value that was paid recently by Lone Star and Oaktree Capital for the non-performing loans which had been originally drawn down from Irish Nationwide Building Society; the status of the assurance by Lone Star and Oaktree Capital that they will comply with Central Bank of Ireland guidelines in dealing with mortgage debt; the entity this assurance has been given; if it is a written assurance; if the assurance is legally binding on Lone Star and Oaktree Capital; if he will urgently bring forward legislation to protect these mortgage holders from arbitrary mortgage increases and repossessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16577/14]

Budget Measures

Seamus Healy

205. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance if he will reverse the budget 2014 measure regarding health insurance due to the fact that as a result health insurance premiums have been increased excessively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8154/14]

Health Insurance Community Rating

Seamus Healy

756. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if he will review the risk equalisation scheme currently in operation having regard to the fact a significant proportion of the elderly are now insured by companies other than the VHI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8162/14]

Departmental Funding

Seamus Healy

606. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the establishment of the Child and Family Agency, the position regarding funding for the Rape Crisis Network Ireland to allow the network to continue its vital work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5693/14]

Departmental Funding

Seamus Healy

607. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the establishment of the Child and Family Agency, the position regarding funding for domestic violence residential and support services nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5694/14]

Departmental Funding

Seamus Healy

608. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the establishment of the Child and Family Agency the position regarding funding for rape crisis centres nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5695/14]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Seamus Healy

777. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if there is provision in the Health Service Executive service plan for 2014 or in the budget of his Department for 2014 for the development of a 100-bed unit on the grounds of St. Mary's Hospital in Drogheda to cater for future demand for residential care for older citizens as recommended in the HSE Louth Services for Older People Report 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55491/13]