Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Banking Sector Issues

Seamus Healy

141. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance in view of the fact that any option to sell the preference shares to third party investors is a decision for the State alone, if he has decided to sell any of the preference shares held by the State in Bank of Ireland to third party investors; if he has, the portion of the preference shares that will be sold to third party investors; in view of the fact that the value of the preference shares to the State will automatically rise by 25% next March, the way such a sale serves the interests of the Irish people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52883/13]

Inland Fisheries Issues

Seamus Healy

303. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the proposal to introduce a compulsory angler registration charge; if he has considered the damage this would do to angling tourism and the development of angling generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53098/13]

Services for People with Disabilities

Seamus Healy

545. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant schemes; if the interdepartmental group has reported; if not, when the report is due; the timeline for the introduction of the proposed statutory schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53100/13]

Banks Recapitalisation

Seamus Healy

52. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance if the preference shares held in Bank of Ireland by the State are callable at the discretion of BOI; if there are any restrictions on this discretion; if the State is compelled to sell the preference shares to Bank Of Ireland should the bank seek to buy them at any time; if the preference shares are convertible to ordinary shares; if so, whether the State has the option of such conversion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51237/13]

Job Initiatives

Seamus Healy

123. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons participating in the job activation measures (details supplied) on 30 June 2011. [49777/13]

Defence Forces Family Clinics

Seamus Healy

153. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Defence if he will reverse his decision to close the medical clinic at the Curragh, County Kildare in view of the fact that members of the Defence Forces habitually risk life and injury on behalf of the State at home and abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48697/13]

Defence Forces Family Clinics

Seamus Healy

197. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if he will call on the Department of Defence to reverse the decision to close the medical clinic at the Curragh, County Kildare in view of the fact that members of the Defence Forces habitually risk life and injury on behalf of the State at home and abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48698/13]

Medical Card Data

Seamus Healy

12. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the actions he will take to end the practice by general practitioners of charging medical card holders for blood tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48061/13]

Organ Donation

Seamus Healy

16. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the €3 million needed to develop donor coordinators in hospitals here will be included in the 2014 health budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48062/13]

Medical Card Eligibility

Seamus Healy

18. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision to exclude the first €50 per week of travel to work costs, the cost of home improvement loans and child care costs from allowance expenses for assessment for medical cards-general practitioner visit cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48063/13]

Health Services Reform

Seamus Healy

25. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the timescale for the appointment of chairpersons and board members to the new hospital groupings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48060/13]

Health Services Expenditure

Seamus Healy

35. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health in view of the recent statements by four large Dublin hospitals regarding the adequacy of budgets and the safety of service and statements by senior health officials that the 2014 health budget represents a €1 billion cut, his views on the adequacy and safety of the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48059/13]

Employment Support Services

Seamus Healy

568. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons participating in internship schemes and self-employment support schemes on 30 June 2012; and the number of persons participating in the same schemes on 30 June 30 2013. [46874/13]

Insurance Coverage

Seamus Healy

10. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the position whereby insurance companies are refusing to give insurance cover to customers who live in or near flood plains, or in places the Office of Public Works have put flood relief schemes in place at significant cost, for example Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43803/13]

Industrial Relations Issues

Seamus Healy

35. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he will implement the commitment in the programme for Government to legislate for collective bargaining through a trade union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43832/13]

Homeless Accommodation Funding

Seamus Healy

92. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reverse the reduction in section 10 homeless funding, notified to Waterford City Council in respect of the south east region for the provision of homeless services including the reduction at such a late stage in the financial year, to the budget of Suan Saoir, Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43831/13]

Garda Recruitment

Seamus Healy

101. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will put a procedure in place whereby reserve members of An Garda Síochána who are fully attested and have their two year probationary period completed, may proceed to become permanent members of An Garda Síochána by way of internal recruitment in view of their training, loyalty, service, dedication and commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43802/13]

Spent Convictions Legislation

Seamus Healy

109. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the Spent Convictions Bill; when the remaining stages of the Bill will be taken; when it is likely to complete its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43883/13]

Job Initiatives

Seamus Healy

144. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons participating in the job activation measures (details supplied) on 30 June 2012; the number of persons participating in the same job activation measures on 30 June 2013. [41707/13]

Wind Energy Generation

Seamus Healy

719. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will commit to an immediate full and independent cost/benefit analysis to the State of its current wind energy strategy taking into account energy supply to both the Irish grid and for export, in view of the scale of current and planned wind farm developments; if he will ensure that such a study will examine all aspects of wind farm development, including actual carbon saved, the carbon footprint of production/construction, fossil fuel saved, allowing for spinning reserve, increased grid capital costs, the number of energy jobs created, the number of energy jobs displaced, the effect on energy prices and the resulting impact on national competitiveness, net jobs displaced solely because of reduced competitiveness, environmental damage, tourism impact and social impact; if he will ensure that the study will be carried out by competent consultants who are completely independent of his Department, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the wind companies and any other vested interest to ensure objectivity and credibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34968/13]

Services for People with Disabilities

Seamus Healy

1105. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the Health Service Executive to carry out a disability impact assessment of public toilets leased by local authorities and if he will provide the cost of leasing contracts for superloo toilets to each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34969/13]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Seamus Healy

328. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he intends to make funding available for the provision of a new school and refurbishment of the existing building (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27969/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Seamus Healy

5. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the report by the Nevin Economic Research Institute which claims that a cut of €1 billion in the public sector payroll will result in a saving of only €250 million euro to the Exchequer and will also result in the loss of 10,000 jobs including 5,000 in the private sector. [25013/13]

Job Creation

Seamus Healy

3. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits his Department and the employment agencies have arranged to a vacant plant (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the possibilities of finding an industry for the plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24519/13]

Mobility Schemes Status

Seamus Healy

252. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the mobility allowance and motorised transport schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24566/13]

School Curriculum

Seamus Healy

264. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse his decision to refuse to sanction the post leaving certificate programme for 2013/2014 at a college (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22637/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Seamus Healy

265. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that all children with Down's syndrome attending mainstream primary schools have access to specifically allocated resource teaching hours with effect from the start of the coming school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22638/13]

Industrial Development

Seamus Healy

312. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits his Department and the employment agencies have arranged to the vacant state of the art former Cordis Plant at Cahel, County Tipperary; the possibilities of finding an industry for the plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22639/13]

Employment Rights Issues

Seamus Healy

322. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the successful European Court case taken by former Waterford Crystal workers in respect of their pension rights, if she will ensure pension payments to these workers at the same level as their British counterparts 90%; if she will ensure that future pension payments are protected for workers in similar circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22636/13]

Sugar Industry

Seamus Healy

3. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made regarding the re-establishment of the sugar industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21777/13]

Fodder Crisis

Seamus Healy

171. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the continuing bad weather, stretching back to Summer 2012, the resultant fodder shortage at present and the probable knock on fodder shortage this coming winter and spring 2014, if he will apply to the EU for emergency funding to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21778/13]

Garda Recruitment

Seamus Healy

3. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he intends to recommence recruitment to An Garda Siochána; when he intends to re-open the Garda College in Templemore, County Tipperary for Garda training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20977/13]

Social Welfare Code

Seamus Healy

385. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will amend the regulation that prevents recipients of BASI from community welfare officers, from availing of two weeks holidays with payment that is available to recipients of other social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18855/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Status

Seamus Healy

439. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a water supply scheme (details supplied) in County Tipperary, including the planning approval, commencement and completion of a treatment plant and renewal of pipework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18690/13]

Medical Card Eligibility

Seamus Healy

614. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the medical card changes made by the Health Service Executive, removing home improvement loans payments and excluding the first €50 per week from travel to work expenses from the standard medical card means test assessment; if he has approved these changes; if he will reverse these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18691/13]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Seamus Healy

68. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance if he will amend the Finance Act to ensure that section 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act(1997)(1) under the health expenses reads (f) physiotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18055/13]

Appointments to State Boards

Seamus Healy

548. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of chief executive officers in State and semi-State agencies serving on a first fixed term contract at present; the number of such contracts that will terminate in the next year; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if such a CEO is reappointed on the basis of a second contract, the person will be entitled to a contract of indefinite duration and if he will therefore insist, that on termination of first contracts, such positions be filled by open competition including interview by an independent board appointed by him which will assess the merits and qualifications of the candidates. [16211/13]

Housing Grants

Seamus Healy

180. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reverse the cut of approximately €2.1 million in grants for persons with disabilities and for housing aid for older perosns, notified to South Tipperary County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14565/13]

Maternity Services

Seamus Healy

658. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if he will implement without delay the provision of an anomaly scan at 20 weeks' duration of pregnancy for all pregnant women as part of the routine ante-natal screening process in accordance with best international practice; if he will make this provision available in public maternity hospitals throughout the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13063/13]

Household Benefits Scheme

Seamus Healy

82. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that the number of heating units and the heating period be restored to their levels before she took office in view of the inclement weather and the impact of fuel poverty on the old and the poor and the fact that the top 1% of income recipients have a gross income of €8.742 billion per year and an average income of €404,000 each and an after-tax income of €249,000 each per year and that the saving on debt servicing due to the deal on the promissory note is €1 billion per year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11710/13]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Seamus Healy

149. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding homes purchased under the local authority shared ownership schemes; if these homes are subject to the local property tax; if so, the person responsible for the payment of this tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11272/13]

State Savings Schemes

Seamus Healy

150. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance if returns arising from the investments in the ten year national solidarity bond issued under the national instalment savings scheme will be subject to deductions for PRSI and/or universal social charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11275/13]

Income Data

Seamus Healy

3. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance noting that in the course of a reply to Deputy Boyd Barrett on 3 October 2012, he provided data for year 2012 on the incomes of the top 10,000, top 1%, top 5%, top 10% of taxable units and their tax payments and effective tax rates (details supplied) and that the data were based on projections by the Revenue Commissioners of expected earnings and expected revenue in that year, in view of the distribution of incomes in 2009 and subsequent developments, if he will provide equivalent data for the year 2012. as revised. in view of actual revenue outcomes for year 2012; if he will further provide the equivalent data for the year 2011 based on actual revenue outcomes for that year and the number of public servants in each earning category for the years 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10749/13]

Tax Code

Seamus Healy

231. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the details of the legislation underpinning the importation of motor homes here; the details of changes made in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10320/13]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility

Seamus Healy

470. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm the details of the recently announced local authority tenant purchase scheme; the date of publication; the date of commencement of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10315/13]

Child and Family Agency Remit

Seamus Healy

613. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will review her decision to move psychology services out of the Health Service Executive and into the new Child and Family Support Agency and consider an alternative proposal where psychology services remain in primary care with contractual arrangements with the Child and Family Support Agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10313/13]

HIQA Investigations

Seamus Healy

739. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health when he intends to introduce legislation to enable the Health Information and Quality Authority to inspect and investigate any problems, should they exist, in sheltered homes for the elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10318/13]

Industrial Development

Seamus Healy

3. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits by industrialists to south Tipperary in 2012 facilitated by his Department and the various job development agencies; the number of visits specifically targeted at vacant advance factories and vacant private facilities in 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9406/13]

Departmental Staff Rehiring

Seamus Healy

103. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance in view of the recent resignation of a senior official (details supplied) who was head of shareholder management unit in his Department to take up a senior position at Bank of Ireland and his possession of vital up-to-date information which might be of advantage to the now privately owned Bank of Ireland and its North American investor, the fact that the current Government had agreed to the sale of over 35% of BOI to North American investors for €1.1 billion though the State had invested circa €5 billion in BOI and now holds a mere 15% share of ownership, less than half that owned by the North American investor, the possession by the senior official of knowledge of the affairs of competitors of BOI, including the State-owned Allied Irish Bank and Permanent TSB which may be of advantage to BOI, the prohibition on senior civil servants taking up employment in private sector for 12 months after resignation from the public service to avoid such conflicts of interest, the fact that the senior official in question was employed by the National Treasury Management Agency and seconded to his Department, if he will state if the senior official concerned and-or the section of his Department of which he was head was involved in any way in the process that led to the sale of 35% of BOI to the North American investor in Summer 2011 whether by advice or otherwise; if he will extend the 12-month stay on senior public servants taking up employment in private sector employments to those on secondment in order to preclude conflicts of interest; and if he will further extend the same 12 month stay to senior employees of the National Treasury Management Agency. [9532/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Seamus Healy

273. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the position of Credit Union Investments in the Irish Bank Resolutions Corporation and if these investments will be repaid in full, particularly since these investment bonds offered 100% capital security through an eight year three months fixed term deposit facility due to mature in September 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8630/13]