Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Community Care Provision

Róisín Shortall

134. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the rationale regarding his decision to introduce changes to the criteria and operation of the seniors alert scheme; the consultation, if any, that was conducted with groups administering the scheme before the decision was made to unilaterally impose these changes; the rationale behind the decision to introduce a blanket restriction on households with two persons in view of the fact that a significant number of persons referred to this service by a Health Service Executive primary care team or a social worker, are couples where one is a carer or both have a pre-existing health condition or are at risk of a fall; if any discretion will be allowed in such circumstances in view of the fact the cost of the scheme is so small and the equipment can make a significant impact on persons' lives. [2110/13]

Foster Care Provision

Róisín Shortall

192. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 118 of 6 December 2012, the rates for foster payments that will apply in 2013. [2185/13]

HSE Funding

Róisín Shortall

216. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an analysis of the opening deficit referred to in table 1 page 3 of the Health Service Executive National Service Plan 2013 by method of funding, that is overdraft, medium term bank debt, trade creditor and outstanding taxes; in relation to outstanding balance due to the Revenue Commissioners, if he will provide a time-based breakdown of the amounts outstanding to the Revenue Commissioners (details supplied). [2186/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

314. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for a reader on behalf of a student (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who is due to sit the leaving certificate in June 2013. [1434/13]

School Transport Provision

Róisín Shortall

326. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional funding or a subsidy is available within the school transport scheme for a family (details supplied) who do not have the financial means to pay school transport costs; and if he will advise on the assistance available in this regard. [1620/13]

Tax Code

Róisín Shortall

407. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection further to newspaper reports (details supplied) the exemptions he intends to apply to the decision to impose PRSI on unearned income; and the estimated cost of these exemptions. [1872/13]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Róisín Shortall

482. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 and if she can expedite a decision on same. [1225/13]

Family Income Supplement Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

544. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which superannuation is defined when determining the net wage of a person applying for family income supplement and the way in which additional voluntary contributions to pension funds are treated as part of the assessment process, that is, are AVCs reckonable as a deductible expense in determining the net wage of the applicant; if the entitlement to various tax reliefs, is routinely crosschecked as part of the family income supplement application process as a means of limiting the total expenditure on this scheme; if not, the reason for same; and if the new local property tax will be a deductible expense for the purposes of determining the net wage of a family income supplement applicant. [1870/13]

Immigration Status

Róisín Shortall

780. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will examine a case (details supplied) in which a recent request was made for a replacement Garda National Immigration Bureau card following a robbery; if his Department will examine the possibility of a refund in this case in view of the fact that the stolen GNIB card was recovered days after a replacement card was purchased at much expense. [1254/13]

Medical Card Applications

Róisín Shortall

1105. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timescale envisaged for the publication of legislation to provide for the changes to eligibility criteria for medical card applicants who are over-seventy; the way it is proposed to discontinue medical card entitlement in respect of people who currently hold a medical card but who will exceed the guidelines when the legislation is commenced, and in particular those whose medical card was granted up to a specific period and is not due for renewal for a number of years [1814/13]

HSE Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

1106. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the projected accumulated savings for each month of 2013 for each of the savings measures identified under the total 2013 saving of €323 million for the primary care reimbursement service in the 2012 Health Service Executive service plan [1815/13]

Medical Card Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

1113. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the new local property tax will be a deductible expense for the purposes of determining the net wage of a medical card applicant. [1871/13]

Mortgage Interest Relief Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

99. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the amount of tax forgone through the application of mortgage interest relief to landlords; if he will provide a breakdown of this amount between commercial and residential landlords and the number of people claiming relief in both cases; the number and value of cases where relief is being claimed for a property outside the Republic of Ireland; the number and value of new claims in the past three years for which figures are available with a breakdown by residential and commercial landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57696/12]

Child Care Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

273. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide clarity on the situation regarding the level of funding from the Health Service Executive that is provided in respect of a group (details supplied); if this funding is being withdrawn is it a national or local decision; if her attention has been drawn to only local support to non-regulated childminders is provided through the Health Service Executive funded Childminders' Advisory Worker Post; if she will clarify the bodies that will support this sector if HSE funding is discontinued. [57505/12]

Youth Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

274. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 961 of 6 November 2012, if she will detail the funding allocation for 2013 in respect of this front line youth service; the steps she is taking to safeguard the valuable work of this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57681/12]

Child and Family Support Agency Remit

Róisín Shortall

275. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of psychologists regarding her proposals to move all child psychology services to the child and family support agency; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that most referrals to child psychology services come through primary care staff; if an impact analysis has been carried out to assess the consequences for children who require multi-disciplinary support such as is currently provided through the multi-disciplinary primary care team model [57698/12]

Primary Care Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

331. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans for the continuation of child psychology as a critical element of primary care services; if he will provide an assurance that the model of full multi-disciplinary teams including psychology will continue to be the model employed for primary care. [57697/12]

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Application Numbers

Róisín Shortall

125. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people awarded supplementary welfare allowance in the last period for which figures are available on the basis of a delay in the processing of a social welfare claim; the value of such payments; her estimate of the saving on supplementary welfare allowance if all social welfare schemes and the appeals office had an average processing time of three weeks or less; and the way she intends to achieve this saving. [57182/12]

Alcohol Pricing

Róisín Shortall

174. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for a delay in commissioning the health impact assessment for minimum pricing; the current status of the tender process; and the proposed timescale for the completion of this assessment. [57154/12]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Payments

Róisín Shortall

316. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the rate of domiciliary care allowance that will apply in 2013. [56282/12]

Social Insurance Payments

Róisín Shortall

326. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is the case that Class B, C and D PRSI contributions have retained their PRSI allowance despite budgetary changes to other classes; if so the basis for this; and the revenue that would accrue if the allowance were abolished for all employees. [56377/12]

Child Care Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

573. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the community childcare subvention programme in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if she will consider an application to facilitate the early payment of the subvention from 1st February 2013, which would enable the opening of a much needed new baby and toddler unit. [56901/12]

Mobility Allowance Applications

Róisín Shortall

598. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the monthly rates for mobility allowance that will apply in 2013 [56281/12]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

599. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will outline in detail the way it is intended to make a saving of €32 million in 2013 from other changes to primary care schemes as detailed in item C of his Department's section of the summary of measures in the Budget Expenditure Report 2013 with a breakdown of the intended saving for each measure under this heading [56283/12]

Social Insurance Yield

Róisín Shortall

104. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated yield for every 0.1 of a percent added to the rate of employee PRSI; and the rate increase required to provide for a yield of €265 million in 2013 and €289 million in a full year. [56167/12]

Student Grant Scheme Payments

Róisín Shortall

183. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 may expect a decision on an application for a student grant. [55369/12]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

265. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific criteria with regard to the progression rule in respect of assessing an application for back to education allowance; her views on the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; if there should be some leniency in respect of this application in view of the fact that this person does not hold a certificate or qualification in a previous field of study and who is currently unable to find employment in that field. [55583/12]

Legal Aid Application Numbers

Róisín Shortall

330. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if legal aid will be provided to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 and if he will expedite that matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55350/12]

Foster Care Provision

Róisín Shortall

118. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the rates that will apply for foster payments in 2013 [55013/12]

Medical Card Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

163. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the income guidelines that will apply to medical card applicants in 2013 [55012/12]

Medical Card Reviews

Róisín Shortall

107. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding providing legislation to allow for comprehensive data sharing among State agencies to underpin the medical card self-assessment system in respect of the renewal of medical cards; the timescale he is working to for the passing and commencement of this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54633/12]

Health Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

112. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 received a bill for legal fees; and if he will clarify the legitimacy of this charge. [54674/12]

General Medical Services Scheme Administration

Róisín Shortall

124. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason sodium chloride for infusion is not reimbursable under the GMS scheme in respect of patients in nursing homes who are not eating a normal diet. [54727/12]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

135. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of bed days lost through delayed discharges in each hospital to date in 2012 [54814/12]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Róisín Shortall

551. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 560 of 16 October 2012, if she will outline the anticipated timeframe for the adoption process to reopen; and the criteria applied to applications. [54132/12]

Health Insurance Prices

Róisín Shortall

617. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the treatment of the Government health insurance levy when persons in financial difficulties either cancel or downgrade their policies; if there is a mechanism available to reclaim this levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54004/12]

Pyrite Panel Report Recommendations

Róisín Shortall

186. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action he will take to assist businesses where it has been discovered that there is pyrite in their business premises; and in view of the threat which this causes to the viability of the business and the potential for significant job losses in some cases if he will outline the support that he will provide for business people in these circumstances. [53656/12]

Speech and Language Therapy

Róisín Shortall

261. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the numbers on waiting lists in respect of assessment and treatment for speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy with a breakdown by therapy and by duration on the waiting list and by area and by age category [53635/12]

Company Closures

Róisín Shortall

259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance in relation to the future of a company (details supplied) in Dublin 12, if all credit balances will be reimbursed to customers of this company. [52955/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Róisín Shortall

318. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a higher education grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11, in view of the fact that this person was wrongly advised on a number of occasions to apply through the Student Universal Support Ireland system; the reason SUSI will not now communicate with the CDVEC to assist with the processing of this application at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52938/12]

Education Welfare Service Provision

Róisín Shortall

604. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will report on the status of the document one child, one team, one plan; if he will arrange to make this document available on his Department's website and if he will outline his plans for each of the services covered by this document. [52597/12]

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Róisín Shortall

642. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will receive orthodontic treatment from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52381/12]

Misuse of Drugs

Róisín Shortall

700. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 217 of 15 November 2012, if all public consultation has now been completed; if he has communicated the intended alterations to regulations under the Misuse of Drugs Act that are EU-relevant to the EU and if so, the date of same. [52928/12]

Prescriptions Data

Róisín Shortall

701. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the outcome of the Primary Care Reimbursement Service project to monitor the prescribing patterns of benzodiazepines; and if the prescribing patterns of psychiatric services and other institutions can now be included in this project. [52929/12]

Tax Rebates

Róisín Shortall

62. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding correspondence sent by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 to the Revenue Commissioners regarding an application for a refund of DIRT. [51757/12]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Róisín Shortall

132. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for carer's allowance will be assessed in respect of a person (details supplied) and if she will expedite a decision on same. [51761/12]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Róisín Shortall

133. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will be assessed; and if she will expedite a decision on same [51779/12]

Local Drugs Task Forces Review Report

Róisín Shortall

565. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when the report on the review of Drugs Task Forces will be published and implemented. [51685/12]

Mental Health Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

577. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the situation of a family who are concerned that their child (details supplied) has refused to receive any further medical treatment and is rapidly declining in health [50956/12]

Narcolepsy Issues

Róisín Shortall

600. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the supports available to children who have contracted narcolepsy as a result of the Pandemrix vaccine for swine flu; the measures that will be undertaken in this regard; when the Memorandum for Government setting out the full response to this issue will be brought before Dáil Eireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51196/12]

Health Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

602. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that funding is maintained to a service (details supplied) and that no further cuts are made to this vital service which offers care and necessary supports for persons with special needs. [51206/12]

Medical Card Drugs

Róisín Shortall

603. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason medical card holders can no longer receive the prescription Osteole 1500mg on their medical card; the reasons this item was removed from the list; and if an alternative is available to patients in need of this medication. [51207/12]

Taxi Hardship Panel

Róisín Shortall

662. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider measures to assist taxi drivers in view of the impact that the increase in fuel prices is having on their livelihoods; if he will alleviate concerns regarding recent reports that a reduction in fares is to be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51197/12]

Tax Yield

Róisín Shortall

71. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 270 of 6 November 2012, if he will provide details of his estimate of the extra tax revenue that would be raised by placing a 5% levy on all income in excess of €100,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50578/12]

Departmental Strategies

Róisín Shortall

216. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in developing a sexual health strategy; the target date for the finalisation and publication of this strategy; and if it will be completed by the end of this year as promised. [50580/12]

Drugs Crime

Róisín Shortall

217. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date on changes to regulations under the Misuse of Drugs Act to address the street-trading of Benzodiazepines and other related issues. [50581/12]

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Róisín Shortall

225. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the refusal to supply essential mobility aids in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [50633/12]

Psychological Assessments Waiting Times

Róisín Shortall

114. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a child (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will receive a psychological assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50205/12]

Social Insurance

Róisín Shortall

178. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which benefit in kind to an employee in the form of pension contributions by their employer is subject to employers and employee PRSI; and her estimate of the financial impact on the social insurance fund in the event of 10% of employee pension contributions switching to employer contributions. [50531/12]

Tourism Promotion

Róisín Shortall

690. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the role of the alcohol industry in any aspect of the Gathering Ireland 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50064/12]

Tax Yield

Róisín Shortall

270. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of extra tax revenue that would be raised by placing a 5% levy on all income for people who earn in excess of €100,000 per annum, estimated by reference to 2012 incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48645/12]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

333. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline his Department's response in relation to a proposal put forward by a school (details supplied) in relation to the provision of a unit for post primary aged students who are disabled or visually impaired; and if he will outline the engagement that has taken place to date with the Multiple Disabilities and Visual Impairment Steering Committee in respect of this project. [47987/12]

Work Permit Applications

Róisín Shortall

418. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding a work permit in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47381/12]

Child Maintenance Payments

Róisín Shortall

555. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will agree to attachment of earnings applications so that lone parents can ensure receipt of child maintenance payments from the other parents where this other parent's main source of income comes from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47995/12]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Róisín Shortall

593. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [48643/12]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Róisín Shortall

596. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she could expedite a decision on same. [48680/12]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Róisín Shortall

597. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will expedite on same. [48683/12]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Róisín Shortall

599. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for carer's allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will expedite the matter. [48695/12]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Róisín Shortall

600. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [48697/12]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Róisín Shortall

601. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [48698/12]

Household Charge Cost

Róisín Shortall

674. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if pensioners who have availed of equity release schemes are liable for the household charge on the basis that the houses are effectively owned by the financial bodies concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47659/12]

Waste Disposal

Róisín Shortall

705. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding bin waivers for low income households; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that private waste collection companies are now executing orders to customers for payments which require high up-front payments; if he will outline the assistance available to low income households who are unable to pay such high costs for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47991/12]

Illegal Dumping

Róisín Shortall

706. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied with the service being provided by private contractors providing domestic refuse collection, specifically a company (details supplied); if he has received many complaints regarding poor customer service and repeated missed waste collections; where the standards are clearly not being adhered to, if he will consider some sort of local appeal system and a request for this service to establish a dedicated Oireachtas help line in view of the volume of complaints local representatives have received since the privatisation of this service. [47992/12]

Youth Services

Róisín Shortall

961. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for withdrawing funding from a project (details supplied) in Dublin 11; her plans, if any, to ensure that the work of this valuable service is continued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47988/12]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Róisín Shortall

1075. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his policy regarding the nursing homes support scheme (NHSS) in respect of a persons when an ancillary State support loan is not possible as the homeowner has availed of an equity release scheme; the assistance is available in such instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48041/12]

Speech and Language Therapy

Róisín Shortall

1175. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding speech and language therapy in respect of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48641/12]

Speech and Language Therapy

Róisín Shortall

1176. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding speech and language therapy in respect of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48642/12]

Taxi Regulations

Róisín Shortall

1217. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the on-going concerns expressed by taxi drivers and owners in relation to such issues as the introduction of the nine year rule and the difficulty therein without the establishment of a workable taxi scrappage scheme; the reason the vetting system has not been overhauled despite concerns regarding public safety issues in the industry; the reason an independent appeals process has not been granted despite previous promises to give the taxi industry access to the Ombudsman's office; the reason the Taxi Advisory Council was re-appointed to the exclusion of elected representative from the taxi industry and the failure therefore to establish a meaningful forum for dialogue within the industry; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are concerns that the introduction of a SPSV penalty point system will unduly affect full time taxi drivers; and if his attention has been drawn to the anomalies such as an influx of part-time taxi drivers and students on Stamp 2 Visas into the industry. [48089/12]

Taxi Regulations

Róisín Shortall

1218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a single licence holder is prohibited from transferring their taxi licence whilst a multiple licence holder can transfer their plates into company names allowing them to pass on their plates as an asset of a company. [48090/12]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Róisín Shortall

1239. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the objective criteria that will be used to assess sports capital grant applications to ensure that allocations are fairly distributed across the country, according to sporting need. [48699/12]

Pension Provisions

Róisín Shortall

57. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the legislative provisions which restrict a holder of pension bond to access the funds prior to their fiftieth birthday; if he proposes to include financial hardship as one such ground for accessing funds at an early stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47004/12]

Public Sector Pensions Issues

Róisín Shortall

85. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties in accessing a transition pension for members of the Civil Service who are due to retire aged 65 in January 2014, but who are unable to avail of a transition pension as it is also due to be abolished in January 2014; the alternative options available to civil servants affected by this anomaly, and if she will ensure that any such options are promoted in an open and transparent fashion for the benefit of those affected. [46568/12]

Security of the Elderly

Róisín Shortall

424. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding being provided this year for the senior alerts scheme 2012; the amount of funding provided for the same or similar scheme in the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; his plans to provide further funding in 2012 for the senior alert scheme in view of the importance of this scheme to the security and well being of older persons; and the demand for the scheme. [45875/12]

Medical Treatment Complaints

Róisín Shortall

688. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the action taken in response to complaints from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 in respect of the medical treatment they have received to date and the assistance which will be provided in order to resolve their health problems [46398/12]

Pension Provisions

Róisín Shortall

102. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance in respect of Appendix D of the Green Paper on Pensions, if he will provide the same information in respect of Personal Retirement Savings Accounts and Retirement Annuity Contracts for the latest year for which figures are available. [45546/12]

Mortgage Interest Rates Issues

Róisín Shortall

169. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recent decision by Allied Irish Bank to increase the interest rates on their variable rate mortgages; if he has had any contact with the bank since the decision was made; and his views on whether this decision will further add to the problem of mortgage arrears. [44171/12]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Róisín Shortall

347. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 and to indicate when a decision will issue. [44712/12]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Róisín Shortall

560. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if details of the agreement on intercountry adoption between Ireland and Vietnam are available in the public domain; her plans to publish same; if she will outline the eligibility criteria set out under the terms of the agreement, specifically with regard to timeframe and age limit requirements. [44172/12]

Health Services Access

Róisín Shortall

611. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties accessing hydrotherapy at a location (details supplied); if he will outline the alternative facilities that will accommodate patients in need of this facility; and if he will ensure that a person will be facilitated without delay [44188/12]

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Róisín Shortall

652. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay regarding an appliance request in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 [44499/12]

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Róisín Shortall

678. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the waiting times for orthodontic treatment for young persons in the Orthodontic Service, Mill House, Ashtown Gate, Navan Road, Dublin; his plans to deal with the situation in conjunction with the Health Service Executive and local staff; and with regard to a child (details supplied) in Dublin 9 that he will outline when this child may expect to receive treatment [44711/12]

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Numbers

Róisín Shortall

282. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will qualify for a VTOS course. [43479/12]