Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Proposed Legislation

Nicky McFadden

520. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if homeless young persons and women who are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse will be offered stronger protection through prostitution legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3003/13]

Common Agricultural Policy Review

Nicky McFadden

531. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on progress being made in relation to agreement on the Multi-Annual Financial Framework to allow for a deal to be made on the Common Agricultural Policy; if a deal on CAP could be finalised before the end of Ireland's EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2285/13]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Nicky McFadden

343. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student grant application in respect of person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; when a decision may be expected on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1812/13]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Nicky McFadden

344. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; when a decision on the application will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1813/13]

Naturalisation Applications

Nicky McFadden

810. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider a waiver in relation to the requirement for period of residence outside the State under the Irish Nationality and Citizen Act 2004, in view of the person's (details supplied) employment with the United Nations; if their employment as an Irish citizen will be considered as public Service on an exceptional basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1818/13]

Family Support Services

Nicky McFadden

904. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the level of services and focus of the work of family resource centres will continue regardless of the make-up of the new Child and Family Support Agency; if the Family Resource Centre National Forum will have representation at board level within the new agency; if the ethos and culture of the FRC programme will be maintained; if funding for the FRC programme will be ring-fenced; if the position held by FRCs in the delivery of community based universal services and early intervention services/programmes will be maintained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57770/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Nicky McFadden

230. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student application grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56626/12]

Household Charge Exemptions

Nicky McFadden

445. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if an estate (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be reclassified as a category three or four unfinished estate; if officials from his Department have examined the possibility of reclassifying the estate; if he will outline the criteria for determining each category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56728/12]

Vaccination Programme

Nicky McFadden

233. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the introduction of the MenB vaccine into the immunisation schedule when licensed early in the new year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55789/12]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Nicky McFadden

238. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if anti-epilepsy drugs will be exempt from generic substitution in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55841/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Nicky McFadden

155. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the allocation for the student assistance fund in 2012-2013 will be adequate to support the needs of students; if there are figures available to show the number of students that will require the support of the student assistance fund in the current academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55067/12]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments

Nicky McFadden

275. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the turf compensation will be delivered to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55309/12]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Nicky McFadden

133. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Finance if a mandatory minimum fine will be introduced under the Finance Act on conviction of cigarette smuggling and illegal cigarette selling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53773/12]

International Agreements

Nicky McFadden

438. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will sign and ratify the Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, the Istanbul Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53776/12]

Taxi Regulations

Nicky McFadden

687. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in relation to the taxi review and new regulation, he will defer the introduction of branding to allow the taxi representative group to make referrals to the advisory committee on small public service vehicles as per Action 34 of the review report and as recommended by the taxi review board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54307/12]

Broadband Services Provision

Nicky McFadden

146. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will summarise the results achieved for those of the 2011 applicants noted in Parliamentary Question No. 991 of 18 September 2012 by county and by delivery platform dsl, fwa, mobile, satellite and so on, the number, if any, of applicants now remaining in the rural broadband scheme; the position regarding these applicants; the measures that will be taken on behalf of these applicants and when these measures will take place. [53574/12]

Teacher Training Provision

Nicky McFadden

274. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider the retention of home economics teacher education at a campus (details supplied) in County Sligo; if he will provide the campus and NUI Galway an opportunity to demonstrate their capacity to fulfil the vision of the initial teacher education report in the most cost efficient manner possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52196/12]

Child Benefit Rates

Nicky McFadden

357. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if child benefit payments in relation to multiples will be maintained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52255/12]

National Dementia Strategy Publication

Nicky McFadden

615. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if a national dementia strategy will be published in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52172/12]

Health and Social Care Professionals Registration Fee

Nicky McFadden

623. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if the new annual fee for Health and Social Care Professionals to commence from 31 May 2013 can be reduced; if he will acknowledge that the set annual registration fee of €295 is significantly higher than the fees required of similarly paid and qualified professionals, that the registration fee would be a significant burden on social care staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52208/12]

VAT Exemptions

Nicky McFadden

57. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider making defibrillators zero-rated or VAT-exempt items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51720/12]

Literacy Levels

Nicky McFadden

78. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the policies, programmes and practices in place to address the findings of the last international survey on adult literacy that showed one in four Irish adults have significant literacy difficulties; if he has considered the recent reports undertaken by Economic and Social Research Ireland and National Adult Literacy Agency on literacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51718/12]

Employment Rights Issues

Nicky McFadden

109. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the rights of domestic workers will be protected by the ratification of the Domestic Workers’ ILO Convention, if Irish laws will be brought in line with international standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51688/12]

School Transport Eligibility

Nicky McFadden

235. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if waivers are available within the school transport scheme for families (details supplied) in County Westmeath who do not have the financial means to pay school transport costs; if he acknowledges that some students attend for viable reasons a particular school that is not the closest one to their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50941/12]

Child Benefit Rates

Nicky McFadden

350. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that the child benefit payments for multiples will not be cut; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50955/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

Nicky McFadden

572. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the reason a promised podiatry post at Mullingar Hospital, County Westmeath, sanctioned in April 2012, will now not be filled; if he will acknowledge the importance of having the post as part of the national foot care programme to tackle the increase in diabetes related foot ulcers and amputations; the date on which the post will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50920/12]

Defence Forces Personnel

Nicky McFadden

511. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Defence if members of the Defence Forces will be included in any redundancy package announcements for public service workers in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49618/12]

Road Projects Contracts

Nicky McFadden

676. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be approved for a bridge (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49423/12]

Mobility Allowance Appeals

Nicky McFadden

187. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue on the mobility allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48763/12]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Nicky McFadden

518. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the sector of professionals who will be permitted to advise mortgage holders as part of the new advisory service; if financial brokers will be permitted to advise clients in this area of mortgage arrears; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47731/12]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Nicky McFadden

537. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on the domiciliary care allowance appeal will be determined in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47823/12]

Homelessness Strategy

Nicky McFadden

689. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline his existing commitment to tackling homelessness; if he will provide an update on the progress of the implementation of the housing strategy; if current funding levels for homelessness will be maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47750/12]

Household Charge Cost

Nicky McFadden

696. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person (details supplied) in County Weatmeath will be granted a discretionary waiver from paying the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47859/12]

Home Help Service Expenditure

Nicky McFadden

232. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the position regarding funding of home care and home help packages; if he acknowledges the contribution these packages make in assisting vulnerable older people to live independently in their own homes; if he will ensure that direct patient care will not be compromised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46557/12]

Tax Code

Nicky McFadden

196. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Finance if the tyre traders industry will be added to the list of cash businesses to be targeted by the Revenue Commissioners due to a risk of non-compliance with regulations for VAT, tax and waste disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44386/12]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Nicky McFadden

303. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the average waiting times for carer's allowance applications to be processed; the measures that can be taken by her Department to reduce current waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44262/12]

Defence Forces Reserve Strength

Nicky McFadden

490. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the current situation regarding recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44378/12]

Carer's Allowance Payments

Nicky McFadden

623. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if figures are available in relation to the amount of money saved by the Health Service Executive annually as a result of the almost 52,000 people in caring roles and in receipt of carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44264/12]

Respite Care Services

Nicky McFadden

233. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health when a decision on the application for the respite care grant scheme through National Lottery grant scheme funding can be expected in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43545/12]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Nicky McFadden

357. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if the habitual residence form of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in respect of a carer's allowance application has been approved; when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43194/12]

Building Regulations Application

Nicky McFadden

419. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the matter of architectural technologists in relation to the Building Control Act; if architectural technologists (details supplied) will be permitted to certify building works without registering as architects or building surveyors; if he will meet with members of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42861/12]

Refugee Status Applications

Nicky McFadden

443. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there are alternative options available in terms of identification to those whose applications for asylum are refused and their photo IDs are removed from their possession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42692/12]

Citizenship Applications

Nicky McFadden

444. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will clarify the rights afforded to a baby born here to parents who are waiting on decisions on their applications for asylum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42695/12]

Asylum Seeker Accommodation

Nicky McFadden

448. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if companies who operate asylum accommodation here are subject to central guidelines or rules in terms of day-to-day running of those centres; if individual companies operate their own management rules; if conditions vary in accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42731/12]

Deportation Orders Data

Nicky McFadden

449. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current procedure used to notify asylum seekers of deportation orders; the amount of notice that is given to the person concerned; if information is provided to them in relation to an appeals process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42733/12]

Asylum Support Services

Nicky McFadden

458. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has considered the Irish Refugee Council's report, Roadmap for Asylum Reform; if any of the recommendations in the report are being progressed in policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42867/12]

Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations

Nicky McFadden

491. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on Common Agricultural Policy Budget 2014-2020 negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42628/12]

Tax Code

Nicky McFadden

508. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if taxation incentives relating to supporting farm transfer, land mobility and farm investment will be retained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42904/12]

Misuse of Drugs

Nicky McFadden

571. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the findings of the latest National Advisory Council on Drugs report; if new policies to tackle alcohol abuse are being developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42627/12]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Nicky McFadden

709. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport when a decision will issue on the application for sports capital funding in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43285/12]