Parliamentary questions

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Denis Naughten

118. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review his policy on the staffing ratios of small rural schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42643/12]

Student Grant Scheme Reform

Denis Naughten

121. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline his intentions on the review of means assessments for higher education grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42644/12]

Education Schemes

Denis Naughten

281. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department only sanctions two hours per week home tuition for a junior infant class pupil; the plans, if any, to review this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43464/12]

Civil Registration Legislation

Denis Naughten

327. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the date on which she plans to introduce legislation in line with the paragraph 4.12 of the Report on Family Relationships by the Law Reform Commission regarding statutory declarations by mothers regarding the father of their child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42749/12]

Social Insurance Payments

Denis Naughten

367. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to assist self employed person to avail of social assistance payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43332/12]

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Denis Naughten

368. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to address the delay in processing applications within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43333/12]

Housing Adaptation Grant Applications

Denis Naughten

413. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the funding crisis facing Roscommon County Council under the mobility aids grant scheme, the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability scheme and housing aid for older people scheme; if he will outline the number of persons awaiting approval under each scheme and the steps he is taking to address the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42748/12]

Stock Markets Regulation

Denis Naughten

37. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the steps being taken to regulate food securities trading on the stock market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42245/12]

Mortgage Arrears Report Implementation

Denis Naughten

68. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the progress he is making to assist families in mortgage difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42246/12]

Schools Designation

Denis Naughten

101. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 11 of 24 May 2012, the progress made to date in establishing a new designation for small isolated rural schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42503/12]

School Staffing

Denis Naughten

102. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm the retention of current staffing numbers at a school (details supplied) in County Roscommon; when it is expected to publish plans for rural schools; if he will maintain current staffing numbers pending such an announcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42504/12]

Ambulance Service Provision

Denis Naughten

252. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the position regarding plans to develop a 24/7 ambulance base in West Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42505/12]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Denis Naughten

253. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken since July to progress the development of two new primary care centres in Ballaghaderreen and Boyle, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42506/12]

Wood Imports Ban

Denis Naughten

180. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he intends to ban the import of ash trees to stop the spread of the fungus Chalara fraxinea which would have a devastating impact on native ash trees;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42198/12]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Denis Naughten

181. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the roll out of the Africa agri-food development fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42199/12]

Animal Diseases Issues

Denis Naughten

182. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the steps which are being taken at EU level to address the issue of a foot and mouth disease outbreak, involving a new viral strain in Syria, Gaza and Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42200/12]

Health Services Staff Issues

Denis Naughten

205. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant positions on the board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service; the steps he his taking to fill these positions; and the type of expertise he plans to bring to the board by such appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42197/12]

Job Protection

Denis Naughten

67. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation the progress made to date on protecting employment of staff working on the UK loan book at bank of America, Carrick on Shannon, County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41257/12]

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Denis Naughten

74. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation the steps he is taking to support enterprise development in the midland and western regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41256/12]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options

Denis Naughten

332. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of alternative bogs that have been sourced for the relocation of turf cutters; the locations and number of turf cutters that can be accommodated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41941/12]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Application Numbers

Denis Naughten

333. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applications for compensation or relocation of turf cutters yet to be processed; the number of applications decided upon which are awaiting the issue of a letter of refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41942/12]

Vehicle Registration Issues

Denis Naughten

75. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the way the market selling price of a motor home is calculated for the purpose of assessing the liability for vehicle registration tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41127/12]

Alcohol Sales Legislation

Denis Naughten

139. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will introduce a ban on the consumption of alcohol on all public transport vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41126/12]

Departmental Correspondence

Denis Naughten

124. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will furnish a reply to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40873/12]

Services for People with Disabilities

Denis Naughten

196. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if the Office of Disability Appeals Officer has been abolished; if he will outline the current independent process of reviewing decisions in the disability area; the plans, if any, to re-establish this independent process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40927/12]

Defence Forces Reorganisation

Denis Naughten

9. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence if he will postpone his plans for the restructuring of the Defence Forces until the White Paper on Defence is published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39493/12]

Defence Forces Reorganisation

Denis Naughten

20. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence the scale of re-deployment of Defence Force personnel which will be required to facilitate the restructuring of the Defence Forces organisation to a two brigade structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39492/12]

Garda Investigations

Denis Naughten

13. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 20 June 2012, the current status of the Garda review of the murder of Fr. Niall Molloy in Clara, County Offaly in July 1985; if he will accede to the request by the family for an independent inquiry into the priest's violent death; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39114/12]

Garda Investigations

Denis Naughten

44. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will have the case of the murder of Garda Richard Fallon on 3 April 1970 independently reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39115/12]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Denis Naughten

54. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the criteria covering the issuing of local authority mortgages and shared ownership schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38778/12]

Water and Sewerage Scheme Grants

Denis Naughten

86. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to enhance the group sewerage scheme grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38779/12]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Denis Naughten

829. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38767/12]

Family Income Supplement Application Numbers

Denis Naughten

881. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new applications made for family income supplement in the past available 12-month period; the corresponding figure for renewal decisions; the number of renewal applications refused, granted with reduced rate, granted with existing rate, granted with increased rate; the plans if any to allow persons to remain on their existing rate until a determination is made on their renewal application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39278/12]

Fisheries Protection

Denis Naughten

947. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his plans to reintroduce a rod licence for fishing on Lough Ree; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38708/12]

Health Services Staff

Denis Naughten

1498. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to ensure that all agency staff in hospital settings are receiving EU agency worker directive pay and that all back moneys due have been paid; if he will confirm that there will be no further withholding of pay due to staff, either Health Service Executive directly employed or agency recruited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38166/12]

Drugs Payment Scheme Administration

Denis Naughten

1801. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will review the decision to withdraw gluten free products from the drug payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38871/12]

Postal Services

Denis Naughten

17 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to meet with the Irish Postmasters' Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35514/12]

Postal Services

Denis Naughten

19 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to support the maintenance of the rural post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35515/12]

Turbary Rights

Denis Naughten

414 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applications on a county basis submitted under the 2011 and 2012 cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme to date in 2012; the number of applications for compensation and the number for relocation under each category; the number approved, rejected and on hand in each category; the total moneys paid to date; the estimated cost by year end; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36356/12]

Turbary Rights

Denis Naughten

415 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the cost to date of the administration of turf cutting compensation scheme to date in 2012 and the estimated cost by year end; the cost to date of the monitoring and enforcement measures by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and its agents; the cost of overtime and additional staffing from both an administrative and enforcement perspective, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36357/12]

Turbary Rights

Denis Naughten

416 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applications submitted to him seeking permission to cut turf; the numbers on hand, rejected or approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36358/12]

Turbary Rights

Denis Naughten

417 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of alternative bogs which have been sourced for turf cutters forced to relocate; the location of each bog; the number of turf cutters who can be accommodated; if works have to be performed on the bogs to facilitate turf cutting; when it is envisaged to carry these works out in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36359/12]

Irish Prison Service

Denis Naughten

572 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of spending on sports equipment in each prison in both 2010 and 2011; the corresponding figure for balls; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36177/12]

Crime Statistics

Denis Naughten

575 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons convicted of a scheduled offence under the Sex Offenders Act 2001 in the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36218/12]

Sex Offender Treatment Programme

Denis Naughten

576 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the plans, if any, he has to make 25% remission for convicted sex offenders dependent on participation in prison treatment programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36219/12]

Orthodontic Services

Denis Naughten

746 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of young persons who are on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment in Merlin Park Regional Hospital, Galway; the number who have been on the waiting list for three months, between three and six months, between six and 12 months, between 12 and 18 months, between 24 and 30 months, between 30 and 36 months, between 36 and 42 months and between 42 and 48 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36354/12]

Vaccination Programme

Denis Naughten

747 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the establishment of a compensation fund for the parents of vaccine damaged children; when a decision will be made on the implementation of the recommendations of this report; if in view of the State’s pressure on families to drop legal claims, he will expedite this issue which has been ongoing for the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36355/12]

Turbary Rights

Denis Naughten

24 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to address the ongoing issues regarding the implementation of the ban on turf cutting; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35036/12]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Denis Naughten

41 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific steps which the National Parks and Wildlife Service is taking to address the decimation of the corncrake population in the Shannon callows; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35037/12]

Garda Stations

Denis Naughten

252 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current status of refurbishment works at Ballygar Garda station, County Galway; when the building will be re-opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35540/12]

Sexual Offences

Denis Naughten

274 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons currently supervised in the community under a post release supervision order under Part 5 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001; the number of persons currently in breach of conditions under this part of the Act; if he will provide a regional breakdown of these figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35917/12]

Sexual Offences

Denis Naughten

275 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who must currently comply with Garda registration under Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001;the number of persons currently in breach of conditions under this part of the Act; the corresponding figures on a Garda divisional basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35918/12]

Child Care Services

Denis Naughten

308 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when each of the child care audits in Roscommon, Waterford and Dublin commenced, were completed and report finalised; the individual who completed each audit; the number of children involved in each audit; the number of cases and families deemed at risk in each audit; the number of cases and families where further information was required to make a determination in each audit; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35719/12]

Legislative Programme

Denis Naughten

29 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to amend the Civil Registration Act 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34332/12]

Carer’s Allowance

Denis Naughten

45 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to address the delays in processing carer’s allowance applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34333/12]

Sexual Offences

Denis Naughten

608 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 587 of 12 January 2011, the progress made to date on the provision of information to parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35342/12]

Sex Offenders Notification Requirements

Denis Naughten

609 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons registered with the Garda who must comply with Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001; the number actually complying with Part 2 of the Act of 2001; the steps being taken to trace those who are not in compliance with the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35343/12]

Services for People with Disabilities

Denis Naughten

762 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of school leavers or those completing training with an intellectual disability who have been contacted directly by the Health Service Executive informing them of their prospects of placement from next September; the number who have been offered a place; the number who have been offered a part placement; the number who have been placed on a waiting list; the overall cost of offering a full placement for each of the latter two categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34626/12]

Job Protection

Denis Naughten

25 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he is taking to secure the jobs at the MBNA site in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33771/12]

Job Initiatives

Denis Naughten

33 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he is taking to support enterprise development in the midland and western regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33770/12]

Garda Investigations

Denis Naughten

188 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No 8 of 20 June 2012, if the Garda Commissioner has received the final report from the gardaí carrying out the examination; if he has received an update from the Commissioner; if he has received a final report on the examination from the Commissioner, and if not, when he expects to receive this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34184/12]

Air Ambulance Service

Denis Naughten

201 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence further to the topical issue of 20 June 2012 if he has received a report regarding the cause of the accident the implications, if any, for the operation of the service; the reason the interim service is operating out of Baldonnell aerodrome and when it is planned to re-establish the service in Athlone, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34183/12]

Departmental Correspondence

Denis Naughten

218 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 2 May 2012 when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34188/12]

Ambulance Service

Denis Naughten

242 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 662 of 22 May 2012, the progress made to date on establishing a new ambulance service in west Roscommon; if he will confirm that the service will be operational before 1 August 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34185/12]

Patient Statistics

Denis Naughten

243 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No 155 of 19 June 2012 if he will confirm the date for the publication of the report on mortality rates at acute hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34186/12]

Health Reports

Denis Naughten

244 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current status of the report of the national emergency medicine programme; his plans, if any, to act on the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34187/12]

Child Care Reports

Denis Naughten

38 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the audit produced on foot of the recommendations in the report on the Roscommon child care case will be published; the current PCCC areas in which this audit has been completed and those in which it is currently ongoing; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33228/12]

Child Care Services

Denis Naughten

59 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the plans, if any, she has to expand either community child care subvention programme or other child care supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33229/12]

Carer’s Allowance

Denis Naughten

229 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer’s allowance application will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in same; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33149/12]

Local Authority Charges

Denis Naughten

337 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated cost of operating the non-online aspect of the household charge scheme on an annualised basis; the total projected cost of the administration of the scheme in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33650/12]

Local Authority Charges

Denis Naughten

338 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the initial annual administration cost of operating the non-principal private residence charge; the recurring annual cost of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33651/12]

Rural Transport

Denis Naughten

555 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to not only maintain but to develop rural passenger transport services and to comply with the commitment in the programme for Government to maintain and extend the rural transport programme with other local transport services as much as is practicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33652/12]

Flood Prevention Measures

Denis Naughten

22 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he is taking to address the summer flooding in the Shannon Callows; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32387/12]

Flood Prevention Measures

Denis Naughten

43 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps being taken to address flood risks within the Shannon basin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32388/12]

Water and Sewerage Schemes

Denis Naughten

168 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 400 of 21 of March 2012, if he will provide an update on Roscommon County Council’s design review report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32541/12]

Sports Capital Programme

Denis Naughten

138 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the number of applications under the sports capital programme 2012; the total value of grant aid sought; the corresponding figure for each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31607/12]

Tourism Promotion

Denis Naughten

118 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the current strategy for supporting tourism in the underdeveloped regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31606/12]