Parliamentary questions

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Michael Lowry

356. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will expedite the national broadband plan in view of the financial hardship being caused to families in rural areas as a result of the drastic hike in broadband prices and further to the abolition of funding under the national broadband scheme by the Government earlier this year (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38871/14]

Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme

Michael Lowry

370. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the plight of members of the Irish airlines superannuation scheme and if he will refuse to sign the ministerial orders which have been recently enacted in the State Airports (Shannon Airport) Act 2014, in view of the financial hardship being caused; his views that the decimation of pension entitlements for these persons is fair and reasonable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38973/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Administration

Michael Lowry

129. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for the processing of long-term illness card applications in each office; the number of persons working in each of these offices and processing long-term illness applications; if he will provide for individual staff to assist those processing these applications; his views that these backlogs are acceptable in view of the illness of the applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38426/14]

Constitutional Convention Recommendations

Michael Lowry

206. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the fourth and fifth reports of the Constitutional Convention will be brought before Dáil Éireann; if this will be done without delay, in view of the fact that the deadline to respond has passed and in view of the importance of the recommendations contained in these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38313/14]

Tax Relief Availability

Michael Lowry

168. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to ease the financial burden for graduate entry medicine students and graduates by introducing tax relief on repayments of approved loan products for these students and graduates; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these students and graduates simply cannot survive on the current non-consultant hospital doctor, NCHD, starting salary once their loans repayments have been made; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress being caused as a result; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this debt is driving young doctors out of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37971/14]

Disability Support Services Provision

Michael Lowry

258. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the costing and implementation of the five priorities identified by the Irish Deaf Society at its meeting with him, and as was promised by him by early 2014; if he will further provide an update on the steps that have been taken to date to review these proposals; if consideration has been given to these proposals; if so, the outcome of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37839/14]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Michael Lowry

128. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will review the rate of pay for graduate mental health nurses; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these graduate nurses are being offered employment at 85% pay while their counterparts in general nursing are being offered contracts on 100% pay; if he will examine this matter; his views that this distinction is fair and equitable in view of the fact that general nurses and mental health nurses hold the same qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37387/14]

Garda Deployment

Michael Lowry

289. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of retirements from An Garda Síochána in County Tipperary from the years 2011 to date in 2014; and the total number of gardaí stationed in County Tipperary during these years. [36818/14]

Medicinal Products Availability

Michael Lowry

346. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that Fampyra (details supplied) is made available to those with multiple sclerosis here; if he will review the decision made by the Health Service Executive not to fund Fampyra; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36580/14]

Teacher Training Provision

Michael Lowry

245. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the decision made by her predecessor in 2012 which removed the subsidy that was granted to student teachers to undertake a mandatory Gaeltacht placement; if her attention has been drawn to the huge additional costs being imposed on student teachers due to this decision; if she will confirm the annual cost of this subsidy to the State in 2012; her views on whether this decision was fair; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36354/14]

School Transport Eligibility

Michael Lowry

173. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review a school transport issue affecting persons (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if she will also review the decision made by Bus Éireann in view of the information provided; the steps she will take to facilitate the child in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36083/14]

Departmental Staff Retirements

Michael Lowry

138. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review her Department's policy of forcing retirement from community employment of supervisors and assistants once they reach the age of 66 years; her views on whether this treatment is fair, or legal; if she will take steps to cease this discriminatory practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35808/14]

VAT Rate Application

Michael Lowry

163. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the VAT rate in place for Irish dancing; his views that this rate is fair when compared to the 0% rate for ballet; if he will reduce the VAT rate for Irish dancing given its cultural importance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35334/14]

Single Payment Scheme Appeals

Michael Lowry

251. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position in relation to a single payment appeal case for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the excessive delay in processing this appeal case; if he is aware of the hardship being caused to the person; and if he will take steps to expedite this appeal. [35747/14]

Garda Retirements

Michael Lowry

289. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of retirements from An Garda Síochána for the years 2011 to date in 2014; the ranks of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35312/14]

Garda Recruitment

Michael Lowry

290. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will commit to the recruitment of the 200 additional Garda recruits; if she will provide a clear timeline for the recruitment of these gardaí; when these recruits will commence their training in Templemore, County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35313/14]

Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal Awards

Michael Lowry

322. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to an application made by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that this application has been waiting three years for assessment and it has been some 12 years since the incident occurred; the reasons behind this unreasonable delay; if her attention has also been drawn to the hardship this delay has caused to this person and their family; if she will expedite this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35749/14]

Farm Inspections

Michael Lowry

444. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 300 of 15 October 2013 if he will review the answer given in view of the fact that it has now been proven to be incorrect; the reason a fine was administered in this case in view of the fact that it was subsequently repaid; the way it was determined that there was an intentional over-declaration of 20% in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33253/14]

Land Parcel Identification System

Michael Lowry

462. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details on the number of overclaim cases currently with the land parcel identification section; the average processing time in resolving these cases; the number of County Tipperary farmers awaiting a decision in their cases; his views that these delays are acceptable; if he will take steps to tackle these backlogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34153/14]

Health Services Staff

Michael Lowry

963. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in County Tipperary; the number of vacant public health nursing positions in County Tipperary; if he will provide a breakdown of where these vacant positions occur; the length of time these positions have been vacant; the reason these positions have not been filled; if he will take steps to ensure these vital posts are filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33739/14]