Parliamentary questions

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

1382. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have single farm payment entitlements of in excess of €1,000 per hectare; the number of farmers with entitlements of between €500 per hectare and less than €1,000 per hectare; the number with entitlements of between €250 and less than €500 per hectare; the number with entitlements of between €100 per hectare and less than €250 per hectare; the number with entitlements of less than €100 pe hectare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37861/12]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Conditions

Éamon Ó Cuív

1383. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine when he intends re-opening the agri-environment options scheme; if this scheme, when re-opened, will be open to farmers on non Natura 2000 sites; if it is proposed to retain the stonewall maintenance option at €0.50 per meter up to a maximum of €2,000 as part of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37891/12]

Single Payment Scheme Appeals

Éamon Ó Cuív

1384. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he intends to change the cross-compliance rules for small farmers under 10 hectare so that they do not suffer total loss of their grants for very small hectarage of over claims and where a 3% over-claim is at most 0.3 of a hectare and often much less; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37892/12]

Bovine Disease Controls

Éamon Ó Cuív

1385. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will consider amending the rules in relation to neighbouring herds, where a doubtful animal is found on a farm during a TB test, farmers must re-test their animals if they have not been tested in the last four months, by relaxing this rule to six months particularly in view of the very difficult year in farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37896/12]

Oifigí Roinne

Éamon Ó Cuív

1387. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta; Bia agus Mara an bhfuil sé i gceist an oifig talmhaíochta atá ag a Roinn i gCathair na Gaillimhe a bhogadh go Baile Átha an Rí; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [37898/12]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Application Numbers

Éamon Ó Cuív

1393. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the number of letters issued to farmers, broken down on a county by county basis, in relation to stocking density under the new rules of the disadvantaged area scheme 2012; the number of replies received from each county seeking a derogation from the conditions of the scheme as provided in these letters; the amount of time it will take to reach a decision on the applications for a derogation; the total amount of savings it is projected will be made by these new rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37958/12]

Departmental Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

1427. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the budget allocation for the REP scheme and agri environment option schemes in the past three yerars; the amount paid out each year for both schemes, including the payments to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39175/12]

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

1428. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of both the entitlements and the number of hectares for farmers in receipt of the single payment, with the entitlements per hectare cross referenced to the number of hectares in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39176/12]

Noxious Weeds Act

Éamon Ó Cuív

1429. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the actions that have been taken in 2012 to ensure compliance with the noxious weeds legislation with reference in particular to the spread of ragwort; the number of prosecutions pending; the number of these that have been taken against public bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39177/12]

Family Support Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

1476. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for the 45% reduction in funding from the Family Support Agency to an agency (details supplied) in Galway; if the decision will be reviewed in view of the important work being done by this organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37954/12]

Pension Provisions

Éamon Ó Cuív

1681. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if the nominated health agencies' superannuation scheme pension payments deficit will be funded through the annual health Vote provided by the State to the Health Service Executive for the payment of health services pension benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37901/12]

Rail Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

1908. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he intends to re-open the Athenry to Tuam Railway line to passenger traffic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37803/12]

Rail Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

1909. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he intends to open the Athenry to Claremorris railway line to freight traffic in view of the recently announced plans for the Port of Foynes and the potential for freight carriage on this line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37804/12]

Sale of State Assets

Éamon Ó Cuív

6 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he completed an impact analysis of potential job losses in the ESB or Bord Gáis when they are part privatised; if he will publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35808/12]

Vocational Education Committees

Éamon Ó Cuív

150 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding made available by him to each of the 33 vocational education committees in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36197/12]

Rural Environment Protection Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

411 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the compensation available to farmers, who were required to destock an area (details supplied) in Connemara, for the years 2012 and 2013 who were in REP scheme and have now left it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36202/12]

Community Development

Éamon Ó Cuív

490 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the schemes, functions and responsibilities that fall under the community section of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36193/12]

RAPID Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

491 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the RAPID programme is still operational; the actions carried out under it in 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36194/12]

RAPID Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

492 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money expended under the RAPID programme in 2011 and the allocation for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36195/12]

RAPID Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

493 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the last meeting was held of the national rapid co-ordinating committee; if he attended; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36196/12]

Defence Forces Strength

Éamon Ó Cuív

634 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence if there are any plans to reduce the number of personnel based at Dún Ui Mhaoilíosa, An Rinn Mhór, Gaillimh; if it is intended to maintain the céad cathlán at full strength; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36200/12]

Suckler Welfare Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

651 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm whether the suckler cow welfare scheme will be operational again in 2013 and in future years in line with the value for money audit and the importance of the scheme in protecting the national suckler herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36198/12]

Rural Environment Protection Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

652 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the compensation available to farmers and who were required to destock an area (details supplied) in Connemara for the years 2012 and 2013 who were in the REP scheme and have now left it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36201/12]

Single Payment Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

655 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the terms of his application for an expedited upfront payment of the single farm payment in 2012; the percentage of the payment available for an expedited payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36424/12]

Proposed Legislation

Éamon Ó Cuív

719 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when he intends to introduce amending legislation to give persons with long-term illness cards, free general practitioner services and to implement other reforms in relation to the general medical card scheme particularly in relation to general practitioner services and access to free prescriptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36199/12]

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Éamon Ó Cuív

256 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider giving a full social welfare payment of €188 per week to homeless young persons who are in emergency accommodation and who are now in a position to leave the accommodation with the support of tenancy support services; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34412/12]

Agriculture Schemes Payments

Éamon Ó Cuív

650 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm the years since 1995 where agriculture payments were made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway on a parcel of land; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34531/12]

Tax Code

Éamon Ó Cuív

59 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if persons who get married are eligible to be treated as a married couple for income tax purposes in the year of marriage; if not, the reason that this is not permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34196/12]

Foirne Scoile

Éamon Ó Cuív

69

D’fhiafraigh Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil athmheas déanta ag an Aire Stáit (sonraí tugtha), mar a gheall sé sa Seanad ar an 28ú lá de Mheitheamh, ar an gcinneadh gan an dara hoide a fhágáil i Scoil Inis Meáin go mórmhór ó tharla go mbeidh ochtar scoláire sa scoil an bhliain seo chugainn, cad é toradh an athmheasa sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[34052/12]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge

Éamon Ó Cuív

177 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a couple who both owned houses in 2012 and had each lived in their own house for this full year and got married in March 2012 are liable for the non principal private residence charge on one of these houses in 2012; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34197/12]

Departmental Staff

Éamon Ó Cuív

227 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of clerical officer grade staff in her Department seeking a transfer to County Galway; the arrangements in place to facilitate transfers on a cross departmental basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33123/12]

Departmental Staff

Éamon Ó Cuív

406 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the grade and number of all staff seeking a transfer to the Department of Social Protection in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33124/12]

Pension Provisions

Éamon Ó Cuív

458 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number and names of section 38 intellectual disability bodies covered by the State guaranteed pension scheme, known as the nominated health agency superannuation scheme; the pension deficit for each organisation for 2012, 2011, 2012 and estimated for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32982/12]

Pension Provisions

Éamon Ó Cuív

459 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number and names of all section 38 bodies covered by the State guaranteed pension scheme, known as the nominated health agency superannuation scheme; the pension deficit for each organisation for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32983/12]

Financial Institutions Support Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

25 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the projected timetable of 2018 for senior bondholders in financial institutions to be eligible for burden sharing is too long; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32702/12]

Departmental Agencies

Éamon Ó Cuív

82 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the current orientation of Science Foundation of Ireland which is focusing more on research that will lead to a quick economic return as opposed to blue skies research that is more focused on pure research with longer term outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32899/12]

State Agencies

Éamon Ó Cuív

83 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any concern has been raised with him regarding the commercial interests or former interests of a person (details supplied); and if this creates a potential conflict of interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32900/12]

National Housing Survey

Éamon Ó Cuív

109 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when it is hoped that the national housing survey will be completed; if this involves visiting every housing estate in the State or at least every housing estate that has not been taken in charge by the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32894/12]

Household Charge

Éamon Ó Cuív

110 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he intends to make further regulations under the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations similar to those made in 2012; if the category of estate that will be exempt from the household charge will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32895/12]

Unfinished Housing Developments

Éamon Ó Cuív

111 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is intended to introduce legislation to force the developers or owners including receivers and liquidators to complete all unfinished houses in such estates or demolish them within a fixed time frame, in view of the anti-social behaviour these house attract; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32896/12]