Parliamentary questions

Job Creation Data

Damien English

289. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of jobs created and lost in 2013 by companies supported by the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and other agencies under the aegis of his Department in County Meath; if he will provide the information in tabular form for each agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5480/14]

Mental Health Awareness

Damien English

778. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a national dementia strategy and in view of the fact that this strategy is at an advanced stage of preparation, if assurances will be given to the estimated 41,000 persons here with dementia and to their families that the plan will be published in the first quarter of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55492/13]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Damien English

337. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health if he will evaluate the prospects of the moratorium on recruitment being lifted for the Health Service Executive's optometry service for children in primary schools, so that clinical staff can be employed to treat children assessed at school and placed on a treatment waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54807/13]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Damien English

338. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health his plans to alleviate the waiting list for follow on treatment for children that have been screened at primary school and have been placed on the waiting list for optometry services by the Health Service Executive specifically in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54808/13]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Damien English

244. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for a higher education grant in respect of a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54245/13]

Medical Card Applications

Damien English

617. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health when a review will be completed in relation to a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54249/13]

Overseas Development Aid Expenditure

Damien English

36. Deputy Damien English asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total amount spent to date in 2013 by Irish Aid in order to reduce poverty and hunger, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where the needs are greatest and by supporting long-term development and providing humanitarian assistance in over 80 countries, on behalf of the Irish people; the total amount spent by Irish Aid through private sector companies; the total number of private sector companies in receipt of payments from Irish Aid; the total amount spent by Irish Aid through private sector companies based here; the total number of such companies; the total amount spent by Irish Aid through private sector companies not based here; the total number of such companies; and if he will provide the information in tabular form. [53644/13]

Departmental Offices

Damien English

116. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the refurbishment works at the community welfare office in Enfield, County Meath; the date on which works are scheduled for completion; the date on which she expects services for customers of her Department to be operational at this location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53640/13]

Orthodontic Service Waiting Lists

Damien English

232. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health if he will evaluate the prospects of the moratorium on recruitment being lifted for the Health Service Executive's orthodontic service in order that clinical staff can be employed to treat children assessed and placed on the category 4c treatment waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53641/13]

Health Services Staff Issues

Damien English

233. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health the options for the transfer of staff within the Health Service Executive, or for the HSE to utilise clinical staff resources within the service, in order to alleviate waiting lists for treatments; the services for which such transfers-utilisation of staff can occur; his plans for enhancing such transfers-utilisation of staff in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53642/13]

Orthodontic Service Waiting Lists

Damien English

234. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health his plans to alleviate the waiting list for treatment for children who have been assessed and have been placed on the category 4c waiting list of the orthodontic services of the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53643/13]

Sports Funding

Damien English

243. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline all available financial and non-financial supports available to minority sports clubs and to the national associations of minority sports here, such as American football; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53646/13]

Tax Clearance Certificates

Damien English

159. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance if an application for a tax clearance certificate by a community sporting organisation (details supplied) in County Limerick has been received; if a decision will be made shortly on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53013/13]

Registration of Births

Damien English

178. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection with regard to the registration of a birth here, if a mother or father who was not in a position to present as an informant at the time of the registration of the birth at the registrar's office can subsequently have the birth certificate of his or her child amended so that he or she can be recorded as an informant of the birth on the birth certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47957/13]

Registration of Births

Damien English

179. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection with regard to the written text of the birth certificate, if she has plans to amend the wording Faisnéiseoir A/Informant A and Faisnéiseoir B/Informant B contained within this document, to better reflect that the informants are the parents present at the registration of the birth at the registrar's office; if she has plans to remove the wording Sonraí Neamh-chláraithe/Details Not Registered in the case of there being only one informant present at the registration of the birth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47958/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Damien English

103. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Meath was refused a higher education grant on the grounds of their residency status even though they are in posession of a stamp 4 GNIB card; the reason this person was not granted a full review of their original application in view of information provided; the reason for refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47481/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Damien English

284. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on his plans for the provision of accommodation for Navan Educate Together national school, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45876/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Damien English

285. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on his plans for the provision of accommodation for St. Mary's Special School, Johnstown, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45877/13]

School Transport Availability

Damien English

306. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made in relation to a school bus route extension (details supplied); the reason for the delay in this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46346/13]

Traffic Fines

Damien English

788. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Justice and Equality with regard to the issuing of fixed charge notices pertaining to motoring offences, if he is satisfied that the use of standard post ensures effective delivery of such notices; if he or his Department have plans for the development of a cost effective system of recorded delivery for such notices; if there has been any communication between An Garda Síochána and An Post regarding the introduction of such a system of recorded delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46392/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Damien English

1014. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 104 of 15 October 2013, regarding his Department's participation in the high level implementation group to oversee the project plan for the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products and where his Department outlined to the group from an intellectual property perspective the potential issues arising in relation to domestic and international law, the issues that he referred to in his response; if they are significant in terms of framing the proposed legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46446/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Damien English

230. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 104 of 15 October 2013, regarding his Department's participation in the high-level implementation group to oversee the project plan for the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products and where his Department outlined to the group from an intellectual property perspective the potential issues arising in relation to domestic and international law, the issues that he referred to in his response; if they are significant in terms of framing the proposed legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45559/13]

Haddington Road Agreement Implementation

Damien English

47. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of the stance taken by the ASTI regarding the Haddington Road agreement, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that secondary school teachers who are not members of any trade union will be deemed or classified by his Department as members of the ASTI trade union; that such teachers without union membership have been advised by his Department that if they do not wish to be treated or classified as such that they should join the TUI rather than maintain their position as non-union members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43055/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Damien English

75. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of broadband services at a primary school (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43483/13]

Intellectual Property Protocol

Damien English

102. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to a study published on 1 October 2013 by the European Patents Office and the Office for the Harmonisation of the Internal Market that 35% of all European economic activity arises from intellectual property rights; if he will provide a comparable percentage figure for Ireland; the steps he is taking to ensure that the Government protects the intellectual property rights of companies trading in the Irish market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43056/13]

EU-US Trade

Damien English

103. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the current state of negotiations of a transatlantic trade and investment partnership between the EU and US; his views on whether the partnership should include clauses empowering EU and US based companies to take private legal cases directly against Governments at international tribunals where they find that national laws in areas such as public health, environmental and social protection infringe their right to business; the implications of such a clause for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43057/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Damien English

104. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department is participating in the high level implementation group to oversee the project plan for the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products; if his officials will highlight the extent of illicit trade in the tobacco sector and the negative impact it is having on jobs in the retail sector; if he will summarise the viewpoints expressed by his Department to the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43058/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Damien English

197. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the progress of the implementation of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43300/13]

Broadband Services Speeds

Damien English

198. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way persons living in rural areas of County Meath will benefit from high speed broadband under the national broadband plan; the areas in County Meath by electoral division that will benefit under this scheme; and the timeframe for the delivery of high speed broadband for each of these areas. [43301/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Damien English

387. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health if his Department and the Revenue Commissioners are participating in the high-level implementation group to oversee the project plan for the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products; the number of meetings his Department and the Revenue Commissioners have been represented at to date; if he or his officials will highlight the extent of illicit trade in the tobacco sector and the negative impact it is having on jobs in the retail sector; if he will summarise the viewpoints expressed by his Department and the Revenue Commissioners to the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43059/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Damien English

396. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the stages, indicative dates, any other associated time or submission targets or deadlines by which his Department will conduct the regulatory impact analysis on proposed legislation on plain packaging of tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43060/13]

Motor Tax Exemptions

Damien English

148. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will examine the potential to bring into effect a concessionary rate of road tax for compact tractors, those being under 50 bhp, as it would be beneficial to encourage the purchase and use of such vehicles on health and safety grounds for the agricultural and ground care sectors, especially as such vehicles when sold are required to be fitted with safety equipment that is not necessary on other vehicles, such as quad bikes, used for similar purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42562/13]

Financial Services Regulation

Damien English

97. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance his plans to liaise with the Australian authorities in order to facilitate the acquisition of mortgages from financial institutions here by Irish citizens who are currently residing in Australia, and who are prevented from doing so under the Australian Corporation Act that was introduced in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41242/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Damien English

408. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of personnel in her Department that work on medical assessments; the number of medical assessors currently employed by her Department; the number of these who, in addition to being qualified doctors, have attained specialist medical qualifications; if she will list such specialist medical qualifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41100/13]

Invalidity Pension Application Numbers

Damien English

409. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of invalidity pension applications made to her Department for each of the years 2010, 2011, 2012, and to date in 2013; the number of refusals for each of theses years; if she will provide the information in tabular readable form. [41101/13]

Family Income Supplement Appeals

Damien English

100. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an appeal for family income supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath in relation to a 2012 claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38933/13]

FÁS Training Programmes Data

Damien English

246. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of FÁS training courses currently in each of the north east counties, Meath, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan; the title and short description of each training course in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37831/13]

FÁS Training Programmes Data

Damien English

247. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that the number and type of training courses available in County Meath is sufficient to cater for the population base there; his plans to provide additional FÁS training courses in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37832/13]

FÁS Training Programmes Data

Damien English

248. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way resources are allocated to each of the counties in the north east, namely Meath, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan, for the provision of FÁS training courses; the way the population is taken into account in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37833/13]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Damien English

1470. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health the number of Health Service Executive beds in the Louth/Meath region that are allocated for respite care services; the number of such beds that are not used seven nights per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38010/13]

Medical Qualifications

Damien English

1523. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health his plans to have a health profession, that of nuclear medicine technologist, recognised by the State; the process of having such a health profession recognised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38268/13]

Medical Qualifications

Damien English

1524. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health the position regarding efforts to have a health qualification, namely that of nuclear medicine technology recognised by the State; the process of having such a health qualification recognised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38269/13]

Disability Allowance Application Numbers

Damien English

334. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claimants currently on disability allowance and all other disability related payments; the percentage of the working age population this represents; the way this compares with equivalent labour forces in each country of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36524/13]

National Internship Scheme Eligibility

Damien English

362. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to develop the JobBridge scheme so that those in the crafts industry here, who are predominately self-employed, can become eligible for participation in this scheme so that their business could benefit and grow from the addition of the internship programme to the stage that additional employees could be taken on at a future stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36777/13]

Fish Farming

Damien English

627. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to trout and salmon farming on land, the plans he has to introduce containment measures, such as closed containment farms, that would significantly reduce water column pollution from feed, faeces and chemical waste and contamination of the sea bed under farms, eliminate the risk of disease and parasite transfer from such operations to wild stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36776/13]

Pharmacy Services

Damien English

748. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health his plans to enhance the role of pharmacists here that would see this profession being allowed to diagnose minor ailments and supply appropriate treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36773/13]

Home Care Packages

Damien English

749. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health his plans for the Health Service Executive to outsource or put to tender enhanced home care packages; the savings that are expected to realised through this process; the new or additional measures that will be introduced for the betterment of community care by this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36775/13]

Excise Duties Yield

Damien English

69. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of excise returns by category and month from January 2011 to June 2013, inclusive, in tabular form. [35654/13]

Tobacco Seizures

Damien English

70. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the number of tobacco seizures in each month since January 2011; the amount of cigarettes and tobacco seized in each month since January 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35655/13]

Regulatory Impact Assessment Submissions

Damien English

71. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance if he will be making a submission to the Department of Health's regulatory impact analysis on proposed legislation on plain packaging of tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35657/13]