Parliamentary questions

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Michael Lowry

1059. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for funding to be released to successful applicants under the fair deal scheme; the way this compares to the waiting period at the same time last year; if he will expedite the release of funding to successful applicants in light of the financial hardship and distress being caused to applicants and the families of applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34154/14]

Early Childhood Care Education

Michael Lowry

1117. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an application submitted by the Health Service Executive for additional pre-school assistance to his Department in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; his views on whether three hours' assistance is sufficient in this case; if he will sanction funding for additional hours for this person in view of the personal circumstances outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34699/14]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Michael Lowry

1250. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will immediately reverse the decision to impose a student service charge on all apprentices while attending institutes of technology for their periods of off-the-job training on phases 4 and 6; her views on whether these charges are fair in view of the fact that the apprentices are full time employees, not students, and do not receive any services or benefit from this charge; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that apprentices are amongst the lowest paid workers in the State and this charge is crippling for them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33106/14]

Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration

Michael Lowry

1365. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the panel arrangements in place for special needs assistants, in view of the fact that SNAs who were made redundant prior to 1 May 2013 have no panel rights, irrespective of years of service, and are therefore disadvantaged in securing employment; her views on whether this is fair; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33893/14]

Deer Hunting

Michael Lowry

1755. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of deer hunting letting agreements that were issued in the past ten years; the number of deer hunting letting agreements that were issued to north Tipperary resident hunters during the same period; the number of the lettings that were issued to incumbent lease holders or stalking permit holders; the number of leases that have been issued to same parties on more than one occasion; the number of hunters that were authorised to hunt on more than two lettings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33341/14]

Medical Card Administration

Michael Lowry

438. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 3 July 2014, in which he stated that the Health Service Executive had been asked to examine the specific queries raised; if he would review the issues and reply accordingly. [30302/14]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Michael Lowry

767. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that applications under the fair deal scheme are taking in excess of 12 weeks to process, and that applications for loans under the scheme are taking almost as long; his view on the effects this hardship this is having on patients' family members who officially have no obligation to meet the nursing home costs of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [29715/14]

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Michael Lowry

108. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is an almost five month delay in processing arrears owed to approved applicants for disability allowance; her views that such a long delay is fair or reasonable; if her attention has been drawn to the financial hardship and distress caused to those awaiting payment; if she will immediately sanction additional staff to tackle the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28798/14]

Medical Card Administration

Michael Lowry

196. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will increase the number of medical staff processing medical card applications; his views that the current medical staff numbers are adequate in view of the huge numbers of applications awaiting decisions based on discretionary grounds; the previously held discretionary cards that are set to be restored believed to be in the region of 15,000 cards, the considerable backlog already in place; his views that the current backlog is acceptable and fair; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship these delays are causing to persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28801/14]

Driver Licence Renewals

Michael Lowry

190. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the requirement that a person living abroad must return here, and present themselves in a National Driving Licence Service office if they wish to renew their Irish driving licence; his views on whether this requirement is fair or logical; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties this causes for Irish persons living abroad who rely on their licence for employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28708/14]

School Enrolments

Michael Lowry

192. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the 2012 decision to raise enrolment thresholds for two, three and four-teacher schools in view of the damage that has been caused to schools in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28471/14]

Bord Gáis Privatisation

Michael Lowry

272. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the costs that will be incurred as a result of changing the name of Bord Gáis Éireann to Ervia; the reasons for this name change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28024/14]

Medicinal Products Availability

Michael Lowry

523. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to ensure that life-saving adrenaline autoinjectors are available in emergency cases, similar to the defibrillator system with trained first responders; the steps being taken to alter the law in this regard to ensure that no further tragedies occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28212/14]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Michael Lowry

564. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction the extension of BreastCheck, the national free breast cancer screening programme, to women aged between 65 and 69 years, as was promised in the programme for Government; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 10% of breast cancer patients are in the 65 to 69 year age group and this group also has high mortality rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28412/14]

Services for People with Disabilities

Michael Lowry

189. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied) in County Offaly, the tragic circumstances in this case and the hardship and distress being caused to the family at present stemming from the lack of support available for a person with an intellectual disability; if he will immediately intervene to ensure that funding is made available for a residential place in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27594/14]

Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme

Michael Lowry

416. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to tackle the unfair and discriminatory proposed entry requirements for the GLAS scheme for hill farmers on commonage; if he will take steps to reduce the 80% collective agreement clause that has been proposed before the final draft is agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26994/14]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Michael Lowry

117. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a new tenant purchase scheme will be put in place for council tenants, if he will ensure that this scheme is brought forward as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23832/14]

Vehicle Registration

Michael Lowry

47. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to streamline the registration process for camper vans; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties and delays being faced by dealers as a result of their being unable to register the vehicle themselves online; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these dealerships are losing valuable business as a result of the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23430/14]

Refugee Status Applications

Michael Lowry

690. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will confirm the position of her Department with respect to Syrian nationals seeking refugee status here; if priority for refuge will be given to Syrian refugees with family here; if Syrian refugees with family members who are nationalised here have an entitlement to refuge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22956/14]

Health Services Staff Training

Michael Lowry

919. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm whether Health Service Executive staff, including nursing staff in St. Joseph's Hospital, Nenagh are fully trained and equipped to deal with Parkinson's patients when they are admitted for any medical condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23162/14]