Parliamentary questions

Croke Park Agreement Issues

Jonathan O'Brien

252. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if proposals contained in the Croke Park II arrangements will result in a cut in allowances for teachers working in schools in the Gaeltacht areas on Irish offshore islands. [13673/13]

Schools Building Contractors

Jonathan O'Brien

262. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps or checks his Department carry out to ensure that all contractors, including sub-contractors employed by the main contractor, working directly for his Department on a school building project are REA compliant; the steps he has taken to address the situation at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which was recently brought to his attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13889/13]

Army Equitation School

Jonathan O'Brien

9. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Defence the number of persons paid more than €80,000, more than €100,000 and more than €120,000 in the Army Equitation School; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13160/13]

Museums Standards Programme

Jonathan O'Brien

13. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide the names of the museums that received funding under the local and regional museums scheme 2012; the amount allocated to each museum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13130/13]

Scéimeanna Teanga

Jonathan O'Brien

29. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Jonathan O'Brien den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cé mhéad limistéar atá roghnaithe ó thaobh plean teanga a chur i bhfeidhm; cad iad na hacmhainní atá á gcur ar fáil do na limistéir seo; cad iad na pleananna oibre atá aontaithe, agus an dtabharfaidh sé míniú maidir le cad atá ar intinn aige a dhéanamh maidir leis na limistéir nach bhfuil plean réitithe acu le cur i bhfeidhm. [13101/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Jonathan O'Brien

219. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list in tabular form the number of appeals that have been referred from Student Universal Support Ireland to the Student Grants Appeal Board in 2012/13; the number of claims that have been successfully upheld during that period; the average time for an appeal to be heard by the SGAB; and how often the SGAB meets to deal with appeals deferred from SUSI. [12646/13]

School Staffing

Jonathan O'Brien

2. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied to allow primary school classes to double up to numbers in excess of 40 children per classroom, in order that teachers can, as mandated by Croke Park II, cover for colleagues who are on certified sick leave because substitution is no longer permitted. [12113/13]

Departmental Staff Rehiring

Jonathan O'Brien

5. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the delay in introducing legislation to ensure unemployed teachers get priority for available teaching posts has led to a situation in which in December 2012, some 22 out of 104 retired primary teachers employed in schools were on long-term contracts and that 82 retired teachers were employed as short-term substitutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12189/13]

Third Level Drop-out Rates

Jonathan O'Brien

46. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list in tabular form, on a county by county basis, the number of students who have dropped out of third level courses in the 2012-13 academic year up until the end of February 2013 and the way these figures compare to the same time last year. [11745/13]

Literacy Levels

Jonathan O'Brien

50. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the finding of two studies (details supplied) which showed primary school children in the Six Counties came sixth in numeracy and fifth in literacy, the highest rating of any English speaking country in the world; his views on whether this success can be attributed to the 48% rise in per capita education funding in the North from 1997 and 2007; the lessons his Department can learn from this success; and his further views that similar measures should be implemented to improve standards in the 26 Counties. [11744/13]

Domestic Violence Refuges

Jonathan O'Brien

8. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is an Executive Office under the aegis of his Department which provides a co-ordinated whole of Government response to violence against women and domestic violence; and if he will provide an update on their work. [11557/13]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Jonathan O'Brien

116. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 29 January 2013, in relation to 68 unfilled positions which she prioritised as critical, if she will list them and confirm if sanction was sought from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to fill those positions. [11374/13]

Mortgage Arrears Rate

Jonathan O'Brien

26. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Finance if he considers there is a need for a review of the code of conduct on mortgage arrears. [10582/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Jonathan O'Brien

55. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Finance his views on the decision to provide a €1 billion credit facility from the National Asset Management Agency for the use of the special liquidator of IBRC; when the decision was made; the credit facility that is intended to be used for; the way €1 billion, if used, will be repaid to NAMA; if he had to seek permission to use NAMA for such a credit facility from another entity such as the ECB; if the funding of the credit facility comes from cash assets at NAMA; and if NAMA can still meet its bond repayments due at the end of 2013. [10583/13]

Public Procurement Tenders

Jonathan O'Brien

44. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures he has introduced since March 2011 that have improved public procurement practices by removing obstacles and encouraging the involvement of small and medium enterprises and micro enterprises. [10433/13]

Public Procurement Tenders

Jonathan O'Brien

52. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the measures he has introduced that encourage buyers to break contracts into lots. [10434/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

147. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of schools that currently avail of the 100 Mbps to schools project; if he will provide a breakdown by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9969/13]

Cross-Border Enterprise Initiatives

Jonathan O'Brien

12. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs and the amount of investment achieved by cross-Border agencies and through cross-Border enterprise initiatives in the past two years. [9041/13]

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

53. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will identify the barriers to microenterprise posed by the Border both in financial terms and with regard to internal enterprise administration; if he will identify the steps he has taken to reduce these barriers in the past two years; and the effect this has had on volumes of cross-Border trade. [9042/13]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Jonathan O'Brien

32. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a detailed report of the recent informal meeting of EU Development Ministers in Dublin; and if a unified EU approach to the development of a new set of international targets for human development post-2015 was reached. [8848/13]

Homeless Persons Supports

Jonathan O'Brien

122. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Sport if he will give an undertaking that the Irish Homeless World Cup soccer team will receive funding for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8610/13]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Jonathan O'Brien

137. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason funding applications by Dublin City Council under the sports capital programme were rejected for Brickfield Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8608/13]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Jonathan O'Brien

51. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the way he intends to deliver on the reduction of fees payable to health professionals of some €70 million as outlined in the national service plan 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7468/13]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Jonathan O'Brien

57. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the way the waiting list for the nursing home support scheme will be administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7469/13]

Child Protection

Jonathan O'Brien

31. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on the establishment of a national out of hours social work service. [7307/13]

Third Level Fees

Jonathan O'Brien

86. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the degree programmes and additional special requirements he was referring to when replying to parliamentary questions which related to changes in funding to Gaeltacht placements for first year B Ed students attending Mary Immaculate College when he stated: this move brings the primary ITE courses more into line with other degree programmes where students are required to bear the costs of additional special requirements themselves; and if he will confirm that students are always required to pay tuition fees in Ireland in these circumstances. [7748/13]

Third Level Fees

Jonathan O'Brien

87. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of changes in funding to Gaeltacht placements for first year B Ed students attending Mary Immaculate College, which will result in students having to pay an additional €1,400 biannual fee, if his Department has considered expanding the student assistance fund which in its current form can only be accessed by a limited number of students; and if he will further consider introducing a more robust system to support students who do not qualify for the grant. [7749/13]

Third Level Fees

Jonathan O'Brien

88. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of his recent decision to allocate an additional €3 million to the student assistance fund representatives, if he will consider allocating an additional €1 million to the fund in order to assist the estimated 1,000 additional students who will be directly affected by changes to the Gaeltacht placement scheme. [7750/13]

Humanitarian Aid

Jonathan O'Brien

192. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the amount of State funding paid overseas to countries affected by war or natural disasters; and the amount of State funding paid to Irish registered overseas charities working in countries affected by these issues in 2011-12. [7149/13]

School Enrolments Data

Jonathan O'Brien

267. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to address the growing demand for primary school start places in County Meath in view of the fact that recent reports that the demand outstrips availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6847/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Jonathan O'Brien

276. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a progress report on the efforts of a school (details supplied) in County Galway to secure funding for a new school building in Oranmore. [7010/13]

Overseas Missions

Jonathan O'Brien

32. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Defence if he will commit to protecting the triple-lock mechanism. [6127/13]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Jonathan O'Brien

41. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Defence the outstanding vacancies in his Department on 31 December 2012 and his plans to fill these. [6122/13]

Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers

Jonathan O'Brien

77. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form an up to date breakdown of third level students, on a county basis, who have had a maintenance grant application accepted by Student Universal Support Ireland but have still to receive payment; the number of students who have appealed the decision of SUSI and are awaiting the outcome of the decision; and the numbers of students who are still waiting to have an appeal heard. [6566/13]

Proposed Legislation

Jonathan O'Brien

23. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he plans to introduce legislation to rectify legal anomalies around the issue of surrogacy. [5997/13]

Community Development Projects

Jonathan O'Brien

550. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures taken by him to include the lesbian, gay and bisexual community within its community development programmes. [5915/13]

Energy Schemes Issues

Jonathan O'Brien

22. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when money outlined in the budget for the retrofitting of houses will become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4683/13]

Commemorative Events

Jonathan O'Brien

39. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has made a decision regarding a grant application to restore the former Richmond Barracks gymnasium as a local museum and centre for focus on commemorations in 1916; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4499/13]

Job Initiatives

Jonathan O'Brien

159. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the statement by her appointee as chair of the steering group of the JobBridge programme (details supplied), when she will reconsider the decision not to provide a training budget for each participant on top of the basic allowance. [4067/13]

Household Benefits Scheme

Jonathan O'Brien

186. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection the discounts she has managed to agree with the utility companies who supply gas and electricity to those in receipt of the household benefits. [4066/13]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Jonathan O'Brien

321. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm if a new site has been acquired for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when work on the new school building is due to commence; and the projected timeframe for when work on the new school building will be completed. [4010/13]

Back to Education Allowance Payments

Jonathan O'Brien

418. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection if the decision in Budget 2013 to cut the back to education allowance was equality proofed; and his views on whether decreasing this allowance will prevent marginalised and disadvantaged learners from upskilling through their participation in further education courses. [2673/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Jonathan O'Brien

21. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the action he will take to ensure that the principle of equal pay for equal work in public sector pay is not undermined. [3080/13]

Departmental Websites

Jonathan O'Brien

37. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update in the Governments new eTenders website; the cost involved in preparing and managing the new site; the level of consultation that took place with interested stakeholders in advance of the new site being rolled out; the level of briefing that the Government has carried out to inform interested parties on the way the new site operates; if he will detail any problems that the new site has experienced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3058/13]

Teachers' Remuneration

Jonathan O'Brien

86. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of the number of newly qualified teachers who are still awaiting payment of their increased level four payscale; the date when all outstanding payments will be made and if he will provide assurances that unpaid wages will be back paid in full from September 2012. [3352/13]

Student Grant Scheme Delays

Jonathan O'Brien

123. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of third level students on a county basis who have had their maintenance grant application accepted by Student Universal Support Ireland but have still to receive payment; the number of students who have appealed the decision of SUSI and are awaiting the outcome of that decision and the numbers of students who are still waiting to have their appeal heard. [3084/13]

Minor Works Scheme Suspension

Jonathan O'Brien

126. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the suspension of the minor works grant represents a false saving in view of comments (details supplied) that schools that are unable to afford to meet the cost of minor maintenance costs will result in school buildings falling into a much greater state of disrepair. [3085/13]

Further Education and Training Programmes Applications

Jonathan O'Brien

130. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the numbers of students, on a county basis, who progressed to higher education courses as a result of qualifications gained from participating in post leaving certificate courses in 2011/12. [2669/13]

Student Assistance Fund Issues

Jonathan O'Brien

144. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who have applied for emergency funding from the student assistance fund since September 2012; and the way this compares with previous academic year. [2670/13]

Departmental Agencies Issues

Jonathan O'Brien

236. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list the administrative services in Irish of equal standard to those provided in English; if the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment will be in position to provide to An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta; if he researched these Irish-language services prior to the decision to merge COGG with NCCA; his views on whether it would be better to reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2564/13]