Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for Dáil or Seanad term
Page 151 of 154
Thu, 28 Feb 2013
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Further Education and Training Programmes Eligibility
Róisín Shortall
149. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the qualifying criteria in respect of the new momentum education and training scheme; the steps she has taken to address an anomaly whereby those in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance do not qualify for this scheme and yet applicants who have spent periods on back to education allowance, VTOS, FÁS-Fáilte Ireland training courses, Youthreach, community employment schemes, TÚS and so on, are deemed eligible; and if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 who has been accepted on to a course but has now been denied a place due to this anomaly. [10848/13]
Wed, 27 Feb 2013
oral
Croke Park Agreement Savings
Róisín Shortall
150. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the gross saving he intends to achieve from the public sector payroll in each of the years 2013 to 2015 with a breakdown by saving type, that is reduction in head count, overtime, core pay, increments, allowances and so on; and if he will provide an analysis of the net saving that will be achieved when income tax, USC, PRSI, pension levies and so on are factored in and when account is also taken of the effect on VAT and other Exchequer revenue streams. [10661/13]
Wed, 27 Feb 2013
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Planning Issues
Róisín Shortall
213. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options open to him to initiate an investigation into a planning decision by a local authority or An Bord Pleanála where he feels the decision was not in accordance with good planning and development or where he may have other grounds to suspect that an investigation is warranted. [10548/13]
Wed, 27 Feb 2013
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Criminal Law Review
Róisín Shortall
225. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason persons are still being imprisoned for non-payment of fines; the reason their fines are not being deducted at source by either the Revenue Commissioners or the Department of Social Protection; and the way he intends to end the situation where significant numbers of prison places are taken up by fine-defaulters. [10467/13]
Wed, 27 Feb 2013
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Foster Care Provision
Róisín Shortall
258. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action she is taking on foot of the Health Information and Quality Authority report inspection of the Health Service Executive Dublin north west local health area fostering service in the Health Service Executive Dublin north east region; and the way she proposes to ensure that the action plan is fully implemented. [10728/13]
Wed, 27 Feb 2013
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Foster Care Policy
Róisín Shortall
259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 22 January 2013, the target date for the finalisation of a national register of foster parents who are deemed unsuitable and no longer have children placed with them. [10729/13]
Wed, 27 Feb 2013
written
Driving Licence Issues
Róisín Shortall
285. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 791 of 19 February 2013, if he will establish with the Road Safety Authority the tendering process which was used to award the contract to the National Driver Licence Service; and the reason pharmacies were excluded from this process. [10681/13]
Tue, 26 Feb 2013
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Tax Credits
Róisín Shortall
180. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the treatment of tax credits following the bereavement of a separated spouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9579/13]
Tue, 26 Feb 2013
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Tax Collection
Róisín Shortall
208. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an analysis of outstanding unpaid corporation tax for the past five consecutive years; and if he will provide information as to the corporations liable for the outstanding sums. [9847/13]
Tue, 26 Feb 2013
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EU Regulations
Róisín Shortall
213. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his views on recent media reports that he is introducing regulations that will entitle the EU/ECB to extend the period during which they may review the taxation and expenditure decisions of our national parliament; and the reason he is doing this. [10103/13]
Tue, 26 Feb 2013
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Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
Róisín Shortall
245. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a higher education grant was not awarded to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if he will address the points raised by this applicant that this student is totally independent of their parent but fail to qualify for higher education grant assistance based on their means; if the regulations governing the grant assessment and payment are wholly unfair in this case; if there are exceptions to the provision; and if a grant will be awarded to this person. [9846/13]
Tue, 26 Feb 2013
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Household Benefits Scheme
Róisín Shortall
331. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the arrangement whereby a person (detail supplied) in receipt of disability allowance has been cut off the household benefit package as they live with their child whose income is derived solely from a jobseeker's payment; if she will take steps to address this anomaly whereby qualifying for one benefit results in disqualification for another; and if her attention has been drawn to the financial hardship which this anomaly places on families. [9842/13]
Tue, 26 Feb 2013
written
Water Charges Introduction
Róisín Shortall
431. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 259 of 14 February 2013, his views on the principle that householders should get a basic free allowance of water and that charges should only apply for usage above that allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9583/13]
Thu, 21 Feb 2013
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VAT Rate Application
Róisín Shortall
83. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the loss to the State of VAT revenue arising from the below-cost selling of alcohol. [9488/13]
Thu, 21 Feb 2013
written
Housing Adaptation Grant Application Numbers
Róisín Shortall
167. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of grants awarded respectively under each of the grants available under the housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability in each of the years since November 2007; the total amount allocated to local authorities by his Department for these schemes in each of these years broken down by local authority; the total amount in matching funds by local authorities in each of these years with a breakdown by local authority where these figures are readily available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9489/13]
Thu, 21 Feb 2013
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Speech and Language Therapy
Róisín Shortall
259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 261 of 29 November 2012, if he will provide details of the numbers on waiting lists in respect of assessment and treatment for speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy with a breakdown by therapy and by duration on the waiting list and by area and by age category. [9490/13]
Thu, 21 Feb 2013
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Drug Treatment Programmes Funding
Róisín Shortall
260. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the amount allocated and the outturn in respect of local schemes, that is drugs schemes, in each of the past five years with a breakdown by its constituent parts. [9491/13]
Thu, 21 Feb 2013
written
Departmental Strategies
Róisín Shortall
261. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the delay in the development of a national sexual health strategy and his target month in 2013 for the publication of same. [9492/13]
Wed, 20 Feb 2013
written
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Róisín Shortall
160. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [9163/13]
Wed, 20 Feb 2013
written
Local Authority Funding
Róisín Shortall
176. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 512 of 29 January 2013, when funding will be allocated to local authorities for the housing adaptation grant schemes for older persons and persons with a disability; the level of funding that will be allocated to each local authority and if he will ensure that funding levels for the previous year will be maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9215/13]
Wed, 20 Feb 2013
written
HSE Staff Remuneration
Róisín Shortall
254. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the case of a Health Service Executive employee (details supplied); if he will outline this person's pension rights; the supports available to assist with recouping lost salary and pension payments following a serious illness prior to their return to work in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9246/13]
Tue, 19 Feb 2013
written
Marriages of Convenience
Róisín Shortall
558. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he intends to address the issue of marriages of convenience by way of legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8406/13]
Tue, 19 Feb 2013
written
Driver Licences
Róisín Shortall
766. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the concerns of the pharmacy sector in respect of the loss of driver photo ID business arising from the awarding of a contract to the National Driver Licence Service; if he will explain the process involved in the awarding of the contract and the reason pharmacies were not allowed to tender for it in view of the fact that many have made a significant investment in equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8257/13]
Thu, 14 Feb 2013
written
Property Taxation Exemptions
Róisín Shortall
127. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify whether or not a pensioner couple will be permitted either an exemption or a deferral of the local property tax in circumstances where they have a nominal income which is in excess of the threshold to allow for a deferral of the local property tax but who are availing of the nursing home support scheme under which the pension income of the nursing home patient is reduced by 80%, thereby significantly reducing their net income and rendering the local property tax unaffordable; and the action he is taking to ensure that some kind of discretionary element is built into the local property tax regime so that exceptional cases may be examined. [7881/13]
Thu, 14 Feb 2013
written
Tax Compliance
Róisín Shortall
148. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the number of reviews of taxpayers that have been undertaken by the Revenue Commissioners in each of the years since the self-assessment system was adopted; the number of these where a discrepancy was identified; the amount recovered from such cases; if he will outline the way the Revenue Commissioners are minimising the risk of fraud and error arising from the self-assessment method; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7979/13]
Thu, 14 Feb 2013
written
Hospital Equipment
Róisín Shortall
149. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if the use by hospital consultants of public health facilities for work for which they charge private patient fees is taxable as a benefit-in-kind and, if not, the reason for same and his estimate of the yield that would arise if it were. [7980/13]
Thu, 14 Feb 2013
written
Water Charges Introduction
Róisín Shortall
259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the exemptions to paying the water charge and the criteria to determine same. [7977/13]
Thu, 14 Feb 2013
written
Graduate Nursing Scheme
Róisín Shortall
346. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the action he proposes to take to ensure the recruitment of 1,000 directly employed nurses in 2013 in view of the very low take up of his graduate nurses scheme. [7973/13]
Thu, 14 Feb 2013
written
Graduate Nursing Scheme
Róisín Shortall
347. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total average monthly cost of an agency nurse and the reason he will not recruit graduate nurses on the standard pay-scale. [7974/13]
Thu, 14 Feb 2013
written
Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage
Róisín Shortall
348. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to the approval of the drug ampligen as a reimbursable drug under the GMS in Ireland. [7975/13]
Thu, 14 Feb 2013
written
HSE Agency Staff
Róisín Shortall
349. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when agency workers employed by the Health Service Executive in a company (details supplied), will receive their full entitlement under the Agency Workers Directive; and when back payments will be made. [7976/13]
Thu, 14 Feb 2013
written
Home Care Packages
Róisín Shortall
350. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in processing an application for a home care package in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will expedite a reply. [7978/13]
Wed, 13 Feb 2013
written
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Róisín Shortall
75. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a special education needs organiser who was assigned to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 in view of the fact that this person is currently on extended leave; the efforts that have been made to find a replacement or a referral to assist this person; if he will expedite this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7612/13]
Wed, 13 Feb 2013
written
School Enrolments
Róisín Shortall
84. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a request for additional funding to address acute capacity concerns in respect of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; in view of increasing enrolment numbers and the fact that in the coming 2013-14 school year the school will not have a classroom to accommodate an additional allocated teacher, if he will outline the assistance available to address concerns regarding the overall infrastructural needs of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7703/13]
Wed, 13 Feb 2013
written
Hospital Staff
Róisín Shortall
206. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health in view of the widespread concern among NCHDs, if he will request HIQA to investigate compliance with the EU Working Time Directive on the grounds of patient and doctor safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7600/13]
Wed, 13 Feb 2013
written
Hospitals Funding
Róisín Shortall
218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the budget allocations to each hospital in the State in 2013, and in each case the basis for the reduction or increase vis-à-vis the 2012 budget allocation. [7530/13]
Tue, 12 Feb 2013
written
Tax Code
Róisín Shortall
245. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer of allowing tax relief at the marginal rate in respect of income protection policies. [7354/13]
Tue, 12 Feb 2013
written
Tax Reliefs Availability
Róisín Shortall
246. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will detail all tax reliefs currently available to taxpayers at their marginal rate of tax. [7355/13]
Tue, 12 Feb 2013
written
Invalidity Pension Appeals
Róisín Shortall
411. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update with regard to an application for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will expedite a decision on this application in view of the financial hardship that this delay is causing this person. [7352/13]
Tue, 12 Feb 2013
written
Disability Allowance Appeals
Róisín Shortall
412. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update with regard to an appeal for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [7353/13]
Tue, 12 Feb 2013
written
School Completion Programme
Róisín Shortall
614. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will reverse the cuts to the school completion programme in schools (details supplied) in Dublin 11 in view of the invaluable work carried out by this service and the minimum cost involved; the impact of this cut on students who depend on this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7034/13]
Tue, 12 Feb 2013
written
Medical Aids and Appliances Applications
Róisín Shortall
621. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that immediate sanction will be provided for a new prosthetic socket in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 in view of the fact that the person is unable to function independently due to an ill fitting prosthetic leg. [6901/13]
Tue, 12 Feb 2013
written
HSE Expenditure
Róisín Shortall
659. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the projected cumulative monthly savings in respect of each of the savings measures outlined in part C of his Department's chapter of the budget 2013 expenditure report 2013. [6839/13]
Thu, 7 Feb 2013
written
Tax Reliefs Availability
Róisín Shortall
51. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the tax reliefs currently available to support the funding of sports clubs. [6391/13]
Thu, 7 Feb 2013
written
Grant Payments
Róisín Shortall
192. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an up to date position regarding the reason for non-payment to third-year DIT biomedical science students of the monthly training allowance payable to them while on placement in public health service laboratories; the reason that the DIT students do not receive the allowance but students in the other colleges do; and the reason for the anomaly. [6404/13]
Thu, 7 Feb 2013
written
North-South Implementation Bodies
Róisín Shortall
203. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the establishment of a North-South alcohol body; the terms of references; the membership proposed from either side of the Border; and when he expects the body to hold its first meeting. [6514/13]
Thu, 7 Feb 2013
written
Sports Capital Programme Expenditure
Róisín Shortall
211. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline all streams of funding for sports clubs available through his Department or an agency under its remit. [6390/13]
Tue, 5 Feb 2013
written
Student Grant Scheme Appeals
Róisín Shortall
302. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 was awarded only 50% student contribution and refused a student maintenance grant; and in view of the considerable financial strain that this has placed on this family, if he will review this application. [5165/13]
Tue, 5 Feb 2013
written
State Examinations
Róisín Shortall
319. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the criteria used to determine eligibility for applications under reasonable accommodations for the leaving certificate examinations which are severe and restrictive resulting in students who have previously secured support at junior certificate examinations not being awarded the same level of support in their leaving certificate examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5464/13]
Tue, 5 Feb 2013
written
State Examinations
Róisín Shortall
320. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the criteria used to determine eligibility for applicaitons under the reasonable accommodations for the leaving certificate examinations in the case of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if he will review these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5465/13]