Parliamentary questions

House Purchase Schemes

Alan Farrell

438. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on his proposal to offer families in social housing an incentive to buy their properties, while at the same time introducing a mortgage to rent scheme which will in turn bring private properties owned by a person and the bank to within the remit of his Department and social housing organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51004/12]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Alan Farrell

439. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost to local authorities of continuous maintenance of local authority housing in 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51005/12]

Property Taxation Application

Alan Farrell

440. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his Departments role from 2013 onwards in administering and managing funds for local authorities once a local government tax is introduced; if details of the expenditure will be available to public representatives through Dáil questions; if overall accountability will be held by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51006/12]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

Alan Farrell

583. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his views on the establishment of independent hospital trusts under the universal health insurance system particularly in relation to the agreement of funding and staffing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50996/12]

HSE Savings

Alan Farrell

584. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive tendering process for payroll services will be offered only to Irish service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50997/12]

Mortgage Interest Relief Extension

Alan Farrell

46. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the benefits to extending the current rate of mortgage interest relief for first-time buyers; the projected cost of extending the scheme to the Exchequer, and his rationale for the possible cessation of the scheme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50254/12]

Tax Code

Alan Farrell

51. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the projected implications of introducing a higher rate of tax on income earners over €100,000 on industry and competitiveness here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50253/12]

Pension Levy

Alan Farrell

86. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance his views on the possibility of imposing a levy or tax on the pension sums of more than €100,000 administered to former employees of banks only covered by the State guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50319/12]

Tax Relief Application

Alan Farrell

87. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the number of businesses that have availed of tax relief on research and development as outlined in the Finance Bill 2012; the way this compares to 2010 and 2011; if there are available statistics on the benefit of the scheme; if it is due to be increased in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50320/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Alan Farrell

143. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the impact of rising rental properties in Dublin, as outlined by the recent survey carried out by a company referred to in the Minister's Rent Limit Review Report in 2011, will have on the allowable rent rates for rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50257/12]

Medical Card Applications Data

Alan Farrell

239. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card applications that have been successfully reviewed and awarded after failing a means test; the number of these that are patients who are in need of continuous mental health treatment; if he will provide a list of conditions that have been considered eligible by the Chief Medical Officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50258/12]

Mobility Allowance Decision

Alan Farrell

240. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the office of the Ombudsman Report entitled Too Old to be Equal; the recommendations therein; and if he has begun the process of changing the mobility allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50259/12]

Structured Court Settlements

Alan Farrell

781. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views regarding the possibility of reforming the process of court awarded medical expenses from a lump sum to a payment that is issued on a periodic basis to match the medical expenses of the person each year throughout the course of their lifetime to ensure that there is no shortfall in funds; his view on whether legislative changes are required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47730/12]

Health and Safety Regulations

Alan Farrell

150. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there are any health and safety regulations in place for sports clubs nationwide to prohibit the use of dangerous chemicals to line pitches such as lime, petroleum products and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45535/12]

Social Welfare Fraud Cost

Alan Farrell

91. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims of a fraudulent nature that have been made to her Department in 2011; the number of incorrect payments made by her Department in 2011; the cost of these payments in total to the Exchequer; the funding allocated to the investigation and recouping of these payments in 2011 and to date in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44507/12]

Judicial Appointments

Alan Farrell

320. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the process whereby a member of the judiciary may be disciplined if they have not been able to fulfil their duties in a competent manner, if there has been any issue of misconduct or if there is a question over of their ability to practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40510/12]

Site Acquisitions

Alan Farrell

73. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has identified a permanent site for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39563/12]

Site Acquisitions

Alan Farrell

74. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the stage of the planning process in relation to the provision of a permanent school premises for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39564/12]

Departmental Staff

Alan Farrell

368 Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals officers working in the appeals office at the moment; the number of cases assigned to each officer at this time; the number of applications awaiting assignment to an appeals officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32169/12]

Social Welfare Appeals

Alan Farrell

369 Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the turnaround time for appealing social welfare decisions; the measures being considered or implemented to reduce this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32170/12]