Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Beef Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

88. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will appoint a regulator to oversee and control the virtual monopoly position that meat factories currently have here; if he will ensure that Irish livestock farmers receive a fair price for the excellent product they produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48635/14]

Dairy Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

89. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is actively seeking to develop new markets outside of the EU for Ireland's dairy exports on behalf of dairy farmers who are facing the prospect of a very challenging year ahead; if he will list the actions he has taken in this regard; the new markets he is targeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48636/14]

Organic Farming Scheme Applications

Michael Fitzmaurice

95. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the cost neutral proposals presented to him by the organic farmers representative body to front-load payments towards the first ten hectares, thereby securing the future viability of small-scale organic farming here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48654/14]

Sugar Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

100. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide significant funding to assist the revival of Ireland's sugar beet industry in 2015; his 2015 plan for the restarting of what has previously been a very important industry here; the actions he has already taken to facilitate the return of sugar production to Ireland in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48709/14]

Animal Welfare

Michael Fitzmaurice

101. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the rules governing the vaccination and transportation of pet puppies to the UK are to be changed on 1 January 2015, in view of the fact that both islands are rabies free; the reason it will be necessary to wait until a pup is 12 weeks old for rabies vaccination and then wait a further 21 days before transportation to the UK; his views on the additional costs being placed on registered pet puppy breeders; his further views that puppies produced under the new regime will be too old for their target market in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48725/14]

EU Regulations

Michael Fitzmaurice

424. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the consultations that took place regarding the EU standard EN 1090 regarding structural steel and aluminium which came into effect in July 2014; if pre-legislative scrutiny took place; the groups which were consulted regarding its potential impact; his response to its introduction at each stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47059/14]

Job Creation

Michael Fitzmaurice

98. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position on the Industrial Development Agency investment jobs in the pipeline for the towns of Athlone, Ballinasloe, Carrick-on-Shannon and Roscommon; the dates by which any such project is expected to be delivered upon, as these towns are in urgent need of investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44402/14]

Enterprise Support Services Expenditure

Michael Fitzmaurice

100. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the strategy he and his Department are developing for smaller towns, such as Castlerea, Boyle, Mohill and Tuam, that will make it viable to live in the west of Ireland; if his Department has a strategy to tackle unemployment black spots in this region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44403/14]

Job Creation

Michael Fitzmaurice

102. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department is identifying unemployment black spots in order that investment may be targeted towards those areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44000/14]

Manufacturing Development Forum

Michael Fitzmaurice

112. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department and IDA Ireland are actively seeking to create manufacturing jobs in the west of Ireland; the efforts made by his Department and IDA Ireland to create manufacturing jobs in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43999/14]

EU Regulations

Michael Fitzmaurice

127. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide assistance and funding to small and medium enterprises that are struggling to meet the high costs associated with attaining certification to standard EN1090, formerly the CE Mark and EN127; if he is aware that in some instances, the projected cost of EN1090 certification has forced SMEs out of business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43996/14]

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Michael Fitzmaurice

129. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the investment his Department has directed to each of the counties of Roscommon, Leitrim, Dublin, Galway, Mayo and Sligo in each of the past five years; the number of visits that have been paid to each county by IDA Ireland in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43997/14]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Michael Fitzmaurice

132. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason indigenous Irish companies and entrepreneurs are being less favourably treated when it comes to start-up and expansion assistance and, in particular, the reason indigenous small to medium projects appear to flounder at local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43998/14]

Medical Card Reviews

Michael Fitzmaurice

134. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of persons (details supplied) in County Sligo who have severe medical needs; his views on whether these persons warrant a full medical card and not the general practitioner visit card which they have been offered; if he will personally read the letters sent by various medical professionals, from within and without the Health Service Executive asking that these persons be granted full medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44512/14]

Garda Transport Provision

Michael Fitzmaurice

109. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the number of Garda vehicles operating out of Carrick-on-Shannon Garda station in County Leitrim has been reduced by two Garda cars, one Garda transport vehicle and one Garda motorcycle in recent months in view of the number of gardaí stationed there and the volume of tourist traffic in the town and surrounding area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43787/14]

Accident and Emergency Services Provision

Michael Fitzmaurice

382. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if services in the accident and emergency department in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway, are to have their opening hours reduced to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or 12 hour accident and emergency in the next six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43941/14]

Septic Tank Grants

Michael Fitzmaurice

529. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon whose septic tank has failed inspection, the septic tank having not been registered, and who, through economic circumstances, is unable to meet the costs of remediation, he will issue the grant for persons who meet the income criteria and who have no possibility of meeting the costs of remediation without assistance. [44315/14]

Agriculture Scheme Data

Michael Fitzmaurice

268. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown on a county basis of the number of farmers who have applied for the disadvantaged area scheme and the single farm payment schemes. [43145/14]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Michael Fitzmaurice

275. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have been paid under the disadvantaged area scheme and the single farm payment schemes in Counties Roscommon and Leitrim. [43247/14]

Departmental Offices

Michael Fitzmaurice

437. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to close the district veterinary office in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41578/14]

Minor Works Scheme Expenditure

Michael Fitzmaurice

888. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm that there is provision in the 2015 budget for minor works grants for primary schools, as such a provision existed in previous budgets; the way schools are expected to carry out necessary minor repairs without this funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41481/14]

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options

Michael Fitzmaurice

10. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on relocation sites here; the way she proposes to resolve the debacle that is going on for 17 years regarding the 53 so-called special areas of conservation complexes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40149/14]