292. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress being made on the flood relief scheme for Douglas in County Cork; when each stage of the scheme is expected to be completed; the funding that has been allocated to this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24745/15]
240. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance the reductions he has made to the universal social charge; the number of persons who no longer have to pay the charge as a result of the decisions taken by this Government; if he will confirm that it is his intended position to continue to reduce the burden the charge imposes on working persons; if he will ultimately envisage that the charge will be brought to an end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24761/15]
233. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views that in certain school settings, particularly those where students have behavioural difficulties, sometimes teachers and other staff sustain injuries arising from work place assaults; if she will amend the regulation of sick leave to take this into account, ensuring that teachers and other staff do not experience reduced income arising from such assaults; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24227/15]
229. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health regarding persons returning from overseas or moving to Ireland for the first time who seek to take out private health insurance, if he will introduce measures to require health insurers to recognise health insurance cover held outside of Ireland by providers not registered here; where such policies have been held, if he will provide for an exemption from waiting periods for pre-existing conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24468/15]
200. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the way children with impaired hearing can receive cochlear implants; who sets out the rules and procedures for accessing this service; the amount of funding provided on an annual basis for this service; the location of hospitals where implants take place; if follow-up appointments are available in hospitals outside of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24225/15]
199. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the supports available to assist children who have impaired hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24224/15]
108. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will allow a period of time for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, who are working or who have worked in the Civil Service and who have entered civil partnerships or who will marry, to change their single person pension to a spouse and children pension, on payment of equitable contributions, in view of the fact that such a change would recognise that civil partnerships and marriage were not previously available to these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24467/15]
25. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way the proposed sale of Aer Lingus to the International Airlines Group will benefit Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23240/15]
17. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he recognises that reducing passenger numbers at Cork Airport needs to be addressed by a change in aviation policy; the measures he plans to take in order to assist in facilitating an increase in passenger numbers at Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23239/15]
868. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the procedures and supports in place to assist persons who are involved in traffic accidents, where the person who caused the damage is an uninsured driver; the circumstances under which a person may claim against the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland, pending finalisation of a claim against the Bureau; the facilities in place to assist victims of such accidents meeting the costs which arise from an accident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23065/15]
859. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make legislative changes to encourage all drivers to take out motor insurance; his views that the current penalties for not having insurance are inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23066/15]
845. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if consideration was given to the effects on employment and tourism when developing energy policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23739/15]
844. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the context of a national energy policy, if consideration was given to energy conservation as an alternative to additional electricity generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23738/15]
543. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health when he expects the Health (General Practitioner Services) Bill 2015 to complete its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas; when the roll-out of general practitioner visit cards to all those over 70 years of age will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23021/15]
433. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to review the enforcement of the requirement for all drivers to have insurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23066/15]
269. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reduce the rate of deposit interest retention tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23741/15]
268. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance his plans to increase the thresholds for capital acquisitions tax and to reduce the rate of tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23740/15]
190. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will introduce regulations to provide for a new tenant purchase scheme; when a new scheme will become operative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22587/15]
148. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to recruit additional staff for organ transplantation; the way he proposes to address the shortage of transplant consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22651/15]
144. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing for play therapists to be regulated by CORU – Health and Social Care Professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22630/15]
79. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will amend legislative provisions in order that all current and former Civil Service employees who are now in civil partnerships can allocate pension entitlements to their civil partner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22578/15]
1119. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has engaged with the Irish oil industry and appropriate public bodies to determine any policy option that might facilitate the commercial future of refining; the policy options available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21913/15]
956. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills the savings accrued annually from the changes made to the pupil-teacher ratio of fee-paying schools; the number of staff positions annually that have been lost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21623/15]
955. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the primary curriculum review being carried out by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment will be completed; if she will provide details of the current curriculum in terms of subjects and the share of time spent on each subject during the primary school and secondary school day, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21622/15]
954. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the increasing enrolment in primary schools annually, the projections in terms of attendance and school buildings her Department has made for each of the next five years; the costings that are attached to these projections in terms of buildings, teachers and resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21621/15]
904. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the recent devastating earthquakes in Nepal, if he will develop a register for Irish citizens in all countries susceptible to such natural disasters, including Taiwan, which would make it easier to facilitate contact between Irish persons and their families, should a nationwide natural disaster occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21951/15]
903. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on a new development agenda that will build on the Millennium Development Goals, which is set to be launched at the Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21915/15]
902. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans and objectives for the United Nations Financing for Development, Third International Conference to be held in Ethiopia on 13 to 16 July 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21914/15]
698. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the amount spent annually on speech and language therapy; the number waiting for appointments; if he will provide an update on the reconfiguration of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21620/15]
697. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the cost of the drugs payment scheme; the annual savings that have been made in each budget over the past six years, through changes in the threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21619/15]
696. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, details of the funding provided annually for the past six years to community services, by home help, home care packages, meals on wheels, day care and respite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21618/15]
623. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on changing the eligibility criteria for the free preschool year in order that it can be availed of by a child aged three years; if not, the reason eligibility is restricted to children aged three years and three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21928/15]
566. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline her plans to introduce legislation to deal with debt collection; if such legislation will apply to all debts; when she anticipates that such legislation will be operative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21953/15]
384. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015, when the provisions exempting parts of buildings used by sporting clubs from commercial rates will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21952/15]
374. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if reductions in the public sector pension levy will apply equally to those who are working and those who are retired; when he anticipates that reductions in the pension levy will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21468/15]
158. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made to make Medtronic’s i-port advance injection device available on the long-term illness scheme; the reason for the delay in making this product available to children with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20988/15]
63. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance the way the universal social charge is applied to employee share ownership schemes; if private and semi-State companies are treated differently in applying the charge to such schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20987/15]
474. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding that has been allocated to each local authority for refurbishing void social houses; the amount of money that has been provided to date to each local authority for refurbishing void social houses; the number of void social houses each local authority is expected to refurbish using the allocated funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19354/15]
306. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the public consultation he commenced, regarding easier access to rescue drugs in emergencies, including epipens adrenaline, salbutamol, glucagon, naloxone, and glyceryl trinitrate; when consultation will be complete; when actions will be taken following the consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19355/15]
64. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a commencement order will be signed regarding section 16 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014, which inserts section 51(2A) in the Civil Registration Act 2004, providing for marriages to be conducted in outdoor locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19359/15]
617. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when Carrigaline and Douglas in County Cork will be provided with high-speed broadband; if he will provide details of the exact areas in each location that will benefit from high-speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18608/15]
566. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding levels available to councils for home adaptation grants; his plans to amend the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18208/15]
565. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of elderly supports, schemes or grants that are currently funded in his Department; if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual funding for each scheme or support; the number of persons benefiting from them; the terms and conditions of each scheme; any additional demand being sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18207/15]
447. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will amend the community lifetime rating regime in order that medical cards are considered equivalent to health insurance for the purposes of determining if a person has to pay an age-related levy, and that such a measure would ensure that persons who have medical cards, based on financial circumstances, and therefore neither require nor can afford health insurance, will not be penalised by the age-related levy, should their financial circumstances improve, and should they subsequently take out private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18177/15]
267. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider a further extension to the tax relief for mortgage interest scheme for persons who bought during the period 2004 to 2008, as persons who bought during this period did so at a time of very high prices and are now repaying very large mortgages, and many of these persons are in negative equity, and it would be extremely beneficial, as it would assist them in keeping up full mortgage repayments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18169/15]
231. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of persons in receipt of a carer's allowance, a carer's benefit, a respite care grant, a domiciliary care grant, annually, for the past five years; the level of funding available for each for the past five years; the number of persons in receipt of the half rate carer's allowance, annually, for the past five years; the terms and conditions for receipt of this allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18211/15]
230. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of elderly supports, schemes or grants that are currently funded in her Department; if she will provide, in tabular form, the annual funding for each scheme or support; the number of persons benefiting from these; the terms and conditions of each scheme; any additional demand being sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18209/15]
50. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance the reason there was a 4% annual withdrawal limit applied to approved minimum retirement funds; if there is flexibility in this restriction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17903/15]
136. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider introducing legislation for the resolution of problems associated with high hedges and trees, similar to provisions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which demonstrates a clear preference for the resolution of such disputes at local level, preferably by mediation, with recourse to the courts only as a last resort; if such legislation is intended to reduce the risk of prolonged and costly litigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16960/15]
81. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider implementing legislation on the topping and cutting of trees on private property, in particular where such trees are obstructing public footpaths and roads, interfering with rights of access, posing a risk to public safety and-or interfering with the supply of public services, such as electricity and telephone connections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16959/15]