322. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to an application made by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that this application has been waiting three years for assessment and it has been some 12 years since the incident occurred; the reasons behind this unreasonable delay; if her attention has also been drawn to the hardship this delay has caused to this person and their family; if she will expedite this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35749/14]
290. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will commit to the recruitment of the 200 additional Garda recruits; if she will provide a clear timeline for the recruitment of these gardaí; when these recruits will commence their training in Templemore, County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35313/14]
289. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of retirements from An Garda Síochána for the years 2011 to date in 2014; the ranks of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35312/14]
251. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position in relation to a single payment appeal case for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the excessive delay in processing this appeal case; if he is aware of the hardship being caused to the person; and if he will take steps to expedite this appeal. [35747/14]
163. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the VAT rate in place for Irish dancing; his views that this rate is fair when compared to the 0% rate for ballet; if he will reduce the VAT rate for Irish dancing given its cultural importance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35334/14]
138. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review her Department's policy of forcing retirement from community employment of supervisors and assistants once they reach the age of 66 years; her views on whether this treatment is fair, or legal; if she will take steps to cease this discriminatory practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35808/14]
1755. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of deer hunting letting agreements that were issued in the past ten years; the number of deer hunting letting agreements that were issued to north Tipperary resident hunters during the same period; the number of the lettings that were issued to incumbent lease holders or stalking permit holders; the number of leases that have been issued to same parties on more than one occasion; the number of hunters that were authorised to hunt on more than two lettings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33341/14]
1365. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the panel arrangements in place for special needs assistants, in view of the fact that SNAs who were made redundant prior to 1 May 2013 have no panel rights, irrespective of years of service, and are therefore disadvantaged in securing employment; her views on whether this is fair; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33893/14]
1250. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will immediately reverse the decision to impose a student service charge on all apprentices while attending institutes of technology for their periods of off-the-job training on phases 4 and 6; her views on whether these charges are fair in view of the fact that the apprentices are full time employees, not students, and do not receive any services or benefit from this charge; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that apprentices are amongst the lowest paid workers in the State and this charge is crippling for them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33106/14]
1117. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an application submitted by the Health Service Executive for additional pre-school assistance to his Department in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; his views on whether three hours' assistance is sufficient in this case; if he will sanction funding for additional hours for this person in view of the personal circumstances outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34699/14]
1059. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for funding to be released to successful applicants under the fair deal scheme; the way this compares to the waiting period at the same time last year; if he will expedite the release of funding to successful applicants in light of the financial hardship and distress being caused to applicants and the families of applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34154/14]
963. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in County Tipperary; the number of vacant public health nursing positions in County Tipperary; if he will provide a breakdown of where these vacant positions occur; the length of time these positions have been vacant; the reason these positions have not been filled; if he will take steps to ensure these vital posts are filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33739/14]
462. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details on the number of overclaim cases currently with the land parcel identification section; the average processing time in resolving these cases; the number of County Tipperary farmers awaiting a decision in their cases; his views that these delays are acceptable; if he will take steps to tackle these backlogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34153/14]
444. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 300 of 15 October 2013 if he will review the answer given in view of the fact that it has now been proven to be incorrect; the reason a fine was administered in this case in view of the fact that it was subsequently repaid; the way it was determined that there was an intentional over-declaration of 20% in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33253/14]
438. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 3 July 2014, in which he stated that the Health Service Executive had been asked to examine the specific queries raised; if he would review the issues and reply accordingly. [30302/14]
767. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that applications under the fair deal scheme are taking in excess of 12 weeks to process, and that applications for loans under the scheme are taking almost as long; his view on the effects this hardship this is having on patients' family members who officially have no obligation to meet the nursing home costs of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [29715/14]
196. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will increase the number of medical staff processing medical card applications; his views that the current medical staff numbers are adequate in view of the huge numbers of applications awaiting decisions based on discretionary grounds; the previously held discretionary cards that are set to be restored believed to be in the region of 15,000 cards, the considerable backlog already in place; his views that the current backlog is acceptable and fair; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship these delays are causing to persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28801/14]
108. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is an almost five month delay in processing arrears owed to approved applicants for disability allowance; her views that such a long delay is fair or reasonable; if her attention has been drawn to the financial hardship and distress caused to those awaiting payment; if she will immediately sanction additional staff to tackle the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28798/14]
190. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the requirement that a person living abroad must return here, and present themselves in a National Driving Licence Service office if they wish to renew their Irish driving licence; his views on whether this requirement is fair or logical; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties this causes for Irish persons living abroad who rely on their licence for employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28708/14]
564. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction the extension of BreastCheck, the national free breast cancer screening programme, to women aged between 65 and 69 years, as was promised in the programme for Government; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 10% of breast cancer patients are in the 65 to 69 year age group and this group also has high mortality rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28412/14]
523. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to ensure that life-saving adrenaline autoinjectors are available in emergency cases, similar to the defibrillator system with trained first responders; the steps being taken to alter the law in this regard to ensure that no further tragedies occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28212/14]
272. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the costs that will be incurred as a result of changing the name of Bord Gáis Éireann to Ervia; the reasons for this name change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28024/14]
192. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the 2012 decision to raise enrolment thresholds for two, three and four-teacher schools in view of the damage that has been caused to schools in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28471/14]
189. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied) in County Offaly, the tragic circumstances in this case and the hardship and distress being caused to the family at present stemming from the lack of support available for a person with an intellectual disability; if he will immediately intervene to ensure that funding is made available for a residential place in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27594/14]
416. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to tackle the unfair and discriminatory proposed entry requirements for the GLAS scheme for hill farmers on commonage; if he will take steps to reduce the 80% collective agreement clause that has been proposed before the final draft is agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26994/14]
117. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a new tenant purchase scheme will be put in place for council tenants, if he will ensure that this scheme is brought forward as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23832/14]
47. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to streamline the registration process for camper vans; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties and delays being faced by dealers as a result of their being unable to register the vehicle themselves online; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these dealerships are losing valuable business as a result of the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23430/14]
919. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm whether Health Service Executive staff, including nursing staff in St. Joseph's Hospital, Nenagh are fully trained and equipped to deal with Parkinson's patients when they are admitted for any medical condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23162/14]
690. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will confirm the position of her Department with respect to Syrian nationals seeking refugee status here; if priority for refuge will be given to Syrian refugees with family here; if Syrian refugees with family members who are nationalised here have an entitlement to refuge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22956/14]
429. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will assist in securing information from RTE on the percentage of re-runs shown in the period from January through to March of 2014, in view of the fact that a high number of television licences are being paid through the Department of Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21062/14]
379. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase rent supplement levels to reflect the real and rising level of rents across the country; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of families are being made homeless on a weekly basis as they cannot access rented accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21276/14]
281. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will engage in meaningful discussion with representatives from the secondary schools teachers' unions regarding the proposals advanced by him for junior certificate reform; if he will meet these groups to discuss their concerns because the working group meetings currently taking place are extremely limited; if he will work with them in a constructive manner to resolve these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21555/14]
138. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the impact of the 2014 building regulations on the design and construction of agricultural buildings; the qualifications needed by an individual to design/draw such an agricultural building; if a qualification (details supplied) is a qualifying qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20397/14]
345. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the tax implications for farmers arising from his proposal on the transfer of single farm payment under the new Common Agricultural Policy scheme which states that 100% of leased entitlements may be lost to both lessor and lessee unless a permanent transfer or sale is made; if he will take steps to address the significant tax implications associated as a result of these sales-transfers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20108/14]
159. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next payment will issue for those on the grassland sheep scheme; the reasons for the delay in payments being issued to farmers cleared for payment; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship this is causing to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19799/14]
45. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the 75,000 Setanta Insurance policy holders here; where they now stand with regard to these policies; the steps to be taken to assist these policy holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19792/14]
910. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of patients regularly on trolleys in South Tipperary General Hospital; his views on whether these continued and relentlessly high numbers are fair or acceptable; the action he will take to tackle this issue as a matter of priority by immediately sanctioning emergency funding to allow for the opening of 12 step-down beds in Cashel hospital to alleviate the trolley situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19570/14]
829. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the total number of places available in long-term care/support facilities for those with mental health issues in the mid-west region; the total number of these places available in County Tipperary; his views on whether this number is sufficient in view of the information (details supplied); if he will immediately sanction funding to create more places for those requiring assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19177/14]
246. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the ever increasing time it is taking to process medical card applications, reviews and appeals; the reasons for the increased processing times; if his attention has been drawn to the huge distress and hardship this is causing applicants; if he will redeploy additional staff to reduce processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18407/14]
604. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists being faced by children in County Tipperary who are awaiting assessment by occupational therapists; his views on whether this wait is acceptable, in view of the importance of early intervention and the impact delays will have on the childs ability to access SNA resource support in school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16292/14]
557. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists being faced by children in County Tipperary who are awaiting speech and language assessment; his views on whether this wait is acceptable, in view of the importance of early intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15958/14]
75. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to resolve the difficulties being faced by those seeking to avail of the diesel rebate fuel scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the requirement to buy fuel in bulk is placing their businesses and families in danger of robberies and break-ins; if he will allow members of this scheme to buy smaller amounts and provide invoices on a quarterly basis to ensure that the minimum is achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16291/14]
204. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason an application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary was not considered; if he will immediately reconsider this application in view of the very cramped and unsafe conditions in the school at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14977/14]
1274. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current waiting times in place to book a national car test across Tipperary; his views on whether these waiting times are acceptable, in view of the fact that it is an offence not to have a valid NCT; the measures he will take to tackle these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13899/14]
1268. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reasons for the excessive delay in processing a learner's permit licence application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; his views on whether such a delay is justified; if he will ensure that this application is processed and the licence granted without any further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13729/14]
323. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will intervene to prevent the loss of a vital teacher in a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that current and projected enrolment figures show sufficient pupil numbers to retain the current teacher numbers; if his attention has been drawn to the negative impact the loss of a teacher would have on the school, on pupils, on pupil-teacher ratios, and on one on one teaching time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13270/14]
316. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the position of teachers who are seeking to retire but are facing difficulties as a result of strike days during their careers; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that teachers who have the required years of service and meet the minimum age requirement are being denied their minimum pension as a result of strike days and are now being asked to make up the strike days in September; if his attention has been drawn to the knock-on impact this is having on schools and on their ability to offer the position to another teacher in the school that would be lost; his views on whether this is fair; if he will detail the steps being taken to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13214/14]
252. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the health care system currently has a deficit of over 620 midwives; in view of this information, if he will immediately sanction the recruitment of additional midwives to tackle the shortages in place at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12553/14]
83. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of staff at a store (details supplied) in view of the fact the chain of stores is in examinership; the steps being taken to ensure all 700 jobs are protected and secured; if he will give an assurance that any bids for this store are examined in the context of job and store protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12453/14]
456. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to tackle illegal animal slaughterhouses in view of the discoveries made in Northern Ireland; if he has been in contact with the authorities in Northern Ireland on this matter; the steps being taken to tackle both the illegal slaughter and the supply to these illegal slaughterhouses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11739/14]