412. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of recent reports, if he is examining proposals at present to increase the restrictions on handgun ownership; the current status of these proposals; if he will provide an assurance that any new regulations will not impact on game hunters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11751/14]
351. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the regulations to be brought forward in relation to the new sick leave scheme; when this regulation will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9337/14]
166. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide clarification on the status of those who had applied as part of the Garda recruitment process and who have been classified as Band 2 or Band 3; if these persons will be considered for any future recruitment process or will that be confined to those classified as Band 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8559/14]
191. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of Ulster Bank employees here as a result of the RBS review that is currently underway; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns that this review could lead to the loss of upwards of 1,000 jobs; if his attention has been drawn to the impact this further loss of staff would have on customer service and the general public, if he will confirm the actions being taken to engage with RBS executives in Edinburgh and the British Government to ensure that these concerns are abated; the responses received from each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7831/14]
125. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his policy for the internal advertising of Civil Service jobs; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that jobs are being advertised internally for those on a temporary contract; his views on whether this is fair particularly to those who may have recently finished on their temporary contract and are therefore precluded from applying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7237/14]
633. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if all blood samples taken in the mid-west region are sent to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick for testing; his views on whether that office is adequately staffed to deal with this increased volume of blood samples; if he will sanction further staff to assist that office; if he will confirm the percentage of the submitted samples that are tested within the required timeframe; if he will confirm what becomes of untested samples after this date; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress this causes to patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4972/14]
501. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current waiting time to access legal aid in County Tipperary, both north and south; the way this compares nationally; if his attention has been drawn to the distress and upset being caused to those awaiting legal assistance; if he is aware of the detrimental impact this delay is having on those in financial distress, for example, with mortgage repayments; if he will sanction further staff to tackle this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4971/14]
500. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the process for the regulation of shooting ranges here; if the concerns of members of the public are taken into consideration when examining an application for a licence for same; if there is a public consultation; if there is an appeals process; if there is a required distance between the proposed shooting range and homes, farms and schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4970/14]
465. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the national broadband scheme; when broadband will be available in rural areas (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3810/14]
464. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the national broadband scheme; the timeline as to when broadband will be available in rural areas in County Tipperary (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3795/14]
252. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties accessing school transport being faced by children with special needs in South Tipperary (details supplied); the steps being taken to resolve this matter; if his attention has been drawn to the distress and upset being caused as a result of this dispute; if he will immediately intervene on behalf of the children and parents affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3707/14]
70. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a course (details supplied) has been deemed ineligible for the student grant in view of the fact that it is a full-time course of two years in a duration in a leading university, that leads to a recognised FETAC Level 7 qualification; the reason Student Universal Support Ireland has stated that this course does not lead to a major award; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship, distress and upset caused to students on this course as a result of this decision; if he will review this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3201/14]
568. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a decision made to refuse a grant for sow housing welfare scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2749/14]
239. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills his view on whether it is fair that a school that has commenced a school book rental scheme is excluded from the recently announced book rental grant, even if this scheme is only operational in one class at present; if he will consider extending this to include schools that have a partial book rental scheme; if he will review the case of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary to determine their eligibility for grant aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2405/14]
627. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the penalty imposed on a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary in 2008 further to a single payment inspection; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the person was never notified of this penalty; if in view of this, the person can now appeal this penalty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55308/13]
329. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a breakdown by county of the number of Industrial Development Authority led jobs created in 2013; if he will indicate the amount of IDA jobs delivered in north Tipperary and south Tipperary in 2013; if he will provide information on the number of visits of potential investors or the IDA to north and south Tipperary in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1613/14]
283. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the Templemore flood relief scheme; the position regarding this project; when work will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1614/14]
207. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will make a determination as to the eligibility of a course for the purposes of the student grant with Student Universal Support Ireland (details supplied); if the reason the grant has been allocated to a large number of students in this course and refused to others; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this course is a full-time, FETAC recognised course that leads to a qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55535/13]
184. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the hardship caused to families as a result of the fact that the remote area grant is not paid until the end of the school year; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that this late payment may impact on the ability of strained families to pay for fuel to drive their children to school every day, if he will review this system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55295/13]
602. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to parliamentary Questions Nos. 499 and 522 of 10 December, if he will address the specific issues raised with regard to the lack of supports available for teenagers who have suffered a brain injury; if his attention has been drawn to the lack of a dedicated adolescent rehabilitation unit for teenagers who have suffered an acquired brain injury; if his attention has been drawn to the lack of support group or organisation for affected teenagers; if his attention has been drawn to the devastation caused to teenagers as a result of these injuries; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a teenage brain can recover swifter and better if the correct supports are put in place; if he is aware that the organisations referred to in the reply do not cater for teenagers as was erroneously stated; if he will take immediate action to tackle this issue and provide for an adolescent support unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54149/13]
548. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if prescription charges are applicable to those living in Ireland, and who hold a UK pension, in view of the fact that the UK National Health Service covers the health care costs of those who hold a UK pension but live outside of the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53741/13]
522. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of a dedicated adolescent rehabilitation unit for teenagers who have suffered an acquired brain injury; if his attention has been drawn to the lack of support group or organisation for affected teenagers; if his attention has been drawn to the devastation caused to teenagers as a result of these injuries; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a teenage brain can recover more swiftly and better if the correct supports are put in place; if he will take immediate action to tackle this issue and provide for an adolescent support unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52874/13]
316. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that under the warmer homes scheme, applicants can now avail of cavity wall insulation where previously this option was not available; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many previous applicants now feel aggrieved that they could not avail of wall cavity insulation; his views on whether this is fair; and if he will allow previous applicants to reapply to avail of this option. [52991/13]
86. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reasons for the excessive and unfair delay in processing this case; if the delay was caused by a technical issue; the reasons it is taking so long to resolve this issue; if he will ensure that this application is immediately reviewed and the information sent to the person; if he will ensure that this application is given early consideration once the family is notified of and returns the required documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52231/13]
403. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the school eye screening programme; his views that this delay is acceptable; if his attention has been drawn to the adverse impact on pupils as a result of these delays; the steps he will take to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51476/13]
396. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene to ensure that funding is made available to the Dyspraxia Association of Ireland to allow them to continue their vital work, in the absence of any provision by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51301/13]
296. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a transfer for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary from their current post to the Garda vetting unit; if his attention has been drawn to the personal circumstances of the person in question; the reason this was not considered for the recent transfers to this unit, in view of the fact that they were on the waiting list; if he will ensure that if any further vacancies-transfer opportunities become available to the vetting unit that they are offered to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51620/13]
175. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an assurance that the families seeking to adopt in Russia, who have been affected by the conflict in Irish and Russian law as a result of section 63 of the Adoption Act, will be provided for prior to the Christmas recess; if a response has been received from the Attorney General on this matter; if not, when a reply is expected; if she will bring forward legislation immediately to tackle this issue in view of the very short timeframe open to these families; if she will provide an update on progress to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50906/13]
276. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the sick leave entitlements for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if the entire summer and Easter holidays will count towards the allowed period of sick leave; his views on whether this is fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50867/13]
667. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an assurance that tap water is safe for use in the making up of babies' bottles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49123/13]
1177. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who is currently awaiting an urgent scan in Cork University Hospital; the reasons for the delay; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the person was rushed to hospital twice last weekend by ambulance due to the severe pain; his views on whether this is a logical and reasonable use of resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46683/13]
1176. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason the fire brigade is not called to assist in the case of cardiac arrest where an ambulance is not available; his views on whether this would be a prudent measure in view of the frequency of cardiac arrests and the need for swift action in these cases; if he will examine the possibility of creating a call system for the fire brigade when the ambulance is not available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46682/13]
964. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide clarification on the scale of the claw-back currently being undertaken on single farm payments as a result of the ongoing land parcel eligibility review; if he will confirm the years being reviewed, if he will provide an assurance that a ceiling will be put on the years being examined; his views on whether this review is fair on farmers here in view of the fact that the information provided was done so using the best technology available at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46938/13]
963. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide clarification on the exact number of farmers who have been contacted as part of the claw-back on single farm payments from the ongoing land parcel eligibility review; the total sum being sought from farmers by his Department to date; the number of farmers in County Tipperary who have been contacted in this regard; and the total sum being recouped from farmers in County Tipperary. [46937/13]
428. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the anomaly that exists within the JobBridge scheme and those who have been working voluntarily; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that many of those who have been working for free to try to further their careers cannot take up on JobBridge positions, as they have not been claiming a qualifying social welfare payment, and are losing out as a result; if she will review a case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary relating to this issue; if she will take steps to tackle this unfairness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45736/13]
337. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason this application was cancelled; if he will review this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46805/13]
488. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide clarification on the total number of discretionary medical cards issued to persons in County Tipperary in 2013; if he will provide information on the way this compares to 2011 and 2012; the total number of discretionary medical card holders in County Tipperary in 2013; the way this compares to 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44146/13]
487. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the huge discrepancy between the cost of asthma inhalers in this jurisdiction compared to Northern Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the hugely detrimental impact this drastic price difference is having on the almost half a million asthma sufferers here; if he will detail the reasons these vital inhalers are multiple times more expensive here; his views on whether this is acceptable; the steps being taken to tackle price differentials in vital drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44145/13]
390. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will detail the number of new Garda patrol vehicles being made available to the district of Tipperary in 2013; the number of new vehicles made available to this area in 2012; the total number of vehicles available to An Garda Síochána in the Tipperary area; the number of vehicles retired from this fleet in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44144/13]
363. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 188 of 22 May 2013, the steps being taken to assist those trapped in the shared ownership scheme; if the Government review on this matter has been completed; the steps that will be taken to assist the families affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44554/13]
178. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to an overcrowding issue in a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the steps being taken by his Department to tackle this issue; if he will provide an update on the status of an application for funding for a new building submitted by this school; if he will provide assurance that funding will be provided to assist this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44219/13]
173. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of the drug, augmentin, in pharmacies here; if he is concerned about the impact this shortage will have on patients, in particular on patients who find augmentin to be the only successful drug in this regard; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that pharmacists are reporting that this drug will not now be available until October 2014; if he will detail the steps being taken to tackle the shortage of this drug and other vital drugs here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43880/13]
300. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine the legality and fairness of a farm inspection in County Tipperary in 2012 (details supplied) in view of the fact that the person was never notified of the inspection and was not present on the farm at the time of the inspection; if he will reconsider the penalties imposed arising from this inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42984/13]
299. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of disadvantaged areas scheme applications from farmers in County Tipperary; the total number of these that have been paid to date; the reason for the delay in the remainder of the cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42983/13]
598. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the status of the new vaccination against meningitis B, Bexsero, here; when a decision will be made as to whether this drug will be made available in this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42428/13]
512. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made to date in assisting the families currently engaged in the adoption process with Russia and who are affected by a recent change in Russian law which creates a conflict with section 63 of the Adoption Act 2010; the responses received further to representations made to the Russian authorities; if she will provide an assurance that she will bring forward amendments to the Adoption Act if action is not forthcoming from the Russian authorities; if she will provide an assure that these families will be allowed complete their adoptions prior to the 31 October deadline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42425/13]
495. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a county breakdown on the land eligibility penalties imposed as a result of inspections under the single farm payment scheme for 2012; if he will provide figures on the percentage of farms where a penalty was imposed; the rate of the penalty imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42263/13]
648. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has held a licence since 1989 is entitled to have a trailer towing E category added to their B licence in view of the fact that they are a full-time farmer. [41042/13]
594. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the progress being made to provide some redress and compensation for the victims of the blackleg vaccine; if his attention has been drawn to the distress and upset being caused due to the excessive delays in dealing with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40644/13]
185. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the cuts to the rehab training allowance over the past three years; the current rate of the allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38906/13]