1262. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the difficulty that has arisen with section 63 of the Adoption Act 2010 due to a recent change in Russian law; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulty this has caused for Irish families already engaged and at an advanced stage of the adoption process with Russia; the steps being taken to assist the families affected; if she will take immediate action to amend section 63 to assist these families in completing their adoptions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38080/13]
1195. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the discrepancies between single farm payment penalties across the different counties; if he will detail the reasons for same; his views on whether this discrepancy is fair on farmers; if his attention has been drawn to the pressure and distress inspections are placing on farmers; the steps being taken to equalise the penalties across the various counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37930/13]
1194. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide figures for the number of Tipperary farmers notified in advance of a single farm payment on farm inspection, as required by the charter of rights drawn up with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37929/13]
1193. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the average single farm payment penalty imposed on Tipperary farmers under the categories of cattle inspections, GAEC inspections and nitrates inspections; the way this compares to the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37928/13]
684. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the changes made to the Community Employment Manual, updated earlier this year; if she will detail the impact of these changes on community employment scheme supervisors; if she will clarify the impact these changes will have on the ability of a supervisor to carry out voluntary work in their own time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38390/13]
331. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the post-primary school transport scheme in view of the difficulty that it is causing families; if his attention has been drawn to the disruption evident as a result of changing from catchment area to closest school; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the changes are forcing extra expenses on families who want their children to attend a certain school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37861/13]
330. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a decision of the school transport appeals board with respect to a family (details supplied) in County Laois; if he will overturn this decision in view of the information provided; if he will not overturn the decision, if he will provide an assurance that a concessionary seat will be available for the duration of the child's time in school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37860/13]
379. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will change Special Education Circular 02/05 to include Down's syndrome as a low incidence disability; if he will ensure that children with Down's syndrome are given access to maximum resource hours; if he will commit to making a decision on this matter prior to the summer recess; if he will provide an update on the progress that has been made since meeting representatives of Down Syndrome Ireland on 25 June; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35437/13]
510. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the maximum number of hours available to a person requiring round the clock care under the home care package in each Health Service Executive area; the reason for the discrepancy in this figure; his views on whether this is fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33128/13]
464. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will detail the reasons that inspection reports for child care facilities have not been published online to date, despite promises to the contrary; the reasons for the delay in publishing these important reports; her views on whether such a delay is acceptable; if she will provide an update on the creation of a register of child care facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32989/13]
153. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding a second business passport application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the delay in issuing a decision in this case; when a decision will issue in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31563/13]
236. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the criteria in place for qualification for a named FÁS course (details supplied), if his attention has been drawn to the fact that at present a person must be living in the State for two years to avail of this scheme; his views on whether this is fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30660/13]
232. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will allow a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary to complete an apprenticeship with FÁS outside this jurisdiction; if he will recognise their work outside the State for the purposes of their apprenticeship; if his attention has been drawn to the person who cannot complete their apprenticeship within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30214/13]
1115. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of farmers in north Tipperary (details supplied) have yet to be paid for lands acquired through compulsory purchase order for the construction of a road; the reasons for the excessive delay in this case; the steps being taken to tackle this issue; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27954/13]
309. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the decision made to alter the July home provision for children with autism; his views on whether the cutting of these services is fair and equitable; if his attention has been drawn to the distress and upset being caused to parents as a result of the changes made to the July home provision for children with autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27735/13]
308. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a decision by Student Universal Support Ireland to assess a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 as dependent on their parents in view of the fact that they are living independently and do not receive any financial support from their parents; his views on whether it is fair that this person be assessed as dependent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27734/13]
268. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm the number of student grant applications submitted to SUSI that have been deemed ineligible as they have not been completed within the time frame set out; if he will confirm the number of student grant applications in County Tipperary rejected for the same reasons; if he will concede that the delay in many of these cases was caused by SUSI rather than the applicant; his views on whether this rejection is fair; if he will immediately re-open these applications without forcing students to appeal in view of the delays in the SUSI system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26997/13]
240. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide assurance that an essential staff member who is retiring from a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be replaced for the coming academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26601/13]
178. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the measure introduced in Budget 2013 to provide capital gains tax relief to enable farm restructuring or the swapping of farm land; if EU approval has been given for this measure; if not when such approval is expected; the steps being taken to secure an approval; if he will ensure that any such swaps or transfers undertaken since 1 January will be eligible for this relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26998/13]
162. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an estate (details supplied) in County Tipperary is not an exempted estate for the purposes of the local property tax despite the fact that it was exempt from the household charge; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no improvement works have been undertaken on this estate since the introduction of the household charge; his views on whether this is fair and equitable on the residents in this estate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25992/13]
276. 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 reason this application has been closed despite all information requested being returned by the applicant; his views on whether this action was fair and reasonable; if his further attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused to the person as a result of this decision; if he will re-open this case and ensure that a decision is made as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25650/13]
244. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that reasonable accommodations for the leaving certificate exam have not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if he will detail the reasons these accommodations have not been awarded to the person in question; if his attention has been drawn to the exceptional circumstances at play in this case; if his attention has been drawn to the distress and upset being caused to the person and their family as a result of this decision; his views on whether this decision is fair; if he will review this matter and ask that an exemption be made in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25306/13]
188. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being faced by those engaged in the now discontinued shared ownership scheme; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that countless families across County Tipperary and indeed the country who engaged in this scheme are facing significant financial difficulty due to the fact that the rent on the council owned portion of their home has increased exponentially; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that as a result they are making little progress in the purchase of their home; if he will amend the Housing Act 2009 to resolve this issue; if he will consider allowing these persons to convert to a loan on their full property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24757/13]
559. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will sanction the payment of a herd test for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if his attention has been drawn to the circumstances in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23689/13]
436. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the refusal of invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; if she will confirm the grounds on which the medical officer who examined the application decided this person was capable of work of any nature; if she will confirm the type of work she or her medical officer would recommend for this person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24265/13]
363. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary was not granted supplementary panel rights; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the teacher in question meets the service and pay scale requirements; if he considers this exclusion to be fair and reasonable; if he will review this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24487/13]
120. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the decision made by Student Universal Support Ireland to refuse grant aid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if he will clarify the position where a person has commenced but not completed a level 6/7 FETAC course and is now returning to undertake a level 8 course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23382/13]
248. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progress being made to formulate a replacement for mobility allowance and motorised transport grant; if he will provide a timeframe for the publication of same; if he will provide a guarantee that a replacement scheme will be in place prior top the cessation of payments under the current scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23110/13]
680. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the reasons general practitioner cards have not been provided to those with a long term illness as set out in the Programme for Government; the reason for the ongoing delay in delivering on this commitment; the reason the deadlines set out for deliverance on this issue have continually been broken; the current status of the plans to extend the GP card scheme to those with long term illness; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused to those with a long term illness who are forced to pay for free GP care at present; if free GP care will be extended to all members of the public as stated in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22809/13]
480. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm the timeframe it takes to process an application for a firearm certificate and the timeframe after the application has been lodged that it actually takes to issue the licence/certificate; if he will further confirm if out of date certificates are being issued in respect of applications which are taking in excess of 12 months to process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22742/13]
378. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will make her intentions clear regarding the future of child benefit; if child benefit will be cut in order to fund additional free preschool care; if her attention has been drawn to the distress, fear and upset being caused as a result of these reports; if her attention has been drawn to the importance of child benefit in assisting families in keeping their heads above water; if she will give an assurance that child benefit will not be cut any further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23066/13]
299. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify his comments made regarding the cutting of child benefit; if he will make his intentions clear with regards to the future of child benefit; if child benefit will be cut in order to fund additional free pre-school care; if he will clarify the current status of these proposals and if costings have been undertaken; if his attention has been drawn to the distress, fear and upset being caused as a result of these reports; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of child benefit in assisting families in keeping their heads above water; if he will give an assurance that child benefit will not be cut any further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23067/13]
268. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail the reasons a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary has not been approved to offer a post leaving certificate programme for 2013/2014; if he will reconsider this decision in view of the fact that between 15-20 students have expressed an interest in this course; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a teaching post will be lost if this course is not sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22703/13]
137. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing issue with regards to the non-payment of a community based organisation (details supplied) which has been carrying out insulation works under the warmer homes scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that this is causing for the organisation in question; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that jobs will be lost if this payment is not advanced as a matter of urgency; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this action jeopardises the future of this scheme in the county and subsequently adversely impacts on older and vulnerable people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21606/13]
415. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will consider removing the age limits in place for the free smear test under the National Cervical Screening Programme in view of the incidence of this cancer in younger women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21550/13]
338. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the transport subsidy scheme for the importation of fodder in view of the continued difficulties being faced by farmers; if he will extend this scheme to cover marts and private merchants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21346/13]
214. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a guarantee that her Department will continue providing funding for the maintenance of MABS offices nationwide; if she will further guarantee that no reduction of this funding will be allowed; if she will ensure that the current disagreements between MABS and citizens information does not jeopardise the operations of any MABS office; if she will detail the steps being taken to resolve this conflict; if her attention has been drawn to the vital importance of MABS offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21329/13]
264. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to date in cutting the drugs spend in the State; the steps that will be taken to encourage health care professionals to prescribe generic drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20823/13]
263. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to collect outstanding moneys owed to the Health Service Executive by health insurers; the total sum outstanding; the progress made to date in ensuring doctors complete paper work within a set period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20822/13]
229. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will rescind the decision taken by the Health Service Executive to withdraw core funding for the Irish Society for Quality and Safety in Healthcare; his views on whether the HSE is accountable and transparent without the oversight of the ISQSH; if he will confirm where these funds have gone; if they have been returned to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20571/13]
101. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will, in view of the information that has come to light in the past week, take definitive steps to cap the salaries being received by senior officials in the banks that have received State capitalisation; if he will provide a guarantee that these payments will be clamped down on; his views on whether the current salaries and payments being received are fair in view of the funds provided to these banks by the Irish taxpayer; the reason he did not exercise his vote against approving such a payment in an individual case in the past week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20821/13]
95. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will intervene to prevent the future increase in mortgage interest rates as announced by a number of named banks earlier this week (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress these increases will have on strained mortgage holders; his views on whether this increase will drive further mortgages into arrears; his views on whether increases are beneficial for the economy as a whole; the steps he wil take to lessen this burden; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20734/13]
611. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if will intervene and take steps to prevent the closure of Nenagh tourist information office, further to the decision made by Fáilte Ireland to withdraw; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of this office in promoting the town and surrounding area; if he will provide an assurance as to the future of this office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20009/13]
463. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will sanction emergency funding to assist farmers facing a fodder crisis at present; if emergency funds cannot be made available, if he will ensure an advance single farm payments/disadvantaged payments; if his attention has been drawn to the desperation and despair being felt by farmers as a result of this crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19803/13]
269. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider altering the definition of a dependent student for the purposes of the student grant; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the definition in its current form leads to unfairness when those under the age of 23 years receive no financial support from their parents/legal guardians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18564/13]
1073. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to an application submitted under AEOS 3 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when a decision will issue in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17632/13]
1041. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm the number of redeployment vacancies that currently exist and the associated grades, for public services employees in his Department in Portlaoise, County Laois [16964/13]
1032. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant aid is available under the organic farming scheme to assist farmers in purchasing machinery; the reason this does not cover the purchase of tractors or cattle trailers; if he will consider the extension of this scheme to purchase essential machinery such as trailers and tractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16811/13]
964. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to an application for permission to remain in the State, Stamp 4, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the current status of this application; if he will confirm whether this individual can take up work experience as prescribed by their college course; when a decision will be reached in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17630/13]
427. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on the status of a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the current status of this payment; the reason for the conflicting information being received by the person; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress being caused as a result; if he will ensure payment of this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16699/13]