220. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the impact of the changes to the post primary school transport scheme on a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if his attention has been drawn to circumstances of this school and the subsequent detrimental effect of these changes; his views on whether this school is particularly impacted; the reasons for the delay in responding to written queries from this school and from South Tipperary VEC from his office and his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the fact was supplied to these bodies; when a substantive response will issue in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45885/12]
257. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue in respect of a transfer of entitlements application for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the delay in processing this case; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused as a result of this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45263/12]
249. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some general practitioners are now charging individuals for issuing letters which are required to confirm their medical conditions when applying for a social welfare payment; her views on whether she considers this a fair practice on the part of some G.Ps; if she will intervene to place a cap on such charges in view of the fact that these are persons applying for a social welfare payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43663/12]
239. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health when the decision was made not to automatically qualify cancer patients for a medical card (details supplied); if he will advise the Health Service Executive consultants of this change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43578/12]
134. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the delay by her Department in processing reviews of family income supplement payments and the impact this is having on low income families that are already stretched to the last (details supplied); her plan to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43568/12]
564. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the interim arrangements in place for the office of disability appeals and the position of the disability appeals officer; when all completed determinations and reasons for decisions reports from the office of disability appeals officer will be made available for public inspection, including any reports from the former disability appeals officer; the amount he has spent on legal costs in relation to the office of disability appeals officer since these interim arrangements were put in place; his views on whether the independent functions of the office of disability appeals officer has been compromised by being situated in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41869/12]
146. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide clarification on the reasons a specific individual was deemed ineligible to join the Defence Forces; if he will provide clarification on the illness and conditions that would prevent a successful application to the Defence Forces; if there is a register or list of such; if a specific named condition will render a person ineligible for enlistment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40941/12]
137. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reasons for the delay in replacing the crime prevention officer in the Tipperary division; the length of time this position has now been vacant; if other crime prevention officers have been replaced in other divisions; the reason such a position can be immediately replaced in one division and not another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40787/12]
65. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide some information on the categorisation of VEC’s, further to Circular 24/2012; if he will detail the criteria used for this categorisation; if he will detail the way in which this criteria was applied to North Tipperary; if this categorisation impacts negatively on the staffing structure for the new Education and Training Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40737/12]
653 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine he will review the penalties imposed on a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary further to an on-farm inspection in relation to single farm payment; his views on the fairness of the imposition of such; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34594/12]
145 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the decision to refuse subsidised post-primary school transport to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary despite the fact that this school is the chosen school of that family; if he will review the decision regarding the minimal difference in distance of two schools, the fact that elder family members are already attending the students chosen school and the fact that the pick-up point for the eligible school is 4km from the family home; if he will provide information on the cost saving made by refusing subsidised transport in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34587/12]
142 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the decision made to refuse subsidised post primary school transport to a student (details supplied) in County Tipperary despite the fact that this school is the closest school of the chosen ethos and beliefs of that student and family; if he will provide information on the cost saving made by refusing subsidised transport in this case; if he will clarify the reason the distance to the school was calculated based on walking route; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34561/12]
687 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if will provide the following information in respect to the four driver testing centres in County Tipperary, Nenagh, Thurles, Clonmel and Tipperary Town; the current waiting times in all four test centres; the numbers of drivers who were tested in each centre for the year 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31640/12]
608 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide clarification further to local concerns that a driver testing centre is to be lost in the north Tipperary area, if this is the case if he will confirm which centre is in line for closure and the reasons for such; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30523/12]
153 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the actions taken by social workers in a case (details supplied) in County Kildare; the steps that have been taken to protect the children in this case; the reason this case is not being taken seriously by the social workers involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30215/12]
187 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a late single payment scheme application for 2012 whereby the delay was caused by a failure of a Teagasc planner to submit the application online prior to the closing date; when the planner fails to do so despite an oral agreement with the person (details supplied) the person providing all requisite maps and information, if the person should be held responsible for and face penalties as a result of the delay in submitting said application.
[28628/12]
732 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information on the additional milk quota allocation provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; the rationale behind the allocation of this amount; the factors taken into account in determining same; if the amount is in line with other allocations in which there was a similar quota and lock-down period; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26198/12]
188 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary has yet to received the full sum of the entitlements owed to him from the national reserve for 2010; the steps being taken to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25748/12]
295 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide assurances that in the post primary school transport scheme for the academic year of 2012/2013, the eligibility requirement that a child must attend the nearest school having regard to ethos and language, due regard will be had for the wishes of parents who would prefer that their children be educated in a non-denominational school even if this school is further from an ethos-based school; if this will be the case if the children are actually classified as being of the religion of the closer, ethos based school; if such children will have an automatic entitlement to school transport and are not concessionary students; if such students who hold medical cards will have the charges waived; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25471/12]
163 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications nationally under the agri-environment options scheme for 2010 and 2011 that are still waiting payment; the number of these cases in County Tipperary; the reasons for the delay in same; the steps being taken to resolve this delay; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused as a result of this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24413/12]
209 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason paediatric diabetes posts in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick (details supplied), have not been filled; the reasons for the delay in same; when he expects these posts to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23610/12]
112 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reasons for the delay in finalising the legislation on personal insolvency; when he will have the completed Bill before Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22034/12]
242 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in County Tipperary that submitted appeals to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board against the loss of a teacher under the changes to staffing schedules for smaller schools as introduced in Budget 2012, and based on their increased projected enrolment for the academic year 2012/2013; if he will provide figures on the number of small schools in County Tipperary that were unsuccessful in their appeal; if he will provide details on the number of small schools in County Tipperary that will now lose a teacher as a result of the changes to the staffing schedules for schools with fewer than four teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21511/12]
435 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if the medical aspect of each appeal submitted as a result on medical grounds to the Appeals Office is examined by a fully qualified medical doctor prior to refusals being issued to applicants on medical grounds; if not, the qualifications the decision makers hold; the number of medical officers processing applications in the appeals section from January 2012 to March 2012; the numbers of applications allocated to each officer over this period for determination; and the current number of appeals of awaiting assessment by a medical officer.
[20372/12]
250 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm if an institution (details supplied) is an eligible institution for the purposes of the higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19865/12]
1319 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the progress being made in alleviating the backlog currently in place in the medical card office; the steps being taken to tackle the backlog; the number of applications still awaiting consideration in the medical card office; the number of applications being processed weekly; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18742/12]
1007 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average turnaround time for naturalisation applications for nationals from Pakistan; the reason for the specific delay in these cases; the number of these cases currently with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18741/12]
1005 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations that will face closure in the next round of closures; the locations of these closures; when a decision will be made on these closures; when the closures will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18739/12]
294 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for a redundancy payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; further to representations on this matter, the reasons for the ongoing delay in processing same; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17994/12]
521 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for naturalisation in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the current status of said applications; the progress that has been made on same; the reasons for this case taking in excess of three years; the steps being taken to resolve the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15817/12]
174 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide further information on the application requirements for small schools in line to lose a teacher as a result of budget 2012 but which now have a projected increased enrolment for 2012 and wish to avail of the newly opened appeal to the primary staffing appeals board; in particular; the reason for requesting that a school place the teacher in line to lose the post on a panel for potential redeployment prior to a decision being reached by the appeals board; if he will provide a guarantee that the same teacher will be returned to the school following a successful appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12411/12]
252 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for a redundancy payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reasons for the delay in processing same; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9727/12]
290 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information on the status of the closed respite beds in the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, County Tipperary; when these 22 beds will be re-opened further to his guarantee that these would be reopened by 31 January 2012, the reason for the delay in such; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8779/12]
204 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail the effect that the changes to staffing schedules for schools with less than four teachers as outlined in budget 2012 will have on two teacher schools; if he will detail what will happen when such a school is in line to lose a teacher, in view of the fact that departmental guidelines state that you cannot have a one teacher school; if he foresees the closure of such schools or does he envisage a situation whereby there will be one teacher schools or some other arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7682/12]
383 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding Toomevara Garda station, County Tipperary; if he will address the concerns of the local community who fear that the retiring garda will not be replaced; the steps being taken to fill this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6754/12]
141 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide information on a redundancy application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the current status of this application; when a decision can be expected on this matter; if her attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[6149/12]
141 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for naturalisation in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the current status of said applications; the reason this case is taking in excess of three years; the steps being taken to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5738/12]
219 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on the number of teaching posts that will be lost in smaller schools — schools with fewer than four teachers — in counties Tipperary and Offaly, separately, for the next academic year 2012-2013; the number of schools affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5083/12]
485 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position in this jurisdiction regarding parentage, guardianship and citizenship rights for a child born to a surrogate mother outside of the State and returned to Ireland with its biological father and his wife, the adopted mother (details supplied); the child’s entitlement to an Irish passport based on its father’s nationality; if legislation will be introduced on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3398/12]
190 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review an application for a supplementary pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3401/12]
436 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to the closure of St. Michael’s Unit at Clonmel and the transferral of patients form the north Tipperary area to Ennis General Hospital, County Clare, if his attention has been drawn to the delays in admitting mental health patients from north Tipperary to Ennis General Hospital; if there are a specific amount of beds set aside for patients for the north Tipperary area; his views that this allocation is sufficient; the way beds in the Ennis unit are being utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2058/12]
140 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the social protection payments that are considered as earnings for tax purposes and on which an individual may be liable for tax if receiving income from any other source; and if it is the intention of the Revenue Commissioners to pursue these social welfare recipients for tax on these payments.
[2145/12]
150 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) who applied for the higher education grant in County Tipperary was refused; if he will provide the FETAC level rating for the courses; if he will review this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[39877/11]
201 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants still awaiting approval under the agri-environmental options scheme for 2010; the number of farmers awaiting approval under this scheme in County Tipperary; the reasons for this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36389/11]
185 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details on the cost to the State of providing a crime prevention officer; the cost of bringing a crime prevention officer from Waterford to the Tipperary area when one is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36388/11]
173 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a redundancy payment was not paid in respect of an employee (details supplied) of his Department; if said employee can now apply for redundancy; if they are entitled to redundancy in view of the extraordinary circumstances in this individual case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35986/11]
153 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will verify the media reports that emerged over the weekend which stated that the grant scheme for postgraduate students will be scrapped for the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35503/11]
185 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify whether a named qualification (details supplied) is recognised under the FETAC system; if so, the level rating of this course for the purposes of a higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34219/11]
60 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason redundancy payment was not paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if the person may now apply for redundancy in view of the extraordinary circumstances in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32575/11]
375 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details on the number of farmers in the north Tipperary area affected by the ongoing digitisation of maps, which is consequently holding up farm payments; the steps being taken to alleviate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31783/11]