923. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of unfinished housing developments in counties Longford and Westmeath that have had issues resovled and have had site resolution plans drawn up since the establishment of the national co-ordination committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37908/13]
922. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline, in tabular form, the amount of funding that has been allocated to local authorities in counties Westmeath and Longford to date to address urgent public safety issues on unfinished housing estates; the number of developments in each county that have had safety works carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37907/13]
921. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a voter registration drive will be launched nationally in conjunction with local authorities and community groups in order to promote active citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37906/13]
801. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has considered the Irish Postmasters' Union 2012 Report on The Future of the Post Office Network in Ireland; the measures that can be taken at Government level to support the continuation of the post office network here; if he has consulted with the Board of An Post on potential service contracts that might be available to the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37909/13]
750. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures taken by his Department in conjunction with the Arts Council to protect the State's investment in regional arts infrastructure, particularly in the midlands region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38272/13]
540. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures taken by her Department to allow those who avail of temporary work opportunities to return to social welfare protection in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36819/13]
517. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new jobs that have been created in the digital gaming sector here in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37900/13]
484. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if targeted measures will be introduced to increase working capital in small and medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36854/13]
458. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a register for all lobbyists will be introduced; the way the introduction of such a register will contribute to a more open and transparent Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38274/13]
452. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures taken by his Department to reform regulations and procedures in relation to public procurement in order to make it easier for Irish small and medium enterprises to gain access to public contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37904/13]
381. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered the policy recommendations set out by the National Council for Special Education in its Policy Advice Paper on the Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Ireland, November 2011; how many of the main recommendations relating to early intervention and school age years have been adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38275/13]
211. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Finance if a system of auditing banks is in place to ensure that they are delivering on lending promises and targets; the body that oversees such an audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37901/13]
145. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Finance if the VAT rate of 9% for restaurant and catering services, hotel and holiday accommodation, admissions to cinemas, theatres, certain musical performances, museums and art gallery exhibitions, fairgrounds or amusement park services, the use of sporting facilities, hairdressing services, and printed matter will be maintained; if he will acknowledge the significant role this VAT rate plays in developing the food, tourism and hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36797/13]
642. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress being made in issuing public services cards; the rationale for their issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35173/13]
641. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of integrated employment and support service Intreo offices operating here; if further offices will open this year; where those offices will open; if she will report on the success of Intreo offices so far in providing income and employment supports for job seekers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35172/13]
640. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions taken by her Department to clear backlogs of social welfare claims processed in the Longford office; if there has been a subsequent improvement in processing times and responses as a result of these actions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35151/13]
349. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which a proposed new model to improve the way resources for children with special educational needs are allocated to schools will be developed; the organisations and representative bodies involved in consultations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34729/13]
225. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if a permanent secure psychiatric unit will be established in the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33966/13]
121. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that carers are adequately protected so that they may continue to provide care rather than placing their loved ones in full-time care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34009/13]
118. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the continuation of Granard social welfare office, County Longford; if figures are available on the number of persons attending the office's Monday information and claim taking service; if the office will continue to operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33985/13]
422. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a referendum on the issue of marriage equality will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33144/13]
692. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that patients in all regions of the country will have access to comprehensive hospice inpatient and home care services; if he will acknowledge the significant savings the provision of an adequate number of hospice beds could make by reducing admissions rates and length of stay in expensive acute hospitals; if 450 beds will be made available in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32084/13]
689. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if legislation will be implemented to regulate the use of sunbeds to assist in reducing the number of persons developing skin cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32065/13]
641. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the measures he has taken to address the cost of medication here; if pharmacists are obliged to publish dispensing details and other fees; if greater price transparency could be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31518/13]
639. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that the illicit tobacco trade does not benefit from any measures introduced to support a decrease in tobacco consumption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31511/13]
638. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the steps taken by his Department in conjunction with the pharmaceutical health care sector to allow for new and innovative medicines to be funded and for timely access to new medicines; if he acknowledges the strong link between innovation and better health outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31509/13]
588. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that any deal reached on the Common Agricultural Policy will ensure a sustainable supply of raw materials at a competitive price for processors; that competitiveness within the agri-food sector is improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31459/13]
544. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a review of the direct provision system for asylum seekers will take place in order to ensure that international human rights standards are adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31519/13]
506. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the period of time he envisages it will take to inspect all of the approximately 12,000 septic tanks in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31596/13]
496. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the working relationship that exists between the group water scheme sector and local authorities will remain in place following the establishment of Irish Water; if capital and subsidy supports to the GWS sector will be protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31507/13]
424. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a grocery code of conduct will be introduced to ensure fair commercial practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31460/13]
317. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the situation in relation to special needs assistants and resource teacher allocations; if he will bring certainty to parents and school communities that the necessary supports for children with special needs will be provided; if he will acknowledge the important role played by SNAs and resource teachers in ensuring that children with special needs progress and develop in the mainstream school setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31733/13]
255. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Finance if changes in respect of anti-money laundering requirements for the purchase of prize bonds can be balanced in order to ensure the need for appropriate anti-money laundering requirements while also allowing for convenience for ordinary customers who wish to purchase prize bonds as gifts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32024/13]
160. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland's overseas aid programme is assisting developing countries to deal with and increase resilience to environmental hazards and climate change challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31516/13]
159. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland's overseas aid programme will support agricultural research in developing countries, with a view to assisting farmers to grow more nutritious and sustainable food; the way in which access to markets can be improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31512/13]
248. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if the National Asthma Programme will be included in next year's budget and the 2014 Health Service Executive Service Plan; if the first phase of asthma patients will be given a structured asthma review in 2014; if 17 clinical nurse specialist posts will be recruited to facilitate the roll out of the National Asthma Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31194/13]
413. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a grandfather clause will be inserted into new legislation to enable architects who have many years of experience to be permitted to refrain from sitting exams in order to be registered with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland; if an alternative method of registering experienced architects could be devised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30152/13]
403. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the issue of calendar farming will be reviewed, in view of the fact that the severe weather conditions experienced by farmers in recent years has highlighted that restricting farming activity by specific dates is no longer viable; if prevailing weather and ground conditions will instead be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30165/13]
239. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the position for families with more than one child needing access to the July provision scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30087/13]
190. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Finance if the agricultural relief available to farmers to assist them in passing their farms to relatives in order to maintain a working farm within the family unit will be maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30170/13]
181. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Finance if the credit review office limit of appeals could be raised from €500,000 to €3 million in order to better assist small and medium enterprises particularly seeking to re-finance debt from institutions that are in wind down mode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30092/13]
240. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if the private and voluntary nursing home sector will be enabled to meet the care requirements of an increasing ageing population, particularly in view of the large numbers of persons inappropriately placed in acute hospitals; if a strategy that supports private and voluntary nursing homes to meet the significant growth in demand for nursing home care will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29835/13]
236. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if an independent appeals mechanism will be introduced to adequately address failure to agree necessary fees for nursing home care with the National Treatment Purchase Fund; if an independent appeals mechanism will be introduced to afford nursing homes the opportunity to address Health Information and Quality Authority judgments and conclusions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29757/13]
235. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if an enhanced framework that recognises and supports the increasing complex care requirements of nursing home residents will be introduced; if he will acknowledge that an appropriate model would create significant employment within the health care sector and support local economies and communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29756/13]
151. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on progress made in achieving the renewable electricity target of 40% by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29721/13]
312. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if voting rights will be extended to Irish citizens living abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28759/13]
64. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland will spend 70 cents in every €100 on overseas aid by 2015 in line with the millennium development goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28784/13]
209. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the national dementia strategy is published with an implementation plan, clearly defined leadership and lines of accountability, that timely diagnosis and cost effective post-diagnostic early interventions are core elements of the strategy, that there will be a commitment to enhancing the provision of education and community based support and service for carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28499/13]
1099. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat service will become a permanent safety fixture on the lake and River Shannon after serving its 12-month probation; if he will acknowledge the important contribution the service has made to safety on the water since its operation in June 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27529/13]
1029. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if the air ambulance service operating from Custume Barracks, Athlone, County Westmeath, will be retained beyond the pilot programme ending this month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27805/13]