117 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the cases of medical card arrears in the Dublin area and specifically the position regarding the renewal of an application in respect of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 9.
[7369/10]
94 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding bullying in the wider public service; if complaints of bullying must be against a named person or if cases can be taken against a bullying culture in an organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7366/10]
103 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding householders that have had their house insurance withdrawn or restricted due to flooding; if the Office of Public Works, another Government Department or local authority will assist in providing insurance, providing statements to allay concerns of insurers and so on; the general reaction to such statements by insurers; and if there is an agreement with insurers regarding providing insurance to flood victims.
[7430/10]
468 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an unemployment benefit application in respect of a person (details supplied) who is seeking to have their application backdated.
[6388/10]
467 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding a person (details supplied); if all entitlements and payments are currently being made to them; if child benefit is being awarded for three children; if it is nominally in the person’s name and if payment can be made direct to them as they are currently not in receipt of same; if child dependant allowance for each of the three children is being awarded; if so, if payment can be made direct to them as they are currently not receiving same; and if the person is in receipt of the household benefits package and fuel allowance.
[6387/10]
287 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an application for a social welfare payment in respect of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and the reason the payment is not yet in order.
[5945/10]
121 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the extended mortgage relief announced in Budget 2010; if it will apply to a mortgage that commenced in 2003; the options that are available to assist a first time buyer, who purchased in 2003, who is still experiencing negative equity and who has suffered pay cuts of approximately 20% in the past few years; and if measures in Budget 2010 will be extended in full or pro-rata for mortgages outlined up to 10 years.
[5944/10]
104 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the case of a company (details supplied); the companies that have been assisted to date in 2010 from the sale of the company; the number of jobs created; the EU and other funds available to redundant employees of the company; if retirement or retraining grants will be available; if the hangers have been fully stripped or if equipment is retained there; if grants will be available to qualified avionic technicians for refresher courses to keep their qualification in place which must be carried out every two years; if she was involved in the open day back to education event; the person who organised it; the way it was funded; the reason workers were not properly informed; if all workers will be given an opportunity for application and assessment; the reason there is mention of time running out and end of assessments and so on; if her Department, EU or another agency fund this retraining education process; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[5943/10]
667 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding third level maintenance grants; if there were changes of third level maintenance grants in Budget 2010 or in the Estimates; if third level maintenance grants will be reduced and by how much; if any proposed reductions will take place in the second half of the current academic year 2009-2010 or the next academic year 2010-2011; and if he will make a statement with particular reference to person who is awaiting the second part of grant for 2009-2010.
[4889/10]
491 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding a person (details supplied) who has a paymaster general pension below the non-contributory rate; if they are entitled to apply for a non-contributory State pension; the target date for processing same; and if it will be paid as an addition to his paymaster general pension, or if full non-contributory social welfare pension can be awarded and the paymaster pension cancelled.
[4885/10]
375 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding bullying in the wider public service; if complaints of bullying must be against a named individual or if cases can be taken against a bullying culture in an organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4884/10]
315 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the recent court decision on human embryos; her plans to bring forward legislation in this area; if preparation of same has commenced and when it might be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[4886/10]
242 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding civil servants and recent changes in pay and conditions; the reason job sharing staff have taken cuts in wages greater than specified in the Budget in view of the fact that this is seen as discriminatory against mainly women workers; his views on whether the cuts should be as specified for the individual rather than related to the full pay scale; if those on job sharing can seek additional hours or go back full time or is there a restriction on this; the reason payments under the pension levy have increased in 2010 while salaries have dropped.
[4890/10]
241 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the date from which the reduced VAT rate of 21% applies; if it is in order for a utility company (details supplied) to issue invoices dated January 2010 at the old rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4888/10]
333 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the renewal of medical cards in respect of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who applied two months ago; if she will locate their application and have it renewed before the expiry date of 2 February 2010; and if she will have the new system of medical cards at North Road, Finglas examined.
[3712/10]
332 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will assist with the renewal of medical cards in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 11.
[3711/10]
331 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the guidelines for the admission to hospital for surgery of persons diagnosed with breast cancer; the recommended waiting time for a person whose doctor or specialist has recommended a mastectomy; and if she will intercede in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11.
[3710/10]
320 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to continue the practice of nominating a student to the Grangegorman Development Agency, Dublin; and when this appointment will be made.
[2351/10]
299 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the proposed new animal health and welfare Bill; the stage it is at; if the heads of the Bill have previously been published; and when the Bill will be issued.
[2350/10]
249 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will clarify the issue of the tax treatment of couples on old age pensions in a manner that could be regarded as discriminatory and outline the way in which their PAYE tax credit is implemented when the couple are on separate social welfare pensions; when the couple has one person on social welfare and one on qualified adult allowance, when the couple divide their entitlements with each getting their own payment and the way in which social welfare take this into account when they included pensions as qualified adult allowance when their own entitlement on their own record may be slightly less.
[2367/10]
237 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the annual grant awarded by him or with expenditure from his Department to the Abbey Theatre, Dublin; the reason, in this time of high unemployment, the Abbey is letting staff go and outsourcing work to the UK; if he will prevent same; if these positions have involved constructing sets previously carried out internally in their workshops will be retained; if he will introduce some joined up thinking for the national theatre in order that its attention is drawn to other Departments involved in employment creation and retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2345/10]
182 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the difficulties with the orthodontic services in the Dublin area; if he will explain the reason for the waiting list; the detail of staff numbers compared with three years ago; and if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 will be called for treatment as soon as possible.
[2352/10]
181 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; if their application for the fair deal will be approved and backdated to the date they went into a nursing home; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[2348/10]
180 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the withdrawal of a medical card by the Health Service Executive in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 9; if this case will be reviewed and new cards issued; if an examination will be carried out regarding the level of service at this unit.
[2344/10]
157 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the issue of the tax treatment of couples on old age pensions in a manner that could be regarded as discriminatory and outline the way in which their PAYE tax credit is implemented when the couple are on separate social welfare pensions when the couple has one person on social welfare and one on qualified adult allowance, when the couple divide their entitlements with each getting their own payment; and the way in which social welfare take this into account when they included pensions as qualified adult allowance when their own entitlement on their own record may be slightly less.
[2357/10]
156 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if he will continue to be employed; the way he was informed that he was on a fixed-term contract in view of the fact that he has been in continuous employment since 2003; if he will confirm that this person is not being penalised for being out sick with a broken arm; the way this employee was previously given a statement for mortgage purposes stating that he was in permanent pensionable employment; if he will arrange with the Department of Social and Family Affairs that the person concerned will not be discriminated against for mortgage allowance in view of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2343/10]
137 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her policy with regard to schemes involving retraining of married people who are now losing benefits and being deprived of training facilities because they are married and have got 12 months’ unemployment benefit; if she will adjust the rules in view of the fact that persons are now losing jobseeker’s benefit after 12 months; how a married person with a working spouse can get onto a community employment scheme; if he or she must be unemployed for 12 months and in receipt of a payment; if he or she loses his or her payment after 12 months; if she will revise such policies in view of their impact on married persons.
[2356/10]
136 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding community employment schemes; the length of time a person can remain on them; if she has instructed or authorised FÁS to reduce this period in order to increase the number going through retraining; if she will clarify the position regarding the case of persons over 60 years who participate in CE schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[2349/10]
308 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the workings of the new prescription charge scheme; when it will be introduced; if it needs legislation; or will it be done by ministerial order.
[2353/10]
399 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the teacher supply panel; if the system has been evaluated and confirmed as good value for money and satisfactory from an educational point of view; if the system is under consideration; the reason for same; if the substitution changes in 2009 have affected the system; if the solution to a perceived problem would be to extend the geographic area covered or to include other schools in the area, not already included.
[48212/09]
109 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the status of an application for a medical card renewal in respect of a person (details supplied).
[47848/09]
399 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide a new laptop for a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay.
[47413/09]
263 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a profile of persons is established of those who have become unemployed and signed on for jobseeker’s benefit or allowance recently, for example, in the last 12 to 18 months; if details of the new unemployed by age, education, skills, experience and so on is available; the way in which FÁS or other agencies tasked with the role of education, upskilling or retraining can do so if a profile of persons is not available; and if she has refocused or is she running the same courses as we did for the long-term unemployed.
[47465/09]
150 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on correspondence in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 in relation to early childhood care and education scheme; the position on whether they will be included in this scheme.
[47415/09]
149 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children her views in respect of staff, consultants, agencies and so on and on the recent reported comments made by the chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive that they do not have control over salary levels in the HSE; the change in overall numbers in the HSE during the reign of the current CEO; the number of upgradings that have been given in the same period; the overall staff cost movements of the HSE in terms of annual percentage cost increases; the way it compared with inflation and the general increase in the public service and so on.
[47411/09]
148 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the processing of medical card cases at the M50 office of the Health Service Executive; the average time for decisions to be made for persons aged 70 or over and aged under 70; the position regarding the case of persons (details supplied) in County Dublin.
[47410/09]
86 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding short-term and night time courses run for jobseekers; if there is a reluctance by jobseekers to take up courses due to the perceived difficulty and delay in moving from social welfare payments to FÁS payments; if the situation will be streamlined; if persons on short-term courses could stay on social welfare payments instead of transferring; if the standing of short-term courses is different; and if being on a short-term course does not guarantee a payment.
[47408/09]
276 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Science, in view of the business of attracting and catering for foreign students who come here for higher education or university courses in either the public or private system, the number of embassies abroad that have a designated staff member from his Department or an agency under his remit for such purposes; if same will be listed or the person to whom inquiries and requests for contacts from abroad are referred to; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45058/09]
275 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the private education colleges, universities and institutes operating here; if they are under the control of his Department or agencies under the aegis of his Department; if they are licensed and approved; if diploma and degrees are certified and by whom; the agency or section of his Department which operates as the channel for dealing with such colleges here and universities, colleges and students abroad in setting up or coming here; if a licensing system exists or if it will be introduced; if the roles of the national curriculum of Ireland and City and Guilds will be outlined; if colleges operating here have or can seek a quality assurance certification; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45061/09]
233 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the location of Gaeltacht areas; the criteria for establishing same; when the last Gaeltacht area was established; if same could be established in an urban area; if such applications have been submitted and processed in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45046/09]
229 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Foreign Affairsk, in view of the business of attracting and catering for foreign students coming here for higher educational university courses in either the public or private system, the number of embassies abroad that have a designated staff member from the Department of Education and Science or an agency under his remit for such purposes; if same will be listed or the person to whom enquiries and requests for contacts from abroad are referred to; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45057/09]
227 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the statistics for each of the past five years for which figures are available regarding drivers breathalysed; the numbers tested; the number over the limit; the number of cases processed to court stage; the number of cases where drivers were suspended or disqualified; the number of cases not pursued through court; the number of cases still in the court system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45059/09]
226 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which he proposes to change the system in relation to repossession or surrender of property; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45054/09]
206 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding wills and probate in the case where a separated person entered into a house purchase with a new partner who subsequently died and left share to the children of their first marriage and co-operation is lacking; if a person can register an objection to probate being granted in a case; and if the process for same will be outlined.
[45052/09]
193 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will arrange to provide services in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9.
[45049/09]
192 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; when they will receive a wheelchair; if other supports they were assessed for that is bathrooms seats, handrails and so on will be supplied.
[45043/09]
191 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the process of applying to be registered blind; the support available to registered blind pensioners; the advice that will be given to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11.
[45041/09]
169 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance, in view of the outstanding mortgages for principal private residence, the amount of mortgages granted, the amount still due, the amount topped up since the mortgage was granted; if similar figures are available for all outstanding mortgages granted more than 11 years ago; the cost each percentage write-down of all existing mortgages under ten years would cost.
[45055/09]
168 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the way in which he proposes to change the system in relation to repossession or surrender of property; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45053/09]
167 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance if mutual building societies or other mutual organisations were not set up and approved for the purpose of granting home loans and mortgages only; if they always had the authority to engage in speculative commercial development transactions; if such authority was always used; if their activities have expanded in recent decades; and his views on confining any mutual body that emerges from the current banking and financial crisis to home mortgages exclusively; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45048/09]