100. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put in place special needs educational units within existing mainstream second level schools acknowledging that new second level schools are being built with such facilities but recognising that existing second level schools are in the main lacking in such facilities and leading to large numbers of students with special needs availing of such facilities at primary level but they do not have this option when they reach second level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19437/13]
397. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any plans in place whereby individuals who are due to retire in 2014 can avail of some social welfare payment to bridge the gap between their retirement date and their 66th birthday now that the option of applying for the transition pension is no longer open to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19098/13]
364. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of an application for guardian's payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when a determination is expected to be made on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18571/13]
1384. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on The Gathering events organised in a county (details supplied); the amount of funding given to events in this county; if he will give details of tourism statistics for the county to date in 2013 compared to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16867/13]
1293. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of all reports and strategies which have been developed by his Department or any agency under his Department's remit in relation to disability services and any specific disabilities or special needs from 1997 to date; the name of the report or strategy, date of publication, action taken arising from the publication of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17185/13]
1292. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he has discussed the issue of autism with his ministerial counterparts at an EU level in terms of Council of Minister meetings or informal meetings; if he will provide an overview of such discussions and any conclusions arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17184/13]
1291. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health the current status of the assessment of need provision under the Disability Act 2005; if he will outline a timeframe for extending this provision as per the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17181/13]
1290. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he intends to introduce a personal budget model in order that persons with intellectual disabilities have the flexibility to make choices that suit their own needs best; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17180/13]
1151. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if a package of supports has been drawn up by his Department or the Health Service Executive for families affected by unique narcolepsy disorder as a result of receiving a vaccination and on the back of a report published on 19 April 2012 acknowledging the casual links between the vaccination and narcolepsy; the reason for the delay in providing this package of supports when families had originally been told that they would be in place by July 2012, and then October 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16272/13]
946. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the legislative reform that is needed to ensure the alignment of Irish law with the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities; if he will provide details of the timeline for the publication of such legislative reform; when he hopes to be in a position for Ireland to ratify this convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17178/13]
945. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will introduce measures to remove barriers to persons with disabilities accessing the justice system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17177/13]
833. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities receive grants from his Department to carry out works which would improve the energy rating and environmental efficiency of local authority properties; the amount of funding allocated for such grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17196/13]
806. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of social and affordable houses that were provided as part of development conditions where a developer had to build social and affordable housing or contribute to the cost of such in order to receive permission to develop private housing from its introduction in law to the present; if he will provide a breakdown of these numbers by local authority; the number of such houses that were due to be built and remain not built; the actions that should be taken to pursue this liability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16874/13]
805. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received a copy of the report he commissioned to be carried out into the purchase of land at Three Trouts in Greystones, County Wicklow by Wicklow County Council; if so, when he intends to publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16873/13]
745. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider allowing tenants in local authority housing to avail of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grants to improve the energy efficency of their homes in cases in which the local authority has informed tenants that they are unable to provide funding to carry out such works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17197/13]
741. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline his response to the view that the Norwegian people benefit significantly in a financial sense for oil and gas exploration projects in their country but that the Irish people will not benefit similarly from such projects in our country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16864/13]
740. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures in place to ensure that the Exchequer benefits financially from any oil or gas exploration projects within our country and its waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16863/13]
739. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of oil and gas fields currently being explored in Irish waters; the persons undertaking these exploration works; the process in place for receiving permission for such exploration; the estimated value of these oil and gas fields; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16862/13]
663. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she intends to introduce in the area of advocacy supports for persons with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17176/13]
662. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection when she intends to introduce the Personal Advocacy Service as provided for in the Citizens Information Act 2007; the role she envisages for such advocacy services; the reason this service has not yet been established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17175/13]
559. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he intends to develop a comprehensive employment strategy for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17179/13]
556. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of funding that was provided by Enterprise Ireland to businesses operating in an area (detailed supplied) in 2011 and 2012 and to date in 2013; and the number of companies in this area that Enterprise Ireland is currently supporting and working with. [16876/13]
555. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on Industrial Development Agency lands in an area (details supplied); if he will provide a breakdown of the location and size of these lands by town; the current marketing strategy for each of these sites; if he will give details of the progress made to date in securing investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16875/13]
554. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the National Consumer Agency will be merged with other State agencies; the reason a new chief executive was appointed to the National Consumer Agency; the length of time of their contract; their role when the agency is merged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16866/13]
533. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he intends to establish an inquiry into the events in the days and weeks leading up to the State bank guarantee scheme, the crisis which emerged in the banking sector in Ireland and the political response to this crisis; when he envisages such an inquiry being established; the mechanism which could be used to conduct such an inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17174/13]
497. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the guidelines and criteria in place in Government Departments and State agencies to ensure that people with a disability are given equal opportunities to access the public and Civil Service workforce; if conditions on the autistic spectrum specifically Asperger's syndrome are considered in relation to any such policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16223/13]
469. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of all reports and strategies which have been developed by his Department or agencies under his Department's remit in relation to disability services and any specific disabilities or special needs or special educational needs from 1997 to date; the name of the report or strategy, date of publication and action taken arising from the publication of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17186/13]
468. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has discussed the issue of special needs education policy with his counterparts at EU level in terms of Council of Minister meetings or informal meetings; if so, if he will provide an overview of such discussions and any conclusions arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17183/13]
467. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish, in tabular form, a list of all provisions of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; the current status of these provisions in terms of whether they have been implemented, part implemented or not implemented; the projected cost of implementing each of the provisions which have not been implemented to date; if he will outline a time frame for the implementation of all sections of this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17182/13]
445. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects to receive policy advice from the National Council for Special Education on special education here; the terms of reference or basis on which this review is being carried out; if the review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16872/13]
444. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the current status of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act; the provisions in this Act that have been implemented; the date of their enactment; the provisions in the Act that have yet to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16871/13]
443. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy position on the provision of Applied Behaviour Analysis as a method of education for children on the Autistic Spectrum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16870/13]
442. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school extension (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when the extension is scheduled to be constructed; the stage the process is currently at between the school and his Department; the capacity of the school currently and the capacity of the school after the extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16869/13]
441. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school building project (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when the building will commence; the current stage of the process; the temporary accommodation that is being provided in the interim; the capacity of the school; the capacity of the school after extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16868/13]
440. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of autism classes that have been opened in schools here since March 2011; the names of these schools and their location; the total number of such classes now in operation; the funding provided by his Department in 2011, 2012 and 2013 for such classes; his plans for further classes for the next school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16865/13]
220. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered any plans to revise the criteria and system on which commercial levies are based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15503/13]
219. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a project (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the immediate timeframe for the stages of this project; the funding allocation available for this project; the prospective date for completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15502/13]
123. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being undertaken to reduce the weight of school bags for Irish children which is having an adverse effect on the ability of children to walk or cycle to and from school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15493/13]
56. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline some of the measures contained within the road safety strategy that is due to be launched later this week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15027/13]
338. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow that applied to participate in the JobBridge scheme was refused entry to the scheme and the action that can be taken to ensure that this school can avail of administrative support through this scheme. [15170/13]
253. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason resource hour applications for children with special educational needs that were received after 5 October 2012 will not be sanctioned until the 2013/2014 school year; the way schools are expected to provide for the needs of these children from within their existing resources; if such a delay is now to be viewed as the norm; the rationale behind same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14961/13]
74. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been taken to tackle inpatient and day case waiting lists in Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14313/13]
134. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in introducing the recommendations arising from the national strategy of substances misuse which includes alcohol, particularly the need for structural separation of alcohol products from other products in supermarkets and other stores; if he intends to give statutory effect to section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13471/13]
138. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a situation occurring whereby individuals manipulate the planning process by constantly submitting planning objections and just before they are refused permission withdraw them, then resubmit them and so on in an effort to delay an application being formally refused; his views on this practice and also the use of the retention application in the planning process which enables persons to develop structures without permission and then seek to retain them; the purpose of this; if he will review its use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13177/13]
137. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount outstanding in development levies to local authorities; the years to which these development levies relate; the amount of outstanding levies by county; the advice he will give to local authorities in terms of collecting such outstanding levies, particularly in cases where a developer has gone out of business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13176/13]
47. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications the Passport Office processed in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the current waiting time for a passport; the measures in place to provide emergency passports; the measures being taken to improve the turnaround of passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13178/13]
663. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to test Dublin Bus vehicle emissions at the same level as other commercial vehicles; the existing tests Dublin Bus are subject to in relation to emissions testing, environmental testing and public safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13121/13]
446. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are any plans in place to reduce the level of development contribution charges which Wicklow County Council currently has in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13069/13]
217. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills what happens if a person's (details supplied) financial circumstances change during an academic year which would make them eligible for a third level maintenance grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12644/13]
205. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details in tabular form of the number of learning support hours and resource hours allocated to each school in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12396/13]