Written answers
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- International Organisations
Question 19: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland hopes to contribute to stability and democratic development in Europe through its...
- Human Rights Issues
Question 20: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any contact with the Department of Health in relation to the plight of Irish trained doctors in...
- Overseas Development Aid
Question 23: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline his response to the rapidly emerging food crisis in Somalia; and if he will undertake to...
- Foreign Conflicts
Question 24: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will advise which way he will vote should Palestine seek recognition at the United Nations for a Palestinian...
- Passport Applications
Question 25: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied with the service that is provided by the Passport Office; if he will give consideration to a...
- Exports Sector
Question 26: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by Irish exporters due to a shortage of...
- Trade Missions
Question 27: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his updated programme for his personal participation in trade missions during the remainder of 2011. [16291/11]
- Foreign Conflicts
Question 28: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his EU colleagues have given attention to the need for ongoing dialogue on the Middle East...
- Human Rights Issues
Question 29: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress being made to ban female genital mutilation at both EU and UN level; and if he will make a statement on...
- Foreign Conflicts
Question 30: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the Israeli authorities' permission for an average of only 715 truckloads of construction...
- Departmental Bodies
Question 31: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he envisages that the export trade council will be established. [14623/11]
- Human Rights Issues
Question 32: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views that the arrest and detention on 7 June 2011 of a person (details supplied) for tweeting messages which...
- Trade Relations
Question 36: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the work being undertaken in developing bilateral trade relations with India; if he will encourage...
- Trade Promotion
Question 39: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the programme of work for his department and Irish embassies in the area of trade promotion overseas in the time...
- EU Enlargement
Question 40: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding countries wishing to join the EU; if he will advise on the timetable, if any, for accession of...
- Human Rights Issues
Question 44: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether there is demonstrable consistency in the EU's approach to regimes encountering domestic...
- Official Engagements
Question 47: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the content of his recent discussions with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé; and if he will make a statement on...
- State Visits
Question 48: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the total costs to the State of the visits of Queen Elizabeth II and the President of the USA....
- EU Summits
Question 49: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which any debate has occurred at EU level with a view to the reaffirmation of the European ideals as...
- Northern Ireland Issues
Question 51: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his strategy regarding confidence building measures towards various groups in Northern Ireland. [19799/11]
- Official Travel
Question 52: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to travel to the Middle East. [19679/11]
- International Organisations
Question 53: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his priorities for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe once Ireland assumes the presidency in...
- Human Rights Issues
Question 54: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will meet with representatives of the Bahrain Government to demand the release of Irish trained doctors from...
- Travel Documents
Question 55: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding Irish couples who have a child by way of surrogate outside of the EU and the entitlement of...
- Overseas Development Aid
Question 56: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the budget for Ireland's overseas development aid programme for 2011; the position regarding same for 2012; if he...
- Trade Promotion
Question 59: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he intends to encourage and promote dialogue leading to trade in the various countries in Latin...
- Diplomatic Representation
Question 61: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if it is intended to open up further embassies or locate trade delegations in countries not yet having an Irish...
- Trade Promotion
Question 62: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which it is intended to renew efforts to increase diplomatic initiatives with a view to increasing...
- Irish Communities Abroad
Question 63: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent it is intended to promote and encourage dialogue with the Irish diaspora in business and academia...
- EU Directives
Question 64: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will examine carefully the long-term impact of all pending and future EU directives likely to inhibit economic...
- Economic Recovery
Question 65: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he continues to engage with members of parliament or policy makers within the EU in the context...
- Departmental Staff
Question 69: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these staff are...
- Department of Finance
- Social Insurance
Question 70: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that all the required social welfare employer and employee contributions were made by two sub-contracting companies (details...
- Price Inflation
Question 71: To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which an effort continues to be made to examine the wisdom of the use of interest rate increases as a means of combating inflation in...
- Tax Code
Question 72: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will grant an exemption from the vehicle registration tax in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in view of the fact that this...
- Financial Services Regulation
Question 73: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the equity release schemes and home reversion schemes as financial products being offered to older persons here;...
- Consultancy Contracts
Question 74: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount paid to consultants for services to the National Asset Management Agency for each of 2009, 2010 and 2011. [20240/11]
- Banking Sector Regulation
Question 76: To ask the Minister for Finance the efforts, if any, that have been made to recoup the €1,000,000 bonus paid by Irish Nationwide Building Society to Michael Fingleton which Mr....
- Consumer Protection
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Finance pursuant to the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2004 and the S.I. 190 of 2005, if he will confirm that sole traders and...
- Departmental Staff
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these staff are based here or in Brussels; if...
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Staffing
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any resolution will be found regarding the eligibility of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford seeking a permanent...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the special needs assistance requirements in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make...
- School Curriculum
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his position on curriculum provision and children's entitlements with particular reference to English in the junior and senior infant...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 82: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for a three classroom extension to a school (details supplied) in County Dublin. [20192/11]
- Special Educational Needs
Question 83: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the allocation of an special needs assistant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [20194/11]
- School Transport
Question 86: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary is permitted to use school transport to access a school in view...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the appointment of a design team for an extension to a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork. [20209/11]
- Higher Education Grants
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the reduction in grants payable to students attending third level college depending on their distance from home; the...
- Departmental Properties
Question 90: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons, stipulated by his Department, preventing the use of schools, primary or secondary, for community purposes; and if he will...
- Educational Projects
Question 91: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he will release funding for the national roll out of the FÍS digital literacy network in primary schools; and if he will make a...
- Skills Development
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the joint work undertaken by the skills expert group and the expert group on future skills to access the skills...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the building of a new school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if a projected time frame for the project...
- School Staffing
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a second English, as an additional language teacher, will be retained at a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will...
- Asbestos Remediation Programme
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will put in place necessary safeguards to ensure that all asbestos removal works carried out in schools are performed by approved...
- Residential Institutions Redress Scheme
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions that have been made by him to obtain 50% of the cost of compensation paid out to victims of institutional abuse, arising...
- School Staffing
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has examined if and the way there should be pension consequences for retired teachers taking up short-term teaching posts or...
- Departmental Staff
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these staff are based here or in...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Defence
- Departmental Staff
Question 102: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons from outside the Civil Service who have been interviewed for positions by the top level appointments...
- Fiscal Policy
Question 103: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the work on making the Estimates available on-line in searchable form was begun; and the regularity with which he intends...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 104: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timetable for the publication and enactment of legislation regarding constitutional amendments during 2011. [19805/11]
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
- World Trade Negotiations
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he intends to impress upon his EU colleagues the necessity to ensure that EU trade negotiations in the...
- Job Creation
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new jobs the Industrial Development Agency created in County Kerry in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in...
- Research Funding
Question 111: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the targets set by him to draw down funding under the seventh framework programme for research and development; if he will...
- Departmental Staff
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these staff are based...
- Department of Social Protection
- Social Welfare Code
Question 113: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the national carer's strategy will be launched and implemented. [20189/11]
- Civil Registration Service
Question 116: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the requirements for persons who wish to have a civil ceremony of marriage or a civil partnership; if public notification of the ceremony...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the outcome of a specific application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [20364/11]
- Social Welfare Code
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reform the social welfare entitlement system for self-employed persons who go out of business; and if she will make a...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 119: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for rent supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a case regarding a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway, which has...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 122: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the travel pass to cover carers and the people for whom they care; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal on a domiciliary care allowance application will be held in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has been refused mortgage interest relief; and if she will make a statement on...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Social Protection, further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 7 June 2011, regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a social welfare payment will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a...
- Social Insurance
Question 129: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has received a request to forward details of an insurance record to the Customer Operations National Insurance Contributions,...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 130: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the payments awarded in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20252/11]
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount of money that was spent by her on the one parent family payment in 2010; the number of recipients; the number of male and...
- Departmental Staff
Question 132: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff in her Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these staff are based here or in...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 134: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason supplementary allowance has been withdrawn in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the supplementary...
- Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Departmental Staff
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these staff are based...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Fisheries Protection
Question 137: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an account of the accomplishments of the funding provided to communities through development...
- Energy Prices
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the cost of re-connections for electricity has increased, especially after two years of...
- Postal Services
Question 139: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will address a proper licensing and regulation system in order to protect the integrity, reputation and...
- Departmental Staff
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Waste Management
Question 141: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in the context of the planned introduction of competitive tendering in household waste collection, if he...
- Planning Issues
Question 142: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to proposals made to some local authorities to vary development plans in...
- Local Authority Charges
Question 143: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on allowing for the payment of the non-principal private residence charge by monthly instalments;...
- Social Welfare Payments
Question 144: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the proposed transfer of the rent supplement scheme to local authorities will take place; and if he...
- Departmental Staff
Question 145: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Defence
- Proposed Legislation
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which the Mental Capacity Bill will be published; the steps he will take to ensure that he ratifies the Convention on the...
- Departmental Investigations
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views, in the context of his decision to appoint Senator Martin McAleese to review interactions between the State and Roman...
- Visa Applications
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a visa application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement...
- Departmental Staff
Question 150: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these staff are based here or in...
- Juvenile Offenders
Question 151: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress he has made in emphasising alternative programmes for young offenders through extensions to the juvenile liaison officer...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 152: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the special rapporteur on child protection has made numerous recommendations that the...
- Departmental Staff
Question 153: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if they are based here or in Brussels; if his...
- Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food
- Forestry Sector
Question 155: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of the value of Coillte forestry under the European Union emissions trading scheme; and the value...
- Grant Payments
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding an application for a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in...
- Common Agricultural Policy
Question 158: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the likely ending of the EU single payments scheme for farmers in 2013, with consequent extra burden on the...
- Grant Payments
Question 159: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when REP scheme will be paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [20151/11]
- Milk Quota
Question 161: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to additional milk quota under the hardship scheme; and if he will...
- Flower Sector
Question 162: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he or the relevant State agency has carried out an analysis of the flower propagation, production and export industry;...
- Aquaculture Development
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the coastal management plan for Castlemaine Harbour, County Kerry has been finalised; if he will now open the harbour to...
- Harbours and Piers
Question 164: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to dredge the harbour and enhance the port facilities at Howth, County Dublin in view of the build-up of mud; and...
- Grant Payments
Question 170: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on...
- Departmental Staff
Question 171: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these staff are based...
- Department of Health
- Children in Care
Question 172: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in care in each local health office administrative area here; the number of social workers currently...
- Health Services
Question 173: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, further to Parliamentary Question No. 198 of 08 June 2011, when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive [20365/11]
- Child Care Services
Question 174: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will investigate whether a newly established crèche (details supplied) in County Wicklow is eligible for funding under...
- Youth Services
Question 175: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the grants provided to organisations under the youth service general scheme and the special projects for youth scheme; and if she...
- Departmental Staff
Question 176: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff in her Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these staff are based here...
- Health Service Staff
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive management in St. Brendan's Hospital and on the north side of Dublin continues to outsource the core...
- Care of the Elderly
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health further to his visit to Clonakilty Hospital, County Cork, and subsequent meeting at his Department with the Clonakilty Hospital Action Group, the...
- Hospital Services
Question 179: To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a paediatric issue (details supplied) at Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal.; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Food Safety Standards
Question 181: To ask the Minister for Health his views on the apparent increase in the use of glucose fructose in food products; if he is concerned at claims that the ingredient contributes to...
- Health Services
Question 182: To ask the Minister for Health, further to Parliamentary Question No. 139 of June 2011, when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement...
- Medical Cards
Question 183: To ask the Minister for Health if he will renew a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [20142/11]
- Health Services
Question 184: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a place on a waiting list for speech therapy in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a...
- Ambulance Service
Question 185: To ask the Minister for Health if he will make a commitment not to replace ambulance vehicles with first responder cars in the east Cork area; and if he will make a statement on...
- Health Services
Question 186: To ask the Minister for Health if he will make a commitment not to reduce the number of South Doc GP out of hours service in the east Cork area from three to two; and if he will...
- Hospital Services
Question 187: To ask the Minister for Health if it is the intention of the Health Service Executive to downgrade Mallow Hospital, County Cork, to an urgent care centre; when this is likely to...
- Health Service Staff
Question 190: To ask the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses and area medical officers currently providing public health services in County Galway; the number of retirements...
- Mental Health Services
Question 191: To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the introduction of a formal protocol to facilitate the referral of patients with a history of mental health needs directly to a...
- National Lottery Funding
Question 192: To ask the Minister for Health if he has received a request for national lottery funding from an organisation (details supplied) in County Cork; if he will meet with this...
- Hospital Services
Question 193: To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider reclassifying Letterkenny General Hospital from a general to a regional hospital; the additional funding that the hospital would...
- Nursing Homes Support Scheme
Question 194: To ask the Minister for Health when funding will be allocated under the nursing homes support scheme for an approved person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will...
- Health Service Staff
Question 195: To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will qualify for sponsorship for participation in the Health Service Executive student public health...
- National Lottery Funding
Question 197: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding an application in respect of an association (details supplied) in County Kildare; if consideration will be given to ensure...
- Health Services
Question 198: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding home help support in west Wicklow (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20226/11]
- Medical Cards
Question 201: To ask the Minister for Health the frequency with which a person over 70 years is required to renew a medical card; if he recognises the delays involved, the worry and confusion...
- Accident and Emergency Services
Question 202: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to rules prohibiting family members or close friends from accompanying relatives into accident and emergency...
- National Drugs Strategy
Question 203: To ask the Minister for Health the way drugs policy is being directed within his Department; if there is a dedicated unit; the number of staff that are in this unit; their current...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
Question 211: To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for an MRI scan, PET scan and the CT scan at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the average waiting time for...
- Ambulance Service
Question 212: To ask the Minister for Health the number of rapid response units that are deployed nationwide; the location at which they are deployed; the number of such units that will be added...
- Departmental Staff
Question 214: To ask the Minister for Health the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these staff are based here or in Brussels; if...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Taxi Regulations
Question 215: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider calls for representation on the taxi review group of independent and self-employed taxi drivers; and if he...
- Tourism Industry
Question 216: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review current criteria in order to enable private tourist facilities to advertise on the brown signs on national...
- Cycle Facilities
Question 217: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the establishment of a national trust to facilitate the development of a system of cycle paths here as set...
- Aviation Security
Question 218: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made in the review being conducted following the incident involving the breaching of the security barriers...
- Tourism Industry
Question 219: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to promote cruises and marine coastal tourism here; the budget allocated for same; and if he will make a statement on...
- Departmental Staff
Question 220: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if these staff are based here...
