Written answers
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
- Department of Justice, Equality and Defence
- Severe Weather Events
Question 13: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with the level of support available to the Defence Forces to deal with severe weather emergencies; and if he will make a statement...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Passport Applications
Question 14: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passports issued in each of the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; the amount generated...
- Foreign Conflicts
Question 15: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will clarify his policy on Libya and the role of the EU members in the conflict, notably France and Britain....
- Department of Finance
- Tax Code
Question 16: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of revenue which would be raised in a full year if the top rate of income tax was increased by 1% in respect of all incomes of more than...
- International Agreements
Question 17: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to negotiate an agreement with the Swiss Government along the same lines as the one reached between the Swiss and UK Governments in August...
- Tax Code
Question 18: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on implementing a reduction in the VAT rate on labour intensive crafts in view of the fact that it is difficult for Irish instrument makers...
- Tax Collection
Question 19: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding tax credits in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25270/11]
- Financial Products
Question 20: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consult with the Financial Regulator, in view of the protracted length of time it is taking to obtain a mortgage and negotiate the sale of...
- Banking Sector
Question 21: To ask the Minister for Finance if he accepts the claims by various banks that they are lending to a high proportion of applicants for loans and mortgages or alternatively that is...
- Credit Unions
Question 22: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to any direction by the Financial Regulator precluding credit unions from freezing interest on loans, which if such a...
- Personal Debt
Question 23: To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the protracted duration of the economic crisis, if he will consider, with consultation with the Financial Regulator, making provisions to...
- Interest Rates
Question 24: To ask the Minister for Finance if provision has been made for the large number of interest only loans and mortgages, many of which were taken on the assumption that it would be...
- Banking Sector Regulation
Question 25: To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the fact that the State now has majority ownership of AIB, his plans for staff in AIB to take a pay reduction like other workers in the...
- Tax Code
Question 26: To ask the Minister for Finance further to Question No. 59 of 14 September 2011, his views that out of 291 cases investigated by the Revenue an overall settlement of €1.3 million...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Residential Institutions Redress Scheme
Question 42: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date regarding the setting up of the general scheme of a residential institutes statutory fund Bill 2011; if any...
- School Transport
Question 43: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when school transport will be provided to a special needs student (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 44: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that a special needs assistant will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [25340/11]
- Teachers' Remuneration
Question 45: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he has not yet implemented the new pay scales informally agreed between the directors of the 12 vocational education...
- Jobs Initiative
Question 46: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of the additional places in training, work experience and education opportunities promised in the programme for...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Defence
- Pension Provisions
Question 48: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will introduce emergency legislation to deal effectively with the issue of oversized lump sums and pension payments to...
- Freedom of Information
Question 49: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the heads of the freedom of information (amendment) Bill will be brought to Cabinet to be approved; and if he will make a...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
- Departmental Agencies
Question 53: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons employed by the Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland by grade. [25142/11]
- Job Creation
Question 55: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs created by the Industrial Development Agency, Shannon Development, Enterprise Ireland and the community...
- Enterprise Support Services
Question 56: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the establishment of a money advice and budgeting service for small businesses. [25247/11]
- Departmental Agencies
Question 57: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons employed by the National Employment Rights Authority by grade; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Social Protection
- Redundancy Payments
Question 58: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a redundancy settlement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 59: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for social welfare allowance towards the cost of a funeral in respect of a person (details supplied)...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 61: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal for a disability allowance application will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and...
- Unemployment Levels
Question 62: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number and percentage of persons currently on the live register who are categorised as teachers; and the breakdown of same between...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 63: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will become eligible for the JobBridge scheme; if the three-month waiting period is...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 64: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application in respect of a person to include his partner and children on a claim (details supplied) in County...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 65: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding eligibility for a scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a...
- Unemployment Levels
Question 67: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the numbers of unemployed and unemployment rates, three months, six months, 12 months for each year of the past five...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 68: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity pension in respect of a person (detail supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 71: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a review of the entitlement to rent support entitlement will take place in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare;...
- Pension Provisions
Question 72: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way it could transpire that an overpayment of old age pension dependant's allowance exists in the case of a person (details supplied)...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 73: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for payment in respect of the family income supplement scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare;...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 75: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is acceptable for a person (details supplied) who applied for domiciliary carer's allowance on the 18 of March...
- JobBridge Scheme
Question 76: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the criteria for admission to the JobBridge interim programme will be relaxed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County...
- Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Environmental Protection
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the fact Ireland has lost roughly half of its farm birds due to human activities if he will ensure that local...
- Special Areas of Conservation
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will reconsider the proposed designation of special areas of conservation in the parish of Cloughaneely, including the...
- Legislative Programme
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill will commence Second Stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25161/11]
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Building Regulations
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of households in the State in need of adequate insulation to meet national standards; and the amount...
- Energy Policy
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he justifies his decision to change from the alternative energy requirement scheme, in which the...
- Pension Provisions
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to a pension; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Onshore Exploration
Question 85: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a submission (details supplied) regarding hydraulic fracturing; and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Register of Electors
Question 87: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a mechanism by which Irish passport holders residing abroad will be facilitated to...
- Local Authority Staff
Question 88: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a voluntary redundancy scheme for employees of local authorities. [25287/11]
- Tourism Promotion
Question 89: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason County Westmeath is to lose its tourism development officer, despite the fact that the county and...
- Waste Management
Question 90: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason Fingal County Council is selling its domestic waste collection service; if his attention has been...
- Motor Taxation
Question 91: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made to close the off-the-road loophole with regard to drivers avoiding paying...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 92: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the introduction of container deposit legislation in view of the fact that such legislation will...
- Waste Disposal
Question 93: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria that must be satisfied for an organisation to receive an exemption of paying the landfill levy;...
- Unfinished Housing Developments
Question 94: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason County Donegal, the county with the most ghost estates, has received no funding to date. [25304/11]
- Community Development
Question 95: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the administration of funding that was previously the responsibility of Meitheal Forbartha na...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Defence
- Public Order Offences
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of alcohol seized by the Garda from persons drinking alcohol in a public place for the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in...
- Garda Operations
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the powers and equipment available to the Garda when dealing with a vehicle which has tinted windows. [25138/11]
- Garda Transport
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of additional Garda vans and Garda motorbikes purchased in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011. [25139/11]
- Citizenship Applications
Question 99: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is in receipt of correspondence from a person (details supplied) in relation to Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement...
- Garda Investigations
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if, in view of new medical evidence being uncovered, he will ensure that the Garda investigation will be reopened into the death of a...
- Garda Retirement
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will increase the retirement age for Garda sergeants, inspectors and superintendents; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Garda Vetting of Personnel
Question 102: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the difference in the processing time for Garda clearances for voluntary youth workers here compared...
- Legal Profession
Question 103: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of solicitors that have switched careers to become barristers and [i]vice versa[/i] in the past ten years; if he will...
- Court Staff
Question 104: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the locations at which vacancies exist for judges at District Court level; if and when it is intended to appoint persons to these...
- Courts Service
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the average waiting times for hearing family law cases, by district court location; in locations at which the wait is very long, the...
- Coroners Service
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on a matter in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [25330/11]
- Defence Forces Strength
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of persons currently in the Air Corps and Naval Service by rank. [25143/11]
- National Sail Training Scheme
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the [i]Malcolm Miller[/i] ship (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25154/11]
- Defence Forces Property
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which military installations decommissioned in previous years have been disposed of and benefits realised for the Exchequer; the...
- Defence Forces Personnel
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Defence the age profile of the Defence Forces at all ranks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25259/11]
- Defence Forces Training
Question 111: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which ongoing upskilling and training in line with requirements or anticipated requirements continues in respect of the Army, Navy and...
- Defence Forces Strength
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Army, Navy and Air Corps; the extent to which these numbers have altered in each of the past five years and to date in...
- Defence Forces Equipment
Question 114: To ask the Minister for Defence the degree to which upgrading of equipment has been identified or is required in the Army, Navy and Air Corps; the extent to which it is expected to...
- Defence Forces Strength
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of promotions by rank throughout the Defence Forces in each of the past five years and to date in 2011; and if he will make a statement...
- Overseas Missions
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which the UN has fully reimbursed the State in respect of overseas troop deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Defence Forces Equipment
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which all equipment including sea going vessels available to the naval service is fully modernised and up to date in line with...
- Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food
- Grant Payments
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the grants available to persons who are involved in growing commercial produce; the section of his Department that deals...
- Milk Quota
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a...
- Teagasc Review
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a definitive conclusion is expected to be reached in relation to a case (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Milk Quota
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding an application for an additional milk quota in respect of a person (details supplied) in County...
- Planting Programme
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive authorisation to plant trees in County Mayo; and if he will...
- Agri-Environment Options Scheme
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan who submitted maps for the agri-environment options scheme in...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to introduce farm partnership legislation; the discussion he has had with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and...
- Food Safety Standards
Question 129: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the option of regulating the sale of raw milk, rather than leaving Ireland in the unique position whereby the...
- Department of Health
- Children in Care
Question 130: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 809 of 14 September 2011, when the information on the number of children placed in relative...
- Medical Cards
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Health Services
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Health the number of new fittings of hearing aids carried out by the Health Service Executive in 2009 and 2010. [25119/11]
- Ambulance Service
Question 145: To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the ambulance service in west Cork; the changes planned for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25150/11]
- Prescription Drugs
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Health the steps which have been taken to implement the report of his Department's benzodiazepine committee; the total cost of benzodiazepine prescribing to...
- Mental Health Services
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Health the funding available to allow a person (details supplied) in County Galway to access intensive dialectical behaviour therapy for emotionally...
- Hospital Services
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline his plans, draft or otherwise, to change, amend or diminish the range of services delivered at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County...
- Nursing Homes Support Scheme
Question 154: To ask the Minister for Health if there have been any changes to the processing or qualification criteria for the fair deal scheme since the restoration of said scheme; and if he...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
Question 155: To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for a colonoscopy at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the average time on the waiting list; the steps being...
- Pharmacy Services
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Health the amount of money that would be saved if the 2009 level of 16.4% of generic drugs was increased to the Netherlands figure of 57% use of generic...
- Legislative Programme
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Health when he will bring the heads of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medicines) Bill to the Cabinet; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Hospital Services
Question 158: To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25282/11]
- Hospital Charges
Question 161: To ask the Minister for Health the amount generated through car-parking fees at each of the six major hospitals in the Dublin region for the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in...
- Accident and Emergency Services
Question 162: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to address the delays at the accident and emergency department in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin (details supplied). [25322/11]
- Hospital Services
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a procedure in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25335/11]
- Vaccination Programme
Question 167: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding plans for the provision of a cervical vaccine programme for school going girls; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Air Accident Investigations
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason an investigation into an aircraft accident during a military training exercise on 12 October 2009 at Crumlin East,...
- National Car Test
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current waiting time to access the national car test at each test centre nationwide. [25140/11]
- International Events
Question 170: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional steps being taken to attract major international events to be held here in 2012; and the budget allocated for...
