Written answers
Tuesday, 16 November 2004
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Lisbon Agenda
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the policies he intends pursuing to ensure the achievement of the employment participation targets set out in Lisbon Agenda...
- Departmental Investigations
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position in regard to each of the inquiries being carried out by or on behalf of him; if he will give a projected date...
- Economic Competitiveness
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has plans to ensure that new legislation is business proofed in order to maintain Ireland's international...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he intends to make the promised order under the Consumer Affairs Act to require doctors, dentists and allied health...
- Employment Statistics
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will give the figures for the level of industrial employment at the latest date for which figures are available; the...
- Economic Competitiveness
Question 82: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will make a statement on the annual report of the National Competitiveness Council which he launched on 14 October...
- Work Permits
Question 83: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits issued to date under the new arrangements to give access to employment to the spouses of non-EEA...
- Future Employment Needs
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of non-Irish workers which will be needed to sustain the economy here over the next three years; and if he will...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 85: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is considering introducing employment rights legislation in respect of sick pay and sick leave; and if he will make a...
- Job Creation
Question 86: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA supported jobs that were created in County Kerry in 2001, 2002, 2003 and to date in 2004, respectively; the...
- Flexible Work Practices
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of direct financial assistance provided in 2003 by the national framework committee on work-life balance policies...
- Employment Statistics
Question 88: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the statistics for the length of the average working week for persons in full-time employment in the economy here; the...
- Community Employment Schemes
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons on community employment places at 1 January 2003 and 1 January 2004; the anticipated numbers at 1...
- Grocery Industry
Question 90: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of his review of the groceries order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28354/04]
- Economic Competitiveness
Question 91: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has received the report he sought from the National Competitiveness Council on the implications for exporters of the...
- Export Licensing
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he expects to establish a web-based approach for military exports licences applications and an annual report listing the...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress in regard to his consideration of proposals to introduce legislation to provide for a new offence of corporate...
- Job Creation
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals he has to attract alternative employment to Westport, County Mayo, in regard to his statement of 1 November...
- Currency Fluctuations
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the impact which the continued strength of the euro against the US dollar and the pound sterling has had on Irish exports; if...
- Insurance Industry
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position with regard to the operation of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board; the number of staff recruited to date;...
- Job Losses
Question 99: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will make financial provision for the shortfall in severance packages particularly with respect to reduced pension...
- Budget Submissions
Question 102: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the representations he has made to the Department of Finance prior to the budget for 2005 to alleviate the burden on small...
- Accounting Standards
Question 103: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the proposed treatment by the European Commission of a new accounting standard issued by the International...
- Legislative Provisions
Question 104: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will remove the provisions in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004 related to random drug and alcohol...
- Consumer Issues
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the work to date of the consumer consultative panel; if he has received the final report of the panel; and if he will make a...
- Enterprise Policy
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken to help in the implementation of the enterprise strategy group's recommendation to establish a...
- Tax Code
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the representations he has received regarding the rate of corporation tax; if he envisages the rate being amended in the...
- Insurance Industry
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the specific areas in regard to the policy and legislation on the availability and cost of motor insurance that it is...
- National Minimum Wage
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has yet received the result of the review of the national minimum wage that the Labour Court was asked to undertake by...
- Semi-State Bodies
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date with regard to his consideration of the deliberations of the working group established to examine...
- Employment Support Services
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a report produced for his Department found that State bodies charged with protecting employment rights were so...
- EU Directives
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of EU directives for which he has responsibility which have yet to be implemented; the number in respect of which...
- Job Losses
Question 122: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs that have been relocated out of Ireland in the past three years; the reason for the relocation; the...
- Employment Action Plan
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will make a statement on the implementation to date of the Irish national employment pact. [28331/04]
- Insurance Industry
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has satisfied himself at the reported reduction in the level of insurance premiums in view of figures showing that...
- Redundancy Payments
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will introduce legislation to increase redundancy payments to three weeks of pay per year of service; and if he will...
- Industrial Development
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has satisfied himself that the geographical spread of IDA Ireland investment is acceptable; and if he will make a...
- Construction Sector
Question 130: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the likely impact on employment of a slowdown in the housing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28355/04]
- Work Permits
Question 132: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the promised legislation to put the employment permit regime on a comprehensive and sound statutory footing; the reason...
- Workplace Absenteeism
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he concurs with IBEC's assessment that absenteeism in the workplace costs business here €1.5 billion per year; and if...
- County Enterprise Boards
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide additional funding to efficient county enterprise boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Job Creation
Question 137: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new jobs announced during 2003 from new investments or expansion of IDA Ireland backed plants; the expected...
- Job Losses
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of redundancies notified to his Department during 2000, 2001, 2002 2003 and to date in 2004; the projected...
- Job Creation
Question 141: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the initiatives he proposes to put in place to attract industry to Tralee, County Kerry, due, to the increase in the...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 143: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider introducing amendments to the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977-2001 to reduce the period which a person must...
- Economic Competitiveness
Question 144: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he has addressed or proposes to address industrial costs; the main factors in this regard; the action or...
- Employment Action Plan
Question 152: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of interventions by his Department that resulted in pre-employment training and development for each of the years...
- Adult Education
Question 153: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the agencies he has worked with to implement the recommendations of the task force on lifelong learning; the progress to...
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Non-EU Nationals
Question 154: To ask the Taoiseach the number of children born in the State, both of whose parents are non-EU nationals, and who are in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Trading Partners
Question 158: To ask the Taoiseach Ireland's top ten trading partners both in terms of imports and exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28608/04]
- Dublin-Monaghan Bombings
Question 159: To ask the Taoiseach the position regarding further developments on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings case of 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28526/04]
- Department of Health and Children
- Health Board Services
Question 160: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been deemed ineligible for orthodontic treatment; and if she will...
- Job Protection
Question 162: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the situation with regard to a company (details supplied). [28527/04]
- Means Tests
Question 163: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the calculation for the capital means test for benefits under the remit of her Department is different from that...
- Health Services
Question 164: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons aged 70 or over who have been overcharged illegally since 2001 in respect of public nursing homes;...
- Health Board Staff
Question 167: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that, in view of the current restructuring of the North Western Health Board...
- Hospital Services.
Question 168: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the state of the diabetic service in Beaumont Hospital; her views on whether the service is...
- Vaccination Programme
Question 169: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if children in all of the schools on the north side of Dublin are receiving school booster vaccinations; and if she has...
- Hospital Services
Question 170: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she proposes to take to alleviate the working conditions at Kerry General Hospital; if her attention has been...
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 173: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a conclusive diagnosis can be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if treatment or...
- Nursing Home Subventions
Question 174: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if an increase in nursing home subvention will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
Question 175: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a bed will be provided in St. James's Hospital for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [28621/04]
- Department of Finance
- Departmental Properties
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Finance the total space occupied in Dublin by the Civil Service which is leased; the total which is owned; and the breakdown in respect of the units proposed...
- Tax Code
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of taxes and duties levied by the Government and the taxes and duties levied by the Italian Government on a model of car (details...
- Revenue Commissioners Staff
Question 179: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a huge demand on an office (details supplied) of the Revenue Commissioners during the lunch...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Fishing Fleet Modernisation
Question 180: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position on a fishing vessel for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a...
- Wage Agreements
Question 181: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if workers in An Post have to date obtained a pay increase under the terms of the national wage agreement; the...
- Fisheries Protection
Question 182: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources re his responsibilities to ensure the free movement of fish up rivers to reach their spawning beds, especially...
- Postal Services
Question 183: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself regarding the future of An Post with particular reference to the need to ensure the...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 184: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the most modern options now available in respect of provision of broadband or other high-tech communication...
- Exploration for Natural Resources
Question 186: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of oil, gas and other mineral mining explorations, ongoing, proposed or concluded; the viability of...
- Mobile Telephony
Question 187: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the progress to date in the registration of all mobile telephones with particular reference to the need to...
- Broadcasting Legislation
Question 188: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position in regard to his proposals in respect of broadcasting in the future; when he expects to be in a...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 189: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to encourage the production of alternative electricity for contribution to the national grid; and if...
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Diplomatic Relations
Question 191: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will urge the US Government to investigate the activities of US based terror groups attacking the people of Cuba; and the position...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Work Permits
Question 192: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the appeal for a work permit from a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; when a decision will be made;...
- International Trade
Question 193: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Ireland's newest and most lucrative trading partners in respect of both imports and exports; and if he will make a statement...
- Insurance Industry
Question 194: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if insurance costs here remain a deterrent to investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28609/04]
- FÁS Training Programmes
Question 196: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he has given consideration to the number of persons on employment or training schemes through FÁS or...
- Work Permits
Question 198: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits granted to first time applicants in the past 12 months; the way in which this figure corresponds...
- Job Creation
Question 200: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reasons given by overseas investors who have failed to follow through on job creation proposals here; and if he will...
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 204: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of family carers receiving carers allowance; the amount of expenditure associated with same; the number of family...
- Department of Transport
- Driving Tests
Question 208: To ask the Minister for Transport if the Government allows persons to undergo a driving test without taxing his vehicle; and if a directive in this regard has been sent out by his...
- Taxi Hardship Panel
Question 209: To ask the Minister for Transport if the taxi hardship scheme is closed for applications. [28497/04]
- Rail Network
Question 211: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount spent by the Railway Procurement Agency to date in developing a metro for Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28528/04]
- Public Transport
Question 212: To ask the Minister for Transport the way in which Dublin Bus deal with regular commuter complaints regarding its bus service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28531/04]
- Road Safety
Question 213: To ask the Minister for Transport if a survey or study of road accidents involving heavy vehicles, trucks and so on will be commissioned by him, in view of the very high incidence...
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Mayo Landslide
Question 214: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has received a request for €1.685 million by a working group (details supplied) in County Mayo; the position...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Grant Payments
Question 215: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when details of the single payment will be forwarded to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [28551/04]
- Afforestation Programme
Question 216: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the desirability of achieving an affordable rate of 20,000 hectares per annum; the strategies she will employ to achieve...
- Grant Payments
Question 218: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when slaughter premium will issue to an estate of a person (details supplied) in respect of 20 animals slaughtered in 2003. [28560/04]
- Rural Environment Protection Scheme
Question 220: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the REP scheme will be in place until 2013 in view of the fact that the reforms in Agenda 2000 were changed after three years; and if...
- Grant Payments
Question 221: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason persons in REP scheme 2 who had opted to transfer to REP scheme 3 have not yet been processed for payment in any of her...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Deportation Orders
Question 224: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of families with children born in the State comprised of both parents who are non-EU nationals, who have been...
- Irish Prison Service
Question 228: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff who attend for work at the Curragh and Fort Mitchel prisons; the circumstances which prevail at both...
- Disability Support Service
Question 231: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the breakdown, on a subhead basis, of the €2.5 billion spent in 2004 on disability specific services; if a detailed...
- Garda Deployment
Question 232: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when personnel at a Garda station (details supplied) in County Mayo will be replaced. [28543/04]
- Asylum Support Services
Question 233: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for the asylum seeker reception centre at Magee Barracks, Kildare, in view of the fact that the lands are to be...
- Communications Masts
Question 234: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Question No. 168 of 4 November 2004, if the Garda authorities will respond to the report of the planning...
- Garda Stations
Question 236: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in the refurbishment of a Garda station (details supplied) in County Cork; the further reason for...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 237: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if and when the citizenship application will be considered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and...
- Asylum Applications
Question 238: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for refugee or asylum status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County...
- Department of Education and Science
- Educational Disadvantage
Question 240: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the fraction of pre-primary school children of eligible age which the 1,700 children engaged in Early Start represents. [28489/04]
- Early Childhood Education
Question 242: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the liaison within the Northern Ireland administration on pre-primary education programmes which has taken place; and the provision...
- Teachers' Remuneration
Question 245: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason Question No. 468 of 2 November 2004 was not answered in full in relation to the entitlements of a person (details supplied)...
- Higher Education Grants
Question 246: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is entitled to a student grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28495/04]
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Question 247: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a new school (details supplied) in County Offaly only in operation since September 2004, will be able to retain its second teacher;...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 248: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when funding will be made available for a project at a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; when this school applied for this...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 251: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will respond to the application from the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin for additional...
- Educational Services
Question 252: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if second level teaching through Irish up to leaving certificate will be provided in all second level schools in areas in which a...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces Property
Question 254: To ask the Minister for Defence the position in respect of the imminent disposal of a premises (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Defence Forces Review
Question 255: To ask the Minister for Defence the steps that have been taken by senior management of the military at a location (details supplied) to address the issues raised in the Doyle...
- Communications Masts
Question 256: To ask the Minister for Defence if a survey has been carried out on the electromagnetic field strength of the telecommunications mast at a barracks (details supplied) in Dublin 7;...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Social and Affordable Housing
Question 257: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to Question No. 2 of 4 November 2004, the breakdown by local authority area of the 209 affordable...
- Water and Sewerage Schemes
Question 260: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to Question No. 353 of 12 October 2004, if he will provide the details of the decision in February...
- Mayo Landslide
Question 261: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received a request for €1.685 million by a working group (details supplied) in County Mayo; the...
- Departmental Funding
Question 262: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of approved voluntary housing associations which have received funding from his Department; and the...
- Grant Payments
Question 263: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a disabled persons grant application with the SWAHB will be processed in the case of a person (details...
- Water and Sewerage Schemes
Question 264: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position pertaining to a project in County Galway under the serviced land initiative (details supplied);...
