Written answers
Thursday, 10 March 2005
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Electricity Generation
Question 10: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he intends to issue directives to the regulator with a view to speeding up access to the national grid; and if...
- Postal Services
Question 11: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that An Post is seeking a tariff increase from ComReg; if he has...
- Departmental Projects
Question 12: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself that all appropriate steps were taken to save the MediaLab Europe project in view of...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 13: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he will make a decision on future support mechanisms for renewable energy generators. [8280/05]
- Broadcasting Services
Question 15: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his estimate of the likely cost to consumers of the proposed migration to digital broadcasting; if he intends to...
- Television Licence Fee
Question 16: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals for the use of reserve funds available from licence fees throughout the broadcasting sector; and if...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 18: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the areas of the country which have, to date, benefited from the provision of broadband facilities; his proposals...
- EU Directives
Question 19: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when and how he intends to transpose the European renewables directive into Irish law. [8282/05]
- Electricity Generation
Question 20: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he expects to appoint consultants to review the electricity sector in this country; the terms of reference...
- Broadcasting Services
Question 22: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which he expects TG4 to proceed on a stand alone basis in the future; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Inquiries
Question 23: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the progress made with regard to the inquiry ordered by his Department into alleged irregularities in the fishing...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 24: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Ireland's position in the European league in respect of the utilisation of alternative energy fuels; and if he...
- Fishing Industry Development
Question 26: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he will end the imposition of the present operating hours for Killybegs and other major ports and restore...
- Mobile Telephony
Question 27: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the efforts being made to address excessive roaming charges applied to Irish mobile phone users; if his attention...
- Energy Resources
Question 29: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has considered commissioning independent research on the possible future availability and price of oil to...
- Postal Services
Question 30: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason the Government has decided to take the Postal (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2001 off the Dáil Order...
- Broadcasting Services
Question 31: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his preferred options for the future of broadcasting by way of radio and television; the methodology envisaged to...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 34: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which broadband has been provided countrywide to date; the extent to which the programme is in line...
- Postal Services
Question 35: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has met the Irish Postmasters' Union since he became Minister; if he will comment on the valuable proposals...
- Energy Regulation
Question 39: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when and how he will be authorised to issue directions to the energy regulator on matters of energy and...
- Television Licence Fee
Question 40: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans for the distribution of the television licence reserve fund; the full extent of this fund at present;...
- Electricity Generation
Question 41: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the matters discussed at his meeting with the chairman and deputy chairman of the ESB on 17 February 2005; if he...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 43: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he will report to Dáil Éireann on any plans to provide market support mechanisms for biomass given its...
- Electricity Generation
Question 45: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his preferred options for the future development of the electricity industry; the extent of any targets he has in...
- Mobile Telephony
Question 47: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish mobile phone customers will have to pay significantly more...
- Broadcasting Services
Question 50: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself that he has the necessary time and resources to respond within the one month deadline...
- Fishing Industry Development
Question 54: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by business interests in Donegal about the future of the...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 55: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, arising from a recent decision by the regulator, he intends to issue directives regarding future financial...
- Consultancy Contracts
Question 57: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the details of the tendering and procuring process followed in the appointment of consultants (details supplied)...
- Electricity Generation
Question 58: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department has been in contact with the EU Commission with regard to the Commission's statement that it...
- Mobile Telephony
Question 59: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his Department's role in monitoring health and safety issues relating to mobile phones; the areas in which final...
- Consultancy Contracts
Question 65: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the details of the process followed in the appointment of a person (details supplied) as auditor of independent...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 66: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself that his Department has in place adequate legislative provisions to encourage the...
- Fisheries Protection
Question 67: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed in a recent report commissioned on behalf of eight...
- Mobile Telephony
Question 68: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has used his directive prerogative to encourage an improvement in the quality and coverage of mobile...
- Fisheries Protection
Question 69: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has given any more consideration to the possibility of a buy out of commercial salmon licences and to the...
- Postal Services
Question 70: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his most recent proposals for the future of An Post with particular reference to the need to retain the post...
- Fisheries Protection
Question 71: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will revoke the fishing permit for coarse angling introduced in 2003 on the River Suck; and if he will make...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 73: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has received any indication from the communications regulator regarding the DSL failure rate, which...
- Employee Share Ownership Schemes
Question 74: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on a proposed employee share ownership plan for Bord Gáis; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Properties
Question 75: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if it is intended that a joint agreement be signed with a private developer to construct residential units in the...
- Consultancy Contracts
Question 76: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount which has been spent on consultants over each of the past five years to investigate the issue of the...
- Radio Broadcasting
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the decision of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to issue a revised...
- Television Reception
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has plans to extend RTE broadcasts to enable Irish people living in Britain to access RTE programmes on...
- Electricity Generation
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the main features of the regulations signed by him in advance of the opening of the full electricity market on 19...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the actions he can take to counter increased use of the Internet and mobile telephone systems for child...
- Fisheries Protection
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the damage to the livelihood of fishermen on the River Suir from drainage works carried out to the...
- Marine Safety
Question 83: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he intends to act on the recommendations of the report of the marine casualty investigations board into the...
- Port Development
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department has entered into discussions with Dublin City Council and the Dublin Port Company with regard...
- Natural Gas Grid
Question 85: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself regarding the availability of natural gas supplies in the future; and if he will make...
- Department of Health and Children
- Mental Health Services
Question 86: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her Department's proposals for a hostel for psychiatric patients in the highly populated area of south east Meath including...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 87: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the Nurses Act 1985 will be amended as recommended by the nursing commission in relation to midwifery; if the new...
- Accident and Emergency Services
Question 88: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if an inspection of the accident and emergency department at Letterkenny General Hospital was to be carried out by her...
- Hospital Services
Question 89: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when it is proposed to open the palliative care unit at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny; and the reason for the delay in...
- Hospital Staff
Question 90: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan was retired on a staff nurse pension despite having acted as...
- Pension Provisions
Question 91: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the pension scheme arrangements for persons working as home helps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8513/05]
- Department of Finance
- Rates on Commercial Properties
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to instruct local authorities not to impose rates on child care facilities which are being provided by private operators; and...
- Communications Masts
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has given permission for the erection of a mobile phone mast on an OPW premises (details supplied); if he will give a categorical assurance, in...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Natural Gas Grid
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will commission an independent QRA in the interest of the health and safety of the residents who will be...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Ireland's position in the European league in regard to availability of broadband; the extent to which this...
- Electricity Generation
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when and the way in which he will be authorised to issue directions to the energy regulator on matters of energy...
- Consultancy Contracts
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount which has been spent on consultants over each of the past five years to investigate the issue of the...
- Public Private Partnerships
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if it is intended that a joint agreement be signed with a private developer to construct residential units in the...
- Mobile Telephony
Question 99: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if mobile telephone charges here are the highest in Europe; his policy initiatives to address this issue; and if...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on his Department guidelines for the tendering and carrying out of the various broadband...
- Natural Gas Grid
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when his Department's attention was drawn to the quantified risk assessment for the Corrib upstream gas pipeline...
- Fisheries Protection
Question 103: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the figures which were put forward at the final meeting of the outgoing National Salmon Commission in regard to...
- Fishing Vessel Licences
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, in the case of a commercial salmon drift net licence holder who cannot fish due to illness or being required...
- Fisheries Protection
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his position with regard to the case for the cessation of drift netting for salmon. [8505/05]
- Mobile Telephony
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the state of developments in regard to 3G telephone technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Telecommunications Services
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the extent to which the Internet and the mobile telephone system are being used to promote gambling...
- Electricity Generation
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which adequate generating capacity exists to meet requirements for the foreseeable future; if the...
- Television Licence Fee
Question 114: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when disbursement of funds from licence fees are likely to be awarded to the public or private broadcasting...
- Mobile Telephony
Question 116: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself that health and safety standards and requirements are being fully adhered to...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 119: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the degree to which cost effectiveness and efficiency have been evaluated in respect of various methods of...
- Broadcasting Services
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the manner in which he anticipates broadcasting to develop in the future; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Redundancy Payments
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the statutory redundancy which is available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [8419/05]
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the financial supports which are available to cover funeral and other related expenses following the death of a person in...
- Department of Transport
- State Airports
Question 130: To ask the Minister for Transport if such funding as is available to regional airports under PSO contracted subvention, the NDP capital grant scheme and the marketing, safety and...
- Road Network
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Transport the status of the review of Statutory Instrument No. 209 of 1994; if he has sought submissions from local authorities; the timescale for completion...
- Driving Tests
Question 132: To ask the Minister for Transport if assistance or support is available to persons who have mild learning difficulties with sitting their driving test (details supplied); and if he...
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- State Property
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been paid for the land acquired for construction of a cable car from...
- Community Development
Question 134: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the need to provide grant aid to enable a community centre to be built in Cobh; if...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Grant Payments
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position with a single payment for a person (details supplied). [8426/05]
- EU Directives
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will review the planned regulation for transposing EC Directive 2004/28 into Irish law in view of the opposition from all major...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Visa Applications
Question 137: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review the case of a person (details supplied). [8397/05]
- Child Care Services
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the person who is undertaking the proposed review in relation to the proposed changes in support for workers under the equal...
- Garda Investigations
Question 139: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will meet the sister of one of the victims of the Grangegorman murders; and the process by which a decision will be...
- Garda Deployment
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if additional gardaí will be allocated to the Drimnagh area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8400/05]
- Asylum Applications
Question 141: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the options open to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; if there is a mechanism to re-open this person's appeal to...
- Prisoner Transfers
Question 142: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider the repatriation of a person (details supplied) to this country from England to serve the remainder of...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 143: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the naturalisation of persons (details supplied); the position regarding the certificate of...
- Garda Deployment
Question 144: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí by rank, who are based in the national drugs unit at Dublin Castle; and if he will make a statement on...
- Drug Seizures
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the quantity of seized drugs currently in storage under the national drugs unit; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Garda Deployment
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has plans to expand the national drugs unit; if so, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Garda Equipment
Question 149: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of updates or modifications which have been made to PULSE since its rollout; and if he will make a statement on...
- Garda Stations
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if Finglas Garda station represents a suitable environment in which Garda can police a community; and if he will make a...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the commitments made in "Regulating Better", he will publish the heads or draft amendments which he proposes...
- Immigration System
Question 164: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the proposed new centralised immigration service will publish a customer charter; his views on whether it should adopt a...
- Garda Deployment
Question 165: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí planned or estimated to be on duty in Dublin for the Dublin Skyfest event 2005; and if he will make a...
- Probation and Welfare Service
Question 167: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied with the operation of and services provided by the probation and welfare service; and if he will make a...
- Garda Operations
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the unavailability of 2,000 extra gardaí, the gardaí engaged in speed detection should adopt a high...
- Garda Equipment
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of the Garda's capability of speed detection in the hours of darkness; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Crime Levels
Question 174: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the level of crime reduction in rural areas as a result of an increased Garda presence during the...
- Department of Education and Science
- Special Educational Needs
Question 175: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has received a letter from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 4 on the special needs assistant hours for a person...
- Schools Refurbishment
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will review the deplorable state of toilets at schools (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and the funding which is available to...
- School Staffing
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a national school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny is included in the staffing schedule review currently in progress within her...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when finance will be made available to a national school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny to provide temporary accommodation; and...
- Irish Language
Question 180: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether, if the situation regarding the standard of Irish in teaching does not improve, no progress will be made with the...
- School Closures
Question 192: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the board of management of a school (details supplied) has announced that the school...
- Teacher Training
Question 194: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to introduce manual handling training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8451/05]
- Proposed Legislation
Question 195: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to introduce health and safety legislation to protect students from injury due to lifting excessive weights; and if she will...
- Weight of Schoolbags
Question 196: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether back and spinal injuries might be caused to students by lifting heavy schoolbags in inappropriate ways; the action...
- Psychological Service
Question 198: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of educational psychologists required to provide a full service to first and second level students in Waterford; the number...
- Teachers' Remuneration
Question 199: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been asked to repay an overpayment on salary; her views on whether this is...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 200: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the application for the review of special needs assistant support for persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny has yet been...
- School Staffing
Question 201: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of parents and teachers at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11 regarding the...
- Psychological Service
Question 202: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford has not been seen by an educational psychologist from the NEPS; and if she...
- State Examinations
Question 203: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there is a possibility of altering an examination timetable (details supplied); if she will investigate the matter; if it is...
- Department of Defence
- Pension Provisions
Question 204: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the application by a person (details supplied) in County Laois for an additional increment to their Defence Forces pension;...
- Army Barracks
Question 206: To ask the Minister for Defence the properties that have been sold by his Department each year since 1997; the amount made by each property; the amount or other resource that was...
- Defence Forces Personnel
Question 207: To ask the Minister for Defence , further to Parliamentary Question No. 214 of 3 March 2005, the number of meetings that have taken place with the representative associations on the...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Water and Sewerage Schemes
Question 208: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Question No. 389 of 28 October 2004 the position regarding an application for...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 209: To ask the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Question No. 403 of 1 March 2005, pertaining to the...
- Waste Management
Question 210: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if Dublin City Council has submitted the name of a company (details supplied) as its preferred bidder for the...
