Written answers
Thursday, 24 March 2005
- Department of Transport
- Rail Services
Question 12: To ask the Minister for Transport the work which has been undertaken to advance increased suburban commuter rail services for the northside of Dublin, particularly in relation to...
- Transport Infrastructure Strategy
Question 13: To ask the Minister for Transport if his officials have finalised the ten year transport infrastructure strategy; if this strategy has been approved by Cabinet; the anticipated level...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 14: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent and outcome of discussions he has had with all interested stakeholders in relation to the reform of the Transport Act 1932 and the issue...
- Toll Charges
Question 15: To ask the Minister for Transport the details of the planned legislation to provide for motorists who drive through toll bridges without paying to be fined by the courts; if he has...
- Road Network
Question 16: To ask the Minister for Transport the details of the proposed new outer ring road for Dublin; the efforts which will be made to ensure that such a ring road does not contribute to...
- Dublin Port Tunnel
Question 17: To ask the Minister for Transport the height restriction which will apply on the Dublin Port tunnel. [9748/05]
- Airport Development Projects
Question 18: To ask the Minister for Transport his policy in respect of airport capacity on the east coast; the consideration which he has given to a second airport on the southside of Dublin or...
- Parking Regulations
Question 19: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department has carried out an analysis of the benefits that may accrue from the introduction of car sharing clubs; if he will consider...
- Public Transport
Question 20: To ask the Minister for Transport when the expected review of Dublin Bus services will be completed; if this review will not lead to a reduction in services; if the money for...
- Integrated Ticketing
Question 21: To ask the Minister for Transport if the contract for the operation of integrated ticketing on public transport has been awarded; if smart card ticketing has been introduced on Luas...
- Airport Development Projects
Question 22: To ask the Minister for Transport if a draft copy of the Shannon Airport business plan has been discussed with officials of his Department; if so, if he will provide details of these...
- Cycle Facilities
Question 23: To ask the Minister for Transport the new measures he will introduce to reverse the continuing decrease in the number of persons cycling in Dublin, as witnessed by a further...
- Road Signage
Question 25: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the quality of signposting in the State; his plans to encourage and support an improvement in signposting; and if he will make a...
- Public Transport
Question 26: To ask the Minister for Transport the incentives he has in mind to facilitate car commuters who wish to use rail, bus or the Luas; if feeder-bus or parking facilities are...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 31: To ask the Minister for Transport the projected ratio for 2005 between capital expenditure on roads and on public transport projects, excluding the annual operating subvention to...
- Road Traffic Offences
Question 32: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will list each of the road traffic offences to which penalty points apply and the number of penalty points in each case; his proposals and the...
- Port Development
Question 35: To ask the Minister for Transport the position with regard to the height of the Dublin Port tunnel; if he has plans to re-examine the height limits of the tunnel; and if he will make...
- Motor Insurance
Question 37: To ask the Minister for Transport the efforts he has made with regard to clamping down on the number of uninsured drivers on roads here; if his attention has been drawn to the Irish...
- National Roads Authority
Question 38: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason for the six-month delay in the NRA publishing the Road Collision Facts report for 2003; the action he will take to ensure that the data...
- Road Traffic Offences
Question 39: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on whether measures contained in the Road Traffic Act 2004 have clarified all the areas in which prosecutions are sought with regard to...
- Road Safety
Question 40: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has plans to update the official rules of the road handbook, in view of the fact that a new version of the book has not been issued in a...
- State Airports
Question 42: To ask the Minister for Transport the status of the study on public safety zones which was commissioned by his Department and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local...
- Road Safety
Question 43: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has any plans to address the frequency of road deaths caused by cars and lorries turning off main roads into housing developments; if a...
- Pension Provisions
Question 44: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on his recent meeting with RASA; the main issues discussed and the steps he will take to address these issues; and if he will make...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 45: To ask the Minister for Transport the details of the new legislation that is being prepared to counter the use of mobile phones by drivers; the efforts he is making to ensure that...
- Heavy Goods Vehicles
Question 47: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress that has been made on the reinstatement of height limits governing HGVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9719/05]
- Taxi Regulations
Question 49: To ask the Minister for Transport when new regulations on customer service and safety standards in the taxi industry will be implemented; the precise areas that these regulations...
- Road Safety
Question 50: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local authorities have yet to receive guidelines for introduction of the new 30 km/h speed limit...
- Driving Tests
Question 52: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department has secured approval from the Department of Finance to hire additional driving testers to reduce the large backlog in the numbers...
- Railway Stations
Question 53: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has had discussions with Iarnród Éireann regarding its plans to introduce fees for parking at a number of DART and suburban rail stations in...
- Airport Development Projects
Question 55: To ask the Minister for Transport the position with regard to the development of a second terminal at Dublin Airport; if proposals have been brought to Cabinet on this issue; the...
- Air Services
Question 58: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the new EU rules obliging airlines to offer compensation for delays, cancellations and overbooking; when the Government will establish...
- Department of Health and Children
- Long-Term Illness Scheme
Question 59: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the services and funding available to persons suffering from diabetes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9762/05]
- Ambulance Service
Question 60: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress she has made in the establishment of an all-Ireland helicopter emergency medical service as recommended by the...
- Medical Cards
Question 61: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, for returning emigrants, there is a three month period following arrival during which they may use their British medical...
- Care of the Elderly
Question 62: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the level or degree of consultation which she has entered into with the National Council on Ageing and Older People on the...
- Health Services
Question 64: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when development funding will be made available from her Department for services within the northern area of the Health...
- Hospital Services
Question 70: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will take steps to have a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who requires two operations admitted to...
- National Treatment Purchase Fund
Question 71: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children what systems are in place to ensure that work for the NTPF is not done by consultants during times that they are listed for...
- Hospital Services
Question 73: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the system of reporting by consultants on the mix of public and private patients receiving procedures in public hospitals,...
- Health Services
Question 75: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has received the results of a pilot study on the use of digital hearing aids; if she has assessed the...
- Hospital Services
Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will take action on the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17 who was due to have an urgent medical...
- General Practitioners
Question 80: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the process by which new general practitioner practices are approved; the number of such new positions which were approved...
- Health Service Staff.
Question 81: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the process by which consultant doctors are approved to practise; the number of consultants currently approved in each of...
- Hospital Staff.
Question 82: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position in regard to the fitness to practise issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if she...
- Hospital Services
Question 83: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the CT scanner for Monaghan General Hospital will be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9913/05]
- Services for People with Disabilities.
Question 86: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has received a full report from the Health Service Executive on the case of persons (details supplied) in County...
- Department of Finance
- Office of the Ombudsman.
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has plans to extend the remit of the Ombudsman's office to include disputes between third level educational institutions and their students; and...
- Tax Code.
Question 88: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will introduce a special tax incentive scheme due to the loss of approximately 1,000 jobs in north Mayo in the past five years and the lack of...
- Disabled Drivers.
Question 91: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties for a person with a disease, for example multiple sclerosis, to obtain a primary medical...
- Tax Code.
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Finance if and when a refund of income tax paid will be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Special Savings Incentive Scheme
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons holding an SSIA account have to ask their bank for a disclosure notice three months before...
- Tax Code.
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for the 11 week delay in dealing with claims for tax relief on medical expenses; if an embargo is in operation on recruitment to this...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Telecommunications Services
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the various locations in County Meath in which broadband infrastructure is in place and operational; the position...
- Fisheries Protection
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the locations in County Waterford in which fishing rights have been bought out or otherwise do not rest with the...
- Electricity Generation
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the plans for distribution of electricity; if decisions have been made in this regard; when a new system...
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Departmental Correspondence
Question 99: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his officials will assist a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim to have a marriage certificate released; and if he will make a...
- Diplomatic Representation
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of the Irish consul office in Ecuador which is not operational; his plans to provide staff to operate this office and deal with...
- Debt Relief
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the manner in which the objective of debt cancellation for third world countries will be progressed by him at the IMF-World Bank spring...
- Overseas Development Aid
Question 102: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position on the EU's development policy given that this policy creates a situation whereby allocation criteria only applies after an...
- Television Broadcast Infrastructure
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the decision by a broadcasting company (details supplied), after heavy pressure from Beijing, not to renew...
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Tourism Industry
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on whether the importance of tourism as a driver for economic survival is being adequately recognised by Government, as...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Industrial Development
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider the initiation of a feasibility study regarding the possibility of establishing cross-Border development...
- Trademark Legislation
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if trademark legislation can give protection to a UK subsidiary of a multinational company to insist that Irish retailers...
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Social Welfare Payments
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is the preferred policy of his Department to make all social welfare payments payable through banks; his views on whether...
- Grant Payments
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of farmers who have been in receipt of a farm assist payment for each of the past five years in County Westmeath. [9765/05]
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 114: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the current age regulations to obtain a companion travel pass; if he intends to lower the age limit; and if he will...
- Department of Transport
- Railway Stations
Question 119: To ask the Minister for Transport if progress has been made on the possible reopening of Dunleer railway station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9803/05]
- Rail Services
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of passengers who were carried on the red and green Luas lines in February 2005; and the number which were carried on all DART suburban...
- Public Transport
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of young persons expressed in Dáil na nÓg regarding the absence of child fares on buses for 16...
- National Car Test
Question 122: To ask the Minister for Transport if it is a requirement of the national car test to display Baile Átha Cliath on the number plates of Dublin registered cars; if drivers may be...
- Road Safety
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Transport if road conditions, surfaces and design throughout the country are conducive to road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9921/05]
- Parking Regulations
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has given instructions to the local authorities, Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann or Bus Átha Cliath requiring the provision of off-street...
- Traffic Management
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Transport the way in which it is proposed to direct traffic from motorways and national roads (details supplied) to the Dublin Port tunnel, in view of the...
- Rail Network
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Transport if an assessment has been done to ascertain the way in which best to increase the volume of commuters at Monasterevin, Kildare, Newbridge, Sallins...
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Rural Development
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the level of funding for County Westmeath under the national rural development programme for each of the past five...
- Irish Language
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 307 of 8 March 2005, if he will publish the various submissions received in his...
- Dormant Accounts Fund
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount which has been granted from the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, on a county basis; if he has...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Milk Quota
Question 137: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the serious market place distortion which has taken place due to the considerable volumes of fresh...
- Potato Production
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will consider requesting Teagasc to establish a facility for land leasing or land exchange to help with the upscale and...
- Grant Payments
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if entitlements of a person (details supplied) can be transferred to another person; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Schemes
Question 141: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will review the eligibility criteria for the CFP grant scheme; if she will facilitate a reduction in the minimum number of...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Road Traffic Offences
Question 142: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of money accruing from the penalty points system; the use to which such funds have been put; and if he will make...
- Residency Permits
Question 143: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which a person of Australian origin, who has stamp 1 status on an immigration bureau card, a valid work permit up...
- Garda Operations
Question 144: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Prisoner Releases
Question 145: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of times each of the four men convicted of the murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe has been granted temporary...
- Garda Operations
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of stationary speed detection checkpoints which were mounted in the greater Dublin area between the hours of 6...
- Probation and Welfare Service
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the role of an organisation (details supplied); the number of prisoners it caters for; the success rate in rehabilitation to...
- Registration of Title
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a reply was not sent to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; when the Land Registry will forward this...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 150: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances under which a person will be granted humanitarian leave to remain in the State on the basis that the...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 151: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will introduce a system whereby applicants for naturalisation will be given temporary status to live and work in the...
- Departmental Offices
Question 152: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the improvements he plans to make to the customer service department at the immigration section. [9875/05]
- Citizenship Applications
Question 153: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he anticipates that processing times for naturalisation applications will be shortened, as he has indicated numerous...
- Road Safety
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the estimated cost savings to the Exchequer of the outsourcing of the conduct of speed checks to private operators; the...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason his Department does not examine naturalisation applications upon receipt to ensure that applicants meet the basic...
- Departmental Pay
Question 159: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date of retrospection of pay for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9893/05]
- Residency Permits
Question 160: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in respect of residency status and family re-unification in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 161: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects the naturalisation process to be completed in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he...
- Deportation Orders
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if notwithstanding his previous decision in the case of person (details supplied) in Dublin 22, he will reconsider this...
- Refugee Status
Question 164: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review his refusal of refugee status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and if he will make...
- Visa Applications
Question 165: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a visa extension will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Deportation Orders
Question 166: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the deportation of a teenager in school uniform without identity papers to Nigeria; and if he will make a...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in updating and issuing a passport in respect of a person (details supplied) to reflect the birth...
- Department of Education and Science
- School Accommodation
Question 170: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the situation with respect to funding for new accommodation at the gaelscoileanna in Wicklow town and Arklow. [9774/05]
- Higher Education Grants
Question 171: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if financial assistance is available to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon in order to pursue a pilot's training in Spain;...
- School Accommodation
Question 172: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 3 February 2005 and the securing of a new site and permanent accommodation for a school...
- Physical Education Facilities
Question 173: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when it is proposed to include physical education as a leaving certificate examination subject; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Psychological Service
Question 174: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 198 of 10 March 2005, if she will answer the first and last parts of the question, that is, the...
- Pension Provisions
Question 175: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the full pension will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [9802/05]
- Third Level Staffing
Question 176: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the levels of English language competency which third level lecturers must have in order to lecture at a third level institution here;...
- Third Level Funding
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the levels of funding provided to Carlow Institute of Technology and Waterford Institute of Technology for the past ten years; if there...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will furnish a reply to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9813/05]
- Higher Education
Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if UCD, TCD, DCU and DIT will co-operate in locating a facility at the proposed new Cherry Orchard housing and retail development in...
- School Staffing
Question 180: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to an application from a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow for the appointment of two extra class...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 181: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the proposed extension to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; when this is likely to be sanctioned;...
- School Staffing
Question 182: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the high pupil-teacher ratio at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if her attention has...
- Psychological Service
Question 183: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children in County Monaghan who are being assessed and receiving counselling under the National Education Psychological...
- School Staffing
Question 184: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she will take to address class size at primary school level; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 185: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; when an application for funding was submitted for an extension to...
- Psychological Service
Question 186: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the waiting times involved for children in County Cavan who are availing of the National Educational Psychological Service; and if she...
- School Accommodation
Question 189: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress to date in the acquisition on behalf of her Department of a site for a school (details supplied); when the acquisition...
- School Staffing
Question 190: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the funding has been made available to allow a school (details supplied) to recruit an extra class teacher to help ease the large...
- State Property
Question 192: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has received correspondence from Dublin Inner City Partnership concerning its exclusion from the board of the proposed...
- School Staffing
Question 193: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she proposes to take to address the issue of high pupil-teacher ratios with particular reference to the need to bring Ireland...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 194: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a special needs assistant will be provided at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the...
- School Placement
Question 195: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will obtain a second level school place in their catchment area; and if she will make...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Anti-Poverty Strategy
Question 196: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the commitment in the national anti-poverty strategy framework document published in November...
- Road Network
Question 197: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will consider a proposal to upgrade the Dundalk-Crossmaglen road, in view of the need to develop...
- Housing Grants
Question 198: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will raise the shared ownership loan upper limit for Dublin-based applicants, in view of the higher cost...
