Written answers
Thursday, 26 May 2005
- Department of Defence
- Military Escorts
Question 13: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the agreement reached earlier in May 2005 with the banks regarding payment for military escorts for cash transits; and if he will...
- Overseas Missions
Question 14: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel on service overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17520/05]
- EU Battle Groups
Question 16: To ask the Minister for Defence if there have been further developments in regard to the formation and participation of EU led battle groups or peace enforcement missions; and if he...
- Employee Protection Legislation
Question 17: To ask the Minister for Defence if has reconsidered or proposes to reconsider the justification for the exclusion of members of the PDFORRA from most of the statutory labour...
- Overseas Missions
Question 18: To ask the Minister for Defence the level of assistance being given to countries affected by the December 2004 tsunami by the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Hearing Impairment Claims
Question 23: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of claims for damages for deafness determined in court or settled out of court at the latest date for which figures are available; the...
- Overseas Missions
Question 25: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has received a report from the chief of staff on the findings of the board of officers established to examine events in Jadotville in the Congo...
- Defence Forces Training
Question 26: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has reviewed the regulations in regard to Defence Forces recruits who are injured during training being discharged due to their not having...
- Naval Service Vessels
Question 27: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to replace the ships of the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17469/05]
- Overseas Missions
Question 28: To ask the Minister for Defence the level of Defence Forces support that will be sent to Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17528/05]
- Defence Forces Reserve
Question 29: To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Reserve Defence Force; the training that each member engages in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17547/05]
- Defence Forces Training
Question 32: To ask the Minister for Defence the training given to members of the Defence Forces to deal with a nuclear accident or emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17527/05]
- Defence Forces Strength
Question 34: To ask the Minister for Defence if the current strength of the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17523/05]
- Defence Forces Property
Question 35: To ask the Minister for Defence if he had any discussions with the Department of Transport with respect to the possible use of Baldonnel Aerodrome to assist in alleviating the...
- International Terrorism
Question 36: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself with the Defence Forces's capability to deal with any threat to Ireland that may exist from international terrorists; if...
- Search and Rescue Service
Question 39: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will restore the search and rescue service for the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17470/05]
- EU Battle Groups
Question 40: To ask the Minister for Defence the relationship between the new EU battle groups and the EU constitution's permanent structured co-operation; if most of the battle groups will be a...
- Defence Forces Equipment
Question 44: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the voluntary code to boost cross-border competition in military equipment, which is to be agreed in November 2005 by EU Defence...
- Defence Forces Property
Question 45: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of medical facilities available to the Defence Forces; the capacity and usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17525/05]
- Overseas Missions
Question 46: To ask the Minister for Defence the situation with respect to the disappearance of a person (details supplied). [17646/05]
- Defence Forces Property
Question 49: To ask the Minister for Defence if it is planned to offer for sale lands or facilities currently used by the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17530/05]
- Injury Compensation Claims
Question 50: To ask the Minister for Defence the amount paid out to members of the Defence Forces for each of the past five years in respect of compensation claims for injury or illness (details...
- Nuclear Safety
Question 52: To ask the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces provide security for the transportation of nuclear or chemical materials within the State; and if he will make a statement on...
- Bullying in the Workplace
Question 54: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding steps to eradicate bullying and harassment from the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17521/05]
- Defence Forces Equipment
Question 60: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of nuclear, biological and chemical suits available to the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Common Foreign and Security Policy
Question 61: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the role of space technologies in the EU's new European security and defence policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17564/05]
- Air Ambulance Service
Question 62: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of helicopters available to the air ambulance service; if the provision of a dedicated all-island emergency helicopter medical service is...
- Department of Health and Children
- Parliamentary Questions
Question 67: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that parliamentary questions referred by her to the HSE are often not replied to...
- Pension Provisions
Question 68: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the occupational pension scheme which is available to home helps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17661/05]
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 69: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if extra finance for services for persons with disabilities announced in budget 2005 has been spent; and if she will make a...
- Hospital Services
Question 70: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment in a hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Health Services
Question 71: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when sufficient qualified chiropodist staff will be available to enable persons seeking treatment as advertised in media...
- Winter Vomiting Bug
Question 74: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the most recent statistics for the incidence of winter vomiting bug in Cork city and county hospitals in 2004 and to date in...
- National Lottery Funding
Question 75: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a scheme exists within her Department for a group (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a...
- Hospital Staff
Question 76: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a person being appointed to a hospital (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a...
- Department of Finance
- EU Directives
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has assessed EU proposals to introduce an excise duty on aircraft fuel as part of the strategy to address this source of emissions affecting...
- Pension Provisions
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Finance when the accompanying regulation to the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 will be notified to local authorities in order that pension...
- Public Service Contracts
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Finance the criteria used by the national public procurement policy unit in its competitive processing system for short-listing contractors who can tender for...
- Tax Code
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Finance if a tax credit will be amended in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [17674/05]
- Tax Collection
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Finance if elderly persons whose relatives are affected by the trawl relating to insurance schemes exceeding €20,000 will be treated in a sensitive and fair...
- Tax Code
Question 83: To ask the Minister for Finance if an association (details supplied) in County Kildare will be afforded full charity status given that the charitable status does not cover...
- Departmental Properties
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Finance the renovation and infrastructural upgrades carried out on rental premises in Roscommon town by the Office of Public Works in each of the past three...
- Architectural Heritage
Question 85: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will reveal the whereabouts of a statue (details supplied) which was taken from the Botanic Gardens for cleaning some years ago and never...
- Disabled Drivers
Question 86: To ask the Minister for Finance if and when a special exemption in respect of VRT and VAT under the disabled drivers and disabled passenger tax concession 1994 will be offered to a...
- Decentralisation Programme
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Finance if the Government remains committed to bringing 120 civil service jobs to Buncrana, County Donegal, under the decentralisation programme; and, if so,...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Harbours and Piers
Question 88: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the OPW was responsible for financing the construction of steps leading on to a pier (details supplied) in...
- Foreshore Licences
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the concerns of his Department and the details of the additional information requested with...
- Electricity Generation
Question 90: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to amend the Electricity (Supply) Act 1927 to allow landowners an opportunity to negotiate with the ESB...
- Foreshore Licences
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Donegal County Council recently unanimously passed a motion...
- Coastal Protection
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding issues concerning the protection and preservation of the amenities of Dublin Bay (details...
- Foreshore Licences
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the foreshore licences which have been granted in recent years in Waterville, County Kerry; if no such licences...
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Foreign Conflicts
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will propose an inclusive resolution of the Basque conflict at both EU and UN level; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Passport Applications
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport applications which were received in the passport office which had been sent by swift or express post; the number of...
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 99: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when funding will be announced under the sports capital programme 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17706/05]
- Rights of Way
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his Department's attention has been drawn to the right of way restriction that is preventing surfers from accessing their...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Grocery Industry
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987; his further views on the recommendation for its abolition by...
- Work Permits
Question 102: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding an application for a work permit on behalf of a person (details supplied). [17751/05]
- Child Care Services
Question 103: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department or the IDA construct and run crèche facilities in industrial estates in the ownership of the IDA for the...
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 104: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the regulations regarding entitlement to a companion free travel pass will apply to persons who are over 70 years and have a...
- Department of Transport
- Road Traffic Regulations
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Transport the criteria which are used to establish permitted weight limits on bridges; and if a national standard exists or is planned. [17690/05]
- Air Services
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will reconsider the proposed privatisation of Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17763/05]
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Lár-Ionad Náisiúnta Oideachais Gaeilge
Question 108: To ask the Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an gcuirfidh sé in iúl a thacaíocht iomlán féin chomh maith le tacaíocht Údarás na Gaeltachta do bhunú, gan a...
- Security of the Elderly
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary for funding for alarms for the...
- Rural Social Scheme
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of farmers enrolled on a scheme in each area (details supplied); the number of new entrants to the scheme;...
- Community Development
Question 111: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding he will disburse from the dormant accounts fund in 2005 to voluntary and community groups in County...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Grant Payments
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding an application under [i]force majeure[/i] by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a...
- Sugar Beet Production
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the Government's plans to safeguard sugar beet producers here in view of the recent changes being proposed by the European Commission in...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Garda Stations
Question 119: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the provision of a Garda barracks (details supplied) in County Galway. [17672/05]
- Deportation Orders
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons deported from here to date in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17676/05]
- Registration of Title
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for registration was received by the Land Registry Office; the contact that the Land Registry Office had...
- Crime Scene Photography
Question 122: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the numerous graphic photographs published in newspapers of the body of a person (details...
- Residency Permits
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will investigate the reason passports have been retained in respect of Romanian workers and their spouses in counties...
- Crime Prevention
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Garda authorities at the Bridewell in Dublin 7 will liaise with Dublin City Council to agree measures to curtail the...
- Garda Investigations
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of the 5491 suspicious transaction reports, STRs, reported in 2004 which have been investigated to date; and if...
- Garda Strength
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects the Garda strength to reach the 14,000 as promised in the programme for Government; and if he will make a...
- Visa Applications
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a visa for a person (details supplied) was refused; if the reasons for such refusal will be set out in full; if...
- Residency Permits
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will return the passport of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who has applied for residency on the basis...
- Prisons Building Programme
Question 129: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a portion of the Thornton Hall farm purchased by the State for a new prison was excluded and retained by the vendor; if...
- Deportation Orders
Question 130: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances in which a person (details supplied) was allegedly assaulted in a hostel prior to being deported; if the...
- Garda Strength
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Garda strength in the years 2000, 2004 and the most recent date for which data are available in 2005 in each of the 18...
- Residency Permits
Question 132: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a passport or copy of same will be returned to a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a...
- Visa Applications
Question 134: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the outcome of an application by a person (details supplied) to come here in early 2004. [17752/05]
- Child Care Services
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an application for a capital grant submitted by a child care group (details supplied) in County Tipperary in 2003 was...
- Visa Applications
Question 137: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a tourist visa will be granted to a person (details supplied). [17761/05]
- Asylum Applications
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the outcome of an appeal of a decision on an application for refugee status by a person (details...
- Department of Education and Science
- School Staffing
Question 139: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the situation arising in a school (details supplied) in County Cork; if she will have the matter...
- Áiseanna Scoile
Question 140: To ask the Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta cén fáth gur dhiúltaigh an Roinn Oideachais seomra i gcomhair múinteora acmhainne a chur ar fáil do Ghaelscoil (sonraí tugtha)...
- Institutes of Technology
Question 141: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is alarmed at a recent OECD report which suggested that the institutes of technology, of which there are five in the BMW region,...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 142: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extra assistance or allowances that will be made in the case of children that are dyslexic in carrying out tests pertaining to end...
- Physical Education Facilities
Question 143: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the application by a college (details supplied) in County Mayo for a new sports hall and associated facilities;...
- School Staffing
Question 144: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the inadequate resources being provided to a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [17699/05]
- Education Centres
Question 145: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the advice given to her by An Chomhairle Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta on the all-Irish national education centre...
- Psychological Service
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the level of psychological assessment which has been or will be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied) who attends a...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if they are still in receipt of continuous...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will review the appeal decision regarding a school (details supplied); if funds will be sanctioned for the necessary work; and...
- Department of Defence
- Overseas Missions
Question 149: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the activities of the Irish Defence Forces deployed in Afghanistan. [17749/05]
- Air Corps Helicopter Fleet
Question 150: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is proceeding with a significant helicopter fleet replacement programme which has been approved by Cabinet and put in place for the Air Corps,...
- Defence Forces Property
Question 152: To ask the Minister for Defence the current number of Army overholders; the extent to which he has had discussions with his colleagues regarding the provision of permanent housing...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Coursing Meetings
Question 166: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reports (details supplied) available to his Department from coursing meetings. [17662/05]
- EU Directives
Question 167: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position with the proposed EU directive on recycling of electronic waste; the additional burden this...
- Departmental Correspondence
Question 168: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will agree to meet with a delegation from a group (details supplied) with particular reference to the...
- Serviced Residential Lands
Question 169: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the proportion of the 12,500 hectares of zoned land owned by the various local authorities which is owned by...
- Architectural Heritage
Question 172: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department will approve a second stage of restoration to a castle (details supplied) in County Kerry...
- Wildlife Species
Question 173: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures which are being taken by this Government to express concern regarding the threat of extinction to...