Written answers
Thursday, 16 June 2005
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Tourism Industry
Question 12: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to recent comments from the head of Dublin Tourism (details supplied) that Dublin's status as one of...
- Abbey Theatre
Question 13: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has received any request from the Abbey Theatre for increased funding following the exceptional losses which the theatre...
- National Concert Hall
Question 15: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has concluded discussions with the Department of Education and Science, the Office of Public Works and University College Dublin...
- Arts Funding
Question 16: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress which has taken place in terms of a coherent national approach to funding arts here since the launch of the first set of...
- National Aquatic Centre
Question 17: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the investigations which have been carried out to date in relation to the granting of a contract for the National Aquatic Centre to a...
- Stadium Development
Question 18: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the redeveloped Lansdowne Road stadium will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20224/05]
- Swimming Pool Projects
Question 20: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of new swimming pools, constructed since 2002, aided by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 21: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of new gymnasia, constructed since 2002, aided by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20232/05]
- National Stadium
Question 24: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position in regard to the Campus Stadium Ireland project; the plans for the future of the site; the cost associated with the...
- Abbey Theatre
Question 25: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a decision will be made on the development of a new national theatre building in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Sports Facilities Audit
Question 28: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason for the delay in appointing a steering group to oversee the commencement of a national audit of sports facilities. [20254/05]
- National Lottery Funding
Question 32: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount allocated by his Department in national lottery funding for 2005; if he will transfer responsibility for the allocation of...
- National Aquatic Centre
Question 34: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position in regard to the quality of the structure at the National Aquatic Centre; if all storm damage repairs have been carried...
- National Conference Centre
Question 37: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a decision has been made on the successful tender for the national conference centre; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Arts Council
Question 39: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on the level of funding allocated to the Arts Council for 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20199/05]
- Abbey Theatre
Question 42: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will consider bypassing the Arts Council as a means of funding the Abbey Theatre and implement a system whereby the theatre is...
- Stadium Development
Question 45: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has satisfied himself that the procedures for the award of the project management contract for the redevelopment of Lansdowne...
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 47: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a new communities facilities fund, to support the development of community facilities, has been put in place by his Department; and...
- Arts Council
Question 48: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to recent comments from the arts programme director of the Arts Council, John O'Kane, that financial...
- Department of Health and Children
- Medical Cards
Question 49: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 will be issued with a medical card and given the maximum support and assistance....
- Housing Aid for the Elderly
Question 50: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when work will be completed to a house for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick under the special housing for the...
- Health Services
Question 51: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when orthodontic treatment will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [20412/05]
- Alcohol-Related Diseases
Question 52: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of expenditure from her Department which applies to alcohol-related illnesses. [20413/05]
- Health Reports
Question 53: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if an advance copy of a report (details supplied) will be given to Patient Focus and the 140 women in the group (details...
- Nursing Homes Regulation
Question 54: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will make it an obligation on all HSE staff and other public servants to report any mistreatment of patients in...
- Mental Health Services
Question 55: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 715 of 27 January 2004 and 88 of 3 February 2005, the details of the report of the...
- Departmental Funding
Question 56: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of unspent money returned by her Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the total...
- Cancer Screening Programme
Question 57: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will mobilise her Department to ensure that BreastCheck facilities are available at University College Hospital,...
- Hospital Services
Question 60: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if an application for funding to staff a special care baby unit at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, has been...
- Medical Cards
Question 62: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be granted a medical card. [20464/05]
- Housing Aid for the Elderly
Question 63: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the criteria used by her Department in accessing applications for works to be carried out under the housing aid for the...
- General Medical Services Scheme
Question 64: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if arrangements will be made in order that persons who need medical certificates for the renewal of their driving licence...
- Family Refuges
Question 65: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will provide the funding promised to support a family refuge centre for women and children in Tallaght; if her...
- Housing Aid for the Elderly
Question 66: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons on the waiting list who are seeking repairs under the community works scheme; the number of homes...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 67: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons on the waiting list for the central heating grant in County Kildare; the number of grants which issue...
- Drugs Payment Scheme
Question 68: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in the case of one separated spouse continuing to pay maintenance to support the other spouse, both spouses will...
- Health Services
Question 69: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if and when DCA will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, in view of the fact that this...
- Drugs Payment Scheme
Question 70: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will consider changes in the criteria for the drugs payment scheme for old age pensioners; and if she will make a...
- Department of Finance
- Schools Refurbishment
Question 71: To ask the Minister for Finance, further to Parliamentary Question No. 328 of 12 April 2005, if there has been further progress in scheduling the work; and if he will make a...
- Decentralisation Programme
Question 72: To ask the Minister for Finance the assessment carried out to date of the proposed decentralisation in respect of Ordnance Survey Ireland; the cost savings which are projected to be...
- Tax Code
Question 73: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of tax credits available annually to categories of persons (details supplied) who are paying rent to a private landlord. [20457/05]
- Flood Relief
Question 74: To ask the Minister for Finance if further technical and engagement reports in relation to flood alleviation in Ardclough, County Kildare, have been received from Kildare County...
- Garda Stations
Question 76: To ask the Minister for Finance if the OPW has received confirmation from Kildare County Council that it has agreed to the disposal of a plot of land adjacent to the new Leixlip...
- Land Acquisition
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Finance the position on the issue raised in Parliamentary Question No. 320 of 29 September 2004 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Tax Code
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider exempting senior citizens from the annual Government levy of €10 per ATM card, €20 per laser card, by way of encouragement not...
- Garda Stations
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Finance if the OPW is making arrangements for the temporary transfer of Ballymun Garda Station and the Ballymun office of the Department of Social and Family...
- State Property
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the acquisition by the OPW of a building to house the Killarney driving test centre in Killarney, County Kerry; when a new...
- Flood Relief
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Finance, further to Parliamentary Question No. 133 of 2 June 2005, if an inspection by an engineer from the Office of Public Works has been carried out to...
- Tax Code
Question 82: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will list all of the tax reliefs which he has indicated to date are under review; his best estimate of the present annual cost of the relief in...
- Tax Collection
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Finance the outstanding recommendations of the Revenue powers group and their present status (details supplied). [20565/05]
- Tax Code
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Finance the latest estimate of the number of beneficiaries and the cost of tax relief on private pension contribution; the numbers and value of relief by type...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Departmental Funding
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount of unspent money returned by his Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the...
- Harbours and Piers
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will approve the commencement of work on a pier (details supplied) in County Cork. [20553/05]
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Departmental Funding
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of unspent money returned by his Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the total Departmental budget for...
- International Agreements
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the changes that have taken place within the past three years in arrangements with Colombia regarding the travel of Irish citizens to Colombia...
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Swimming Pool Projects
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when a project will proceed [details supplied]; the stage the project is at; the remaining stages in the scheme; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Funding
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of unspent money returned by his Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the total departmental...
- Swimming Pool Projects
Question 99: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will sanction the seeking of tenders for the replacement of the swimming pool at Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a...
- Arts Funding
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the increased demand for facilities such as theatres, community halls and other such premises to...
- Film Industry Development
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his ongoing plans for the development of the film industry having regard to competition from other jurisdictions; and if he will make...
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his proposals to support community based arts and sport related proposals throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on...
- Tourism Industry
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he is satisfied that tourist facilities here are sufficiently cost effective to compete with other tourist locations; and if he...
- Cultural Events
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of festivals supported directly or indirectly by funding originating in his Department; and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Departmental Funding
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of unspent money returned by his Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the total...
- Community Employment Schemes
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if persons, who are over 55 years of age on community employment schemes, are permitted to participate for a five-year...
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Departmental Funding
Question 111: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of unspent money returned by his Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the total departmental...
- Departmental Offices
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the status of the Finglas social welfare office; the staff numbers located there at present; the plans to locate additional staff...
- Department of Transport
- Road Network
Question 113: To ask the Minister for Transport the percentage of the national roads programme under the NDP which will be completed by the programme's end in 2006; and if he will make a...
- National Car Test
Question 114: To ask the Minister for Transport the position on the national car testing service review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20426/05]
- Departmental Funding
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount of unspent money returned by his Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the total departmental budget for each...
- School Transport
Question 116: To ask the Minister for Transport the nature of the test for road worthiness for school buses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20450/05]
- Rail Services
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Iarnród Éireann intends to discontinue the transfer of maritime containers from Colbert Station,...
- Rail Network
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received the revised business case in respect of the Kildare route project; if he is in a position to sanction the project; and if he...
- Public Transport
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the demand from the general public for an improved bus service in Fingal; the reason for the delay in responding...
- State Property
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the acquisition of a new premises for the Killarney driving test centre, Killarney, County Kerry; when a new premises will...
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Departmental Funding
Question 122: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of unspent money returned by his Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the total...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Farm Retirement Scheme
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will implement overdue reforms to the early retirement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20447/05]
- Farm Retirement Scheme
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food, further to Parliamentary Question No. 633 of 12 April 2005, if she has taken a decision to implement the recommendations of the report...
- Grant Payments
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the application by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath to the national reserve, has been processed; if that person has...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Departmental Funding
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of unspent money returned by his Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the total...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who has applied for naturalisation; if this will...
- Visa Applications
Question 129: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who has applied for a visa; and if he will make a...
- Garda Stations
Question 130: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to a Garda station (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Visa Applications
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will take steps to ensure that the fresh application for a visa by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is...
- Garda Stations
Question 132: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will reconsider the creation of a new Garda district headquarters in the north east Kildare area (details supplied);...
- Crime Levels
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the headline crime figures for the years 1997 to 2004 for Maynooth, Leixlip and Celbridge. [20498/05]
- Public Order Offences
Question 134: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of on the spot fines issued by the Garda Síochána for breaches of the control of consumption and possession of...
- Registration of Title
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he or the Registrar of Titles obtained or caused to be obtained any legal opinion regarding the entitlement of the...
- Garda Strength
Question 139: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the personnel strength in the Carlow-Kildare division as of 1 June 2005; and the strength nationally. [20519/05]
- Garda Stations
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals to close Rush Garda station and dispose of the property; the timescale for same; and if he will make a...
- Visa Applications
Question 141: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a visa extensification will be offered to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 to facilitate an ongoing legal issue...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 142: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to the citizenship application in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if...
- Visa Applications
Question 143: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to the application to remain in the State on the basis of parenthood of an Irish-born child in the...
- Garda Deployment
Question 144: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide a report regarding all of the postings during the careers of each of the gardaí that have been...
- Department of Education and Science
- School Transport
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if all school buses are inspected regularly for health and safety issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20450/05]
- Schools Building Projects
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a general purpose room, library resource teaching room, principal's office, storage facilities and a multipurpose room will be...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 175 of 12 October 2004 and 557 of 19 October 2004, the position regarding a person (details...
- Disadvantaged Status
Question 149: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if correspondence has been received by her Department (details supplied); her views on the matter; the steps she will take to ensure...
- Schools Refurbishment
Question 150: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when application forms and additional details of the summer works scheme 2006 will be made available to schools; and if she will make a...
- School Staffing
Question 151: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the qualifying conditions for a primary school to have a walking, that is, non-teaching principal; if, in view of the increased...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 152: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if adequate funds are available to purchase a site and build a permanent school for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if...
- Departmental Funding
Question 154: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount of unspent money returned by her Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the total departmental budget...
- School Staffing
Question 155: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the 12th classroom teaching post at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9 will not be discontinued and if the sixth classes will...
- Overseas Students
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 187 of 3 February 2005, the progress to date by the working group; and if she will make a...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when architectural planning for the 17-classroom extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare will be completed; if...
- Schools Refurbishment
Question 159: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if any secondary school is unable at this stage to use funding allocated under the summer works scheme, SWS; and if she will consider...
- Psychological Service
Question 160: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of additional educational psychologists allocated in 2005 to national schools in County Kildare; and the number of national...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 161: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when an application for a special needs assistant for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 will be processed; when a decision will...
- Site Acquisitions
Question 162: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the process in relation to the acquisition of a site for a new national school for Ardclough, County Kildare; and if she will make a...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the expected completion date of the new national school for Rathmore, County Kildare. [20515/05]
- Site Acquisitions
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the archaeological impact assessment report on Kill village and environs has...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 170: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when extensions to schools (details supplied) in County Kildare are due for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Special Educational Needs
Question 171: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that three children have been refused access to a special language class at a school...
- School Transport
Question 172: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in respect of school transport and the difficulties surrounding the immediate installation of seat belts in school buses, she will...
- School Staffing
Question 173: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in County Roscommon will not lose its second teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- School Placement
Question 175: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a school placement appeal in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will...
- Disadvantaged Status
Question 176: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason there has been a change in the criteria for supporting a resource teacher to a school (details supplied) in County Offaly...
- Department of Defence
- Departmental Funding
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Defence the amount of unspent money returned by his Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the total departmental budget for each year...
- Pension Provisions
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Defence the numbers of civil servants and contract staff involved in consolidating or rationalising the Defence Forces Pensions Acts in the years 1985, 1990,...
- Defence Forces Legislation
Question 180: To ask the Minister for Defence if his Department is in compliance with all Acts and regulations in respect of Defence Forces and any other pension schemes for which he is...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Departmental Funding
Question 181: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of unspent money returned by his Department to the Department of Finance each year since 1997; the...
- Architectural Heritage
Question 182: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the projects in County Kilkenny which will benefit from the protected structures grant allocation recently...
- Library Projects
Question 183: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has received a submission from Cork County Council in relation to a special project (details...
- Local Government
Question 184: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will issue regulations under the Local Government Act 2001 to allow by order the establishment of new...
- Grant Payments
Question 185: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding allocated for disabled persons grants nationally in 2004; the amount not utilised by local...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 186: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the agencies, persons and interest groups which have been consulted by his Department in relation to the...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 187: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to support the proposal by groups (details supplied) for a purpose built refuge on a site, as...