Written answers
Thursday, 11 May 2006
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 9: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there is information to suggest whether the cap on supplementary rent allowance has had the effect of reducing or stagnating...
- Partnership Agreement
Question 11: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the role of his Department in the negotiations for a possible new partnership agreement, particularly in regard to those areas for...
- Pension Provisions
Question 12: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent call from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for a clampdown on pension abuses in the...
- Anti-Poverty Strategy
Question 13: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the claims made by CORI (details supplied) that in 1994 just 10.4 per cent of people receiving...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 14: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in relation to unemployment assistance claims by wives who are actively seeking work, he plans to individualise the means...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 15: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it has been agreed to change the name of the organisation Comhairle; the reason for such a change; and if the making of this...
- Child Support
Question 17: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether the back to school clothing and footwear allowance is adequate; and if he will increase this allowance. [17558/06]
- Family Support Services
Question 18: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his Department's input in the action plan for lone parents being developed by FÁS (details supplied); if same has been completed;...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 19: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position with regard to his discussions with the European Commission regarding the Government's implementation of the two year...
- Family Support Services
Question 21: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the outcome of his consultative forum with lone parent groups held at Farmleigh House regarding his recent discussion paper on...
- Pension Provisions
Question 22: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made with regard to his consideration of the recent report of the National Pensions Review; if it is intended to...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 23: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people who are claiming reduced rent supplement under the terms of SWA Circular 8 of 2000; the number in years one,...
- Partnership Agreement
Question 24: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the views on the recent submission made by the Combat Poverty Agency to the social partners on a new partnership agreement; and if...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 26: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he intends to progress with the granting of free travel to all beneficiaries of an Irish pension; and when he proposes to do so....
- Social Welfare Code.
Question 27: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to make changes to the social welfare system to make it more equitable for women; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Websites.
Question 29: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason there is no link to the Office for Social Inclusion on the homepage of his Department's website. [17544/06]
- Departmental Schemes.
Question 30: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress to date on the abolition of all peak time restrictions under the free travel scheme (details supplied); and if he will...
- Social Welfare Benefits.
Question 33: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 90 and 96 of 22 March 2006, his progress in consultations with the Department of Health and...
- Social Welfare Appeals.
Question 35: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to improve the transparency of the decision making process regarding the awarding of claims by deciding officers and the...
- Social Welfare Benefits.
Question 36: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether social assistance payments based on means tests are effectively targeting poverty (details supplied); and if he...
- Poverty Impact Assessments.
Question 39: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he expects the new guidelines on poverty impact assessment to be finalised; and the policy application which they are designed...
- Social Insurance.
Question 40: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of exemptions from payment of social insurance employment contributions, for a period not exceeding 52 weeks, granted in...
- Anti-Poverty Strategy.
Question 42: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the recent ESRI report which found that between 8 per cent and 10 per cent of the population were living in consistent...
- Post Office Network.
Question 43: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the claim made by the president of the Irish Postmasters Union that the survival of the country's remaining sub-post...
- Care of the Elderly
Question 45: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made to date with regard to the recommendations contained in the report of the Joint Committee on Social and Family...
- Departmental Schemes
Question 47: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the introduction of an all-Ireland free travel scheme; the latest discussions he has had on this issue; the...
- Traveller Community
Question 51: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the efforts he is making to combat the social exclusion experienced by the travelling community; and if he will make a statement on...
- Anti-Poverty Strategy
Question 52: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that up to one third of landlords advertising on the internet state that rent allowance...
- Family Support Services
Question 53: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the location of the outstanding family resource centres which are to be funded by the Government in order to meet its target of...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 55: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to revise and shorten the time period that people have to be in receipt of social welfare payments for before they can...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 57: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether the social welfare system here discriminates against the self-employed; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Social Welfare Fraud
Question 60: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps he is taking to prevent bogus applications for PPS numbers and to ensure the integrity of the PPS number system; and if he...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 61: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he intends introducing changes to the Social Welfare Appeals Office practice of only partially publishing its decisions. [17548/06]
- Income Continuance Scheme
Question 62: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action he intends to take to rectify the absence of a source of recourse for employees in the event of a dispute between an...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 64: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will have examinations made into the possibility of awarding an appropriate employment related payment to sufferers of...
- Department of Health and Children
- Hospital Services
Question 82: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the improvements which have been made at St. Vincent's Hospital to provide for cystic fibrosis sufferers following on the...
- Health Services
Question 83: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that the Health Service Executive insurers pay the cost of the specialised treatment for a person...
- Eating Disorders
Question 85: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount which was spent by her Department or the Health Service Executive on the treatment of eating disorders in 2004...
- Health Service Staff
Question 86: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will support the Irish Nurses Organisation in their efforts for better pay and conditions of service. [17713/06]
- Accident and Emergency Services
Question 87: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding improvements in the accident andemergency department at Beaumont Hospital; and the number of new beds...
- Mental Health Services
Question 88: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average waiting period for children seeking psychiatric assessment by the child and adolescent mental health service in...
- Health Services
Question 89: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Health Service Executive is using a two tier rate of refund payment to...
- Hospital Services
Question 92: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the plan to relocate patients from unit three of James Connolly Memorial Hospital to an alternative facility within the...
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 93: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Meath qualifies for a grant to modify their car for a disabled person; and if she...
- Health Services
Question 94: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to previous parliamentary questions, if she will arrange appropriate treatment under the treatment purchase fund for...
- Housing Aid for the Elderly
Question 95: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the status of an application under the housing aid for the elderly for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if...
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 96: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused the mobility allowance; and if this decision will be...
- Hospitals Building Programme
Question 97: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will approve the Health Service Executive capital plan for 2006 and specifically phase 3C of Naas Hospital. [17781/06]
- Health Services
Question 98: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 25 April 2006, the number of additional home help hours which will be allocated...
- Hospitals Building Programme
Question 99: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the hospital sites earmarked to date for the development of private hospitals under her scheme to gift land at public...
- Medical Expenses
Question 101: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if assistance will be offered in respect of the hospital bill in the case of a person (details supplied) in County...
- Medical Cards
Question 102: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement...
- Department of Finance
- Garda Stations
Question 103: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the projects to provide new Garda stations at Ballymun and Finglas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17791/06]
- Disabled Drivers
Question 104: To ask the Minister for Finance if there have been changes to the medical criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax...
- Tax Code
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of low paid workers that are outside the tax net. [17698/06]
- Farm Waste Management
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 25 April 2006, if the revised costings structure sought in the standard costs for the farm waste...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Finance if the contract documents for the purchase of a site for Ardclough National School, Ardclough, County Kildare are near resolution. [17772/06]
- Flood Relief
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 329 of 25 April 2006, when the catchment flood risk assessment for the Rye River will commence; and if tenders...
- Departmental Advertising
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the Office of Public Works advertised the Phoenix Park traffic study in one newspaper only (detail supplied); and in view of the fact that...
- Tax Code
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Finance the position in relation to the payment of stamp duty by GAA clubs particularly as they pay 21 percent VAT on materials for use in the development of...
- Garda Stations
Question 111: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the commitments to replace the existing unsatisfactory temporary Garda station at Dunmanway in Cork west have not been met; and the...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Natural Resources
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will ensure that all of Ireland's natural wealth is fully benefited by the citizens of this State. [17712/06]
- Offshore Exploration
Question 113: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will provide this Deputy with a copy of rules and procedures manual 2002 for offshore petroleum...
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Sport and Recreational Development
Question 114: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the discussions he has had in relation to the suggestion that St. Patrick's Athletic FC should move from Inchicore's Richmond Park;...
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 116: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if approval will be given for funding for a project (details supplied) in County Roscommon under the sports capital programme; the...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Job Sharing
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his proposals to give workers in the private sector the right to job-share; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Properties
Question 119: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will ascertain from the IDA if a factory (details supplied) in County Mayo has been sold; if so, the price for which...
- Work Permits
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he will take to have an appeal against a refusal for a work permit by a person (details supplied) expedited as all...
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Pension Provisions
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his views on extending back the concession introduced some years ago whereby persons who dropped out of the insured workforce on...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will consider easing qualification limits for payment of carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Anti-Poverty Strategy
Question 132: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress on the introduction of the second-tier payment to help target poverty in low-income families and children; and if he...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 134: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his progress in ensuring timely, accurate and efficient systems of decision, appeal and redress for social welfare entitlements as...
- Department of Transport
- Public Transport
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has concluded his review of the reform of the bus market; and when he will make a decision in relation to the Dublin Bus application for...
- Rail Network
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received the inspector's report in relation to the public inquiry into the Kildare route project; and when he is likely to either confirm...
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Community Development
Question 137: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there is funding available from his Department for youth groups or organisations; if his attention has been drawn...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Grant Payments
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the payment of the EU single farm payment due to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [17731/06]
- Veterinary Medicines Regulations
Question 143: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the status of her application to the EU Commission for an exemption list under the animal remedies regulations; and if she will make a...
- Grant Payments
Question 144: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position concerning an application for extra suckler cow quota under force majeure for a person (details supplied) in County...
- Animal Welfare
Question 145: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the organisations and persons who made submissions on the practice of electro-immobilisation to her, her Department and the Scientific...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Commissions of Investigation
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the Stardust fire investigations; and if the families will be given the maximum support on this...
- Road Traffic Offences
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the agreement reached between the Chief Superintendent of the Garda traffic corps and traffic management officials from...
- Anti-Social Behaviour
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures available to the Garda to deal with persons who are engaged in ongoing harassment of a person (details...
- Garda Deployment
Question 149: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community gardaí assigned to the Cabra district of Dublin 7 from each of the Bridewell, Mountjoy, Cabra and...
- Closed Circuit Television Systems
Question 150: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a decision has been made arising from the request of residents at Montpelier Hill and Arbour Hill, Dublin 7 for the...
- Refugee Status
Question 151: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review the decision not to grant refugee status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin in...
- Residency Permits
Question 152: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath which was sent to his Department sometime ago will...
- Garda Stations
Question 153: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the new Garda station in Derrinturn, County Kildare is fully operational. [17773/06]
- Visa Applications
Question 155: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will look favourably on a visa appeal of a person (detail supplied) in County Cork. [17793/06]
- Garda Stations
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact the Garda station at Ballinhassig in Cork west has been classified as one of the...
- Visa Applications
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to the application for family reunification in the case of a person (details supplied) in County...
- Asylum Applications
Question 158: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider granting extended residency in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will...
- Refugee Status
Question 159: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the circumstances have been fully examined in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Dublin in view of the...
- Residency Permits
Question 161: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the residency status in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Asylum Applications
Question 162: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review his decision to refuse asylum in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 in view of the...
- Residency Permits
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the residency status in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Asylum Applications
Question 165: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the likely danger to the life and well being in the event of deportation in the case of a...
- Deportation Orders
Question 166: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 721 of 25 April 2006 and response thereto, if he will reply to the points raised as to...
- Visa Applications
Question 167: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review the application for reunification in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Asylum Applications
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Education and Science
- School Curriculum
Question 170: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to place poverty issues on the school curriculum. [17693/06]
- Higher Education Grants
Question 171: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary should have qualified for a higher education grant. [17694/06]
- Applications for Assistance
Question 172: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to an application for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the...
- School Transport
Question 173: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will facilitate a free bus service for children to Adare primary schools (details supplied) in County Limerick. [17697/06]
- Sexual Offences
Question 174: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department received reports or allegations of child sexual abuse that may have occurred during the period 1950 to 1970 at a...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 175: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if assistance will be given to pupils with special educational needs in second level schools here. [17715/06]
- School Staffing
Question 176: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding improving class size in national schools here. [17716/06]
- Schools Building Projects
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the building of a new school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if her attention has been drawn to the...
- Departmental Communications
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if protocols and arrangements will be put in place to ensure that national school principals needing to contact officials in her...
- School Accommodation
Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to provide designated offices for national school principals recognising that 45 per cent of school principals have no...
- Education Schemes
Question 180: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when her Department will complete the amended action 32 and in doing so extend to primary and special schools in areas of disadvantage...
- Early School Leavers
Question 181: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the retention rate of students to leaving certificate for the second level schools in Finglas, Dublin 11; and the breakdown of the...
- School Accommodation
Question 182: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the problems facing twin primary schools (details supplied) in County Dublin due to a lack of...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 183: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a design team has been appointed for the extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [17765/06]
- School Accommodation
Question 184: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are approximately 400 children being taught in prefabs in national schools in...
- School Enrolments
Question 185: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare have agreed on the long term projected enrolment for the...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 186: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a formal letter of offer has issued in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the letter of offer was...
- School Accommodation
Question 189: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has concluded the assessment of the long term accommodation needs of the new Kill National School; the details of...
- Bologna Declaration
Question 190: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress being made here towards reaching the Bologna Accord criteria. [17788/06]
- School Transport
Question 191: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the action she will take in a matter (details supplied) in County Cork regarding the withdrawal of concessionary bus transport to a...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Fire Service
Question 192: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding new equipment and additional resources for the fire services here. [17710/06]
- Water and Sewerage Schemes
Question 193: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received from Kildare County Council a request to approve contract documents for a new sewerage...
- Housing Grants
Question 197: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will supply the information requested in Parliamentary Question No. 247 of 2 March 2006. [17779/06]
- Water and Sewerage Schemes
Question 198: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 5 April 2006, the status of these regional water schemes; when he...
