Written answers
Thursday, 26 October 2006
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Arts Funding
Question 12: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he expects applications will be accepted for funding under the access and capital projects relating to arts projects; the...
- Film Industry Development
Question 13: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the fact that no large scale Hollywood feature film has located here since 2003; and his further views on whether there...
- Tourism Industry
Question 14: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he expects to launch the results of Tourism Ireland's review of the North American market; the estimate as to the economic value...
- Tourism Promotion
Question 15: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the steps he is taking to support regional tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34698/06]
- Tourism Industry
Question 16: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the fall in the number of salmon anglers visiting Ireland from overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Arts Funding
Question 17: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the efforts he is making to ensure that funding for the arts is equally spread across all parts of the country; his views on whether...
- Drugs in Sport
Question 18: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the reported increase in the taking of steroids by young athletes, especially in inter-school competition; and if he...
- Horse Racing Industry
Question 19: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the 2005 annual report of Horse Racing Ireland; his plans to support the industry in the future; and if he will make a...
- Ryder Cup
Question 20: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a cost benefit analysis has been carried out on staging the Ryder Cup in the K Club; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Sport and Recreational Development
Question 22: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has met with members of the Irish Sports Council to discuss their recently launched building sport for life three-year...
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 27: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the criteria used by his Department to evaluate national lottery sport capital grant applications; if there is a noticeable trend...
- Sport and Recreational Development
Question 28: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the improvements to Ireland's sporting infrastructure and facilities that will be made in order to allow athletes here prepare for...
- Tourism Industry
Question 30: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the areas his Department is involved in regarding the promotion of good environmental practice within the tourism industry. [34852/06]
- Irish Language
Question 32: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he envisages difficulties for tourists travelling in County Kerry now that the word Dingle has been removed from all signposts in...
- Sport and Recreational Development
Question 33: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position with regard to the development of the Abbotstown Sports Campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34827/06]
- Tourism Industry
Question 36: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will make representations to the Department of Finance to introduce measures in Budget 2007 to allow VAT recovery on corporate...
- Arts Plan
Question 38: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will provide details of the recently launched Government Arts and Education Committee charged with increasing exposure to the...
- National Conference Centre
Question 39: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the development of the proposed National Conference Centre; if he has met with the preferred bidder; the...
- Sport and Recreational Development
Question 40: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the 2006 Women in Sport Initiative launched recently by the Irish Sports Council; the funding provided for projects...
- Tourism Promotion
Question 41: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will provide details of the €10 million tourism marketing campaign for the autumn and winter period; the efforts he is making...
- Arts Funding
Question 46: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason he did not use the offices of the Arts Council in relation to deciding on the allocation of the recently announced €16.4...
- National Stadium
Question 48: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road; the latest timetable for the planning and construction process for the...
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 50: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of primary schools that received grant aid under the sports capital programme in 2005; and if he will make a statement on...
- Swimming Pool Projects
Question 51: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the level of funding that has been made available for swimming pool projects in the Dublin area; the details of each project; and if...
- Tourism Industry
Question 52: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his Department has considered the implications for the tourism industry of the privatisation of Aer Lingus; and if he will make a...
- Sports Sponsorship
Question 54: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the sponsorship of sporting events by alcohol brands and companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Sports Funding
Question 55: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of funding awarded by him in respect of sporting or recreational grants in the years 2003 to date in 2006; the intended...
- National Theatre
Question 56: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will provide details of the international competition under way to find a design for the new Abbey Theatre; when the...
- National Aquatic Centre
Question 57: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if repairs were carried out on the National Aquatic Centre recently; if an independent structural engineering assessment has been...
- National Concert Hall
Question 58: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if an organisation (details supplied) will be accommodated on the proposed extended National Concert Hall site; and if he will make a...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Criminal Prosecutions
Question 60: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prosecutions that were taken as a result of seizures of illegal fireworks in each of the years...
- Fireworks Regulation
Question 61: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if all sections of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 in relation to fireworks have been signed into law; and if he...
- Crime Levels
Question 62: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 19 October 2006, the page number in the Garda Annual Reports of...
- Residency Permits
Question 63: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has received an application by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in relation...
- Criminal Prosecutions
Question 64: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prosecutions that were taken in relation to offences committed with fireworks in each of the...
- Departmental Properties
Question 67: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the properties that have been acquired and sold by the Reception Integration Agency in each of the years 2000...
- Garda Deployment
Question 68: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost to his Department of the increased Garda presence at Bellanaboy Shell Refinery since 2 October 2006;...
- Residency Permits
Question 69: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be reached on the application for residency in the State on the basis of marriage to an...
- Garda Deployment
Question 70: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when Monasterevin Garda Station will re-open; if, in view of the growth of the local population, he will...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 71: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the application for post nuptial citizenship of a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be dealt...
- Firearms Regulations
Question 72: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of legally held firearms here; and the estimated number of illegal firearms. [34999/06]
- Visa Applications
Question 73: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a green card stamp will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he...
- Residency Permits
Question 74: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review an application for family reunification in the case of persons (details supplied) in County...
- Asylum Applications
Question 75: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Residency Permits
Question 76: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 80: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to the application for naturalisation in the case of persons (details supplied) in...
- Residency Permits
Question 82: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 85: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to an application for naturalisation in the case of persons (details supplied) in...
- Deportation Orders
Question 86: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review the decision to deport in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 on...
- Residency Permits
Question 88: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if and when a decision is expected on a residency application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway;...
- Road Traffic Offences
Question 89: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number and proportion of struck out road traffic prosecutions that are reinstituted for a period for which...
- Residency Permits
Question 90: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position of an application for a residential permit under the EU directive for a person (details supplied)...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 91: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position of an application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the...
- Prison Building Programme
Question 92: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the expertise of each member of the expert committee which qualified them as an expert in site selection for a...
- Department of Finance
- Bookmaker Licences
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of licences issued to bookies in each of the past ten years; the criteria governing the issuing of such licences; the tax to date from...
- Illegal Fireworks
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of illegal fireworks that were seized by the Revenue Commissioners Customs Service in each of the years 1997 to date in 2006; and if he...
- Tax Code
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer for reducing the top rate of tax by 1% and 2% and for reducing the bottom rate of tax by 1% and 2%; and if he will make a...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 99: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on allowing sole traders who employ their spouses to pay social insurance contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Tax Code
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of private pension plans, with a value of €5 million and more, that have been granted tax relief since 1 January 2005 until the coming...
- Public Sector Employment
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Finance if the imposition of pay pauses for civil servants that are not applicable to private sector employees is constitutionally sound, in view of the...
- Tax Code
Question 102: To ask the Minister for Finance if an organisation (details supplied) in County Louth can obtain compensation for VAT paid on building works; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Public Works Projects
Question 103: To ask the Minister for Finance the projects and final costs of the projects that involved work by a company (details supplied) for the Office of Public Works in each year since...
- Department of Health and Children
- Health Service Allowances
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the need, she will review the decision to refuse domiciliary care allowance to a person (details supplied) in County...
- Community Care
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount paid to staff and the amount paid to home care packages in view of the amount of funding given to County Mayo under the home...
- Child Care Services
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Health and Children his views on further funding for a crèche (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will respond to the submissions made to him...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will introduce the promised legislation to fortify flour with folic acid as recommended by the National Committee for Folic...
- Nursing Home Subventions
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the criteria for assessment of nursing home subvention are currently under review; if so the amendments being considered; the stage...
- Hospitals Building Programme
Question 111: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of sites on the grounds of public hospitals that she has identified for the construction of private hospitals; the estimated...
- Health Service Staff
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she or her Department made a referral to An Bord Altranais in respect of the professional conduct of nurses employed in Leas Cross...
- Health Repayment Scheme
Question 113: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding an application for return of moneys under the national repayment scheme for a person (details supplied) in County...
- Hospital Services
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Health and Children his views on correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34976/06]
- Civil Marriages
Question 116: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the parts of the Civil Registration Act 2004 relating to marriage and marriage registration that have not been implemented; the...
- Disabled Drivers
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason a disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions grant has been refused to a person (details supplied) in County...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the waiting period for cardiac or hip replacement surgery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35013/06]
- Health Services
Question 119: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will undertake a review of stroke services here as recommended in the Government's Cardiovascular Strategy seven years ago; and...
- Hospital Services
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if provision will be made for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare currently in Naas General Hospital for their transfer to...
- Health Services
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a reply will issue to a query on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who is awaiting work on a risk management...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Departmental Staff
Question 122: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the division to which a former principal officer of his Department (details supplied) was transferred on 26...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to provide fibre optic broadband to serve a town (details supplied) in County Galway in order that...
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Tourism Industry
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the growth of the North American, European or other locations from whence tourists have come here in the past three years; and if he...
- Arts Funding
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to encourage the development of a network of theatres with a view to the promotion of the arts here; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the expenditure by his Department from the proceeds of the National Lottery in each of the past five years; and if he will make a...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Job Creation
Question 132: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the average cost of grant aid per job created by the IDA in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on...
- Corporate Enforcement
Question 134: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to parliamentary Question No. 961 of 27 September 2006, the status of a director (details supplied) of an Irish...
- Newsprint Industry
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the practice of oversupply of newspaper and magazines by distribution companies to newsagents, which in some...
- Departmental Staff
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons currently employed in his Department whose status has changed to that of disabled since the...
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Family Support Services
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average waiting time for payment of respite care grants from date of application; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of recipients of fuel allowance with a breakdown for each welfare payment. [34995/06]
- Department of Transport
- National Car Test
Question 143: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason it is not possible to book an NCT test more than five weeks ahead of a proposed appointment; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Light Rail Project
Question 144: To ask the Minister for Transport the criteria of selection for the proposed route of the Metro; the way each of the alternative lines, central, western and eastern performed under...
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Community Development
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when a decision will be made on the application for funding under the research grants for an organisation (details...
- Social Inclusion Programme
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, through his Department, there is funding available under any aspect or heading for a person (details supplied) in...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Departmental Staff
Question 149: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she is satisfied that the procedure used in the 2005 and 2006 round of promotions, for area superintendent and district...
- Knackery Industry
Question 150: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the situation regarding the export of live horses for slaughter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35003/06]
- Decentralisation Programme
Question 151: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the numbers of staff in her Department who have indicated willingness to decentralise; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Schemes
Question 152: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if an extension of time will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary for participation in the land purchase and...
- Pension Provisions
Question 154: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in view of the fact that participants in the ERS only agreed to forfeit the value of their State pension while in receipt of their...
- Department of Education and Science
- Decentralisation Programme
Question 155: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has obtained temporary accommodation in Mullingar for the decentralisation of her Department; the number of civil servants to...
- Schools Refurbishment
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she expects to announce decisions made in respect of applications made under the summer works scheme for 2007; and if she will...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1306 of 27 September 2006, if her Department has agreed to the retention of special needs...
- Radon Gas Levels
Question 158: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the situation with regard to radon levels in a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 159: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if approval for an extension to a school (details supplied) has been approved; the commencement date for works; and if she will make a...
- Psychological Service
Question 161: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason psychological services from the national educational psychological service will not provide a service to pupils in a school...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 162: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status and early prospects for the long sought new school building for a school (details supplied) in County Monaghan; the...
- Youthreach Programme
Question 164: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is satisfied with the ongoing development of the Youthreach programme here; if her Department has proposals to expand the...
- Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme
Question 166: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is satisfied with the ongoing development of the VTOS programme here; if her Department has proposals to expand the VTOS...
- School Transport
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to correspondence (details supplied) when her Department will make contact with the persons concerned; the reason this has not...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 221 of 8 June 2006 the reason for the delay in approving funding for a building project for a...
- Adult Education
Question 170: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if through her Department, there are grants or funding available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare seeking to provide...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 171: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans for the development of post-primary education in a town (details supplied) in County Cork. [34986/06]
- Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme
Question 172: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the VTOS travel allowance and the VTOS meal allowance; the comparison allowance rates for each of the past five years; and if she will...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces Reserve
Question 173: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of appointments unfilled at commandant and captain rank by brigade in respect of the Reserve Defence Force; the reason promotions have...
- Defence Forces Personnel
Question 174: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of personnel in the Army, Navy and Air Corps; the quantity of sick leave experienced by each sector over the past 12 months; and if he...
- Bullying in the Workplace
Question 175: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of complaints of bullying recorded in each of the past ten years made by men and women members of the Permanent Defence Forces. [34935/06]
- Overseas Missions
Question 176: To ask the Minister for Defence if Irish soldiers are stationed in Afghanistan; if so, when the mission began; the number of soldiers serving in Afghanistan; the role of the...
- Hearing Impairment Claims
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 has not had their hearing impairment claim processed after five years; and if he will make a...
- Overseas Missions
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has studied the findings and recommendations of the final report on the investigation into the Niemba ambush; if he will publish that report;...
- Departmental Correspondence
Question 179: To ask the Minister for Defence when details attached to an accident affecting a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will as stated in a previous parliamentary question be...
- Departmental Staff
Question 180: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of persons currently employed in his Department whose status has changed to that of disabled since the commencement of their employment...
- Defence Forces Personnel
Question 181: To ask the Minister for Defence the top rate of pay for the rank of commandant within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35055/06]
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Building Regulations
Question 193: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the regulations including statutory instruments and article references governing where and when obscure glass...
- Recycling Policy
Question 194: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the provision being made for the elderly in rural areas, where the recycling facilities are being withdrawn...
- Local Authority Staff
Question 195: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received an application from Athy Town Council for the appointment of two community wardens; if he...
- Planning Issues
Question 196: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the densities of developments being granted by local authorities in provincial areas; his...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 199: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to change the situation to allow tenants of voluntary housing associations to purchase their houses...
- Local Authority Staff
Question 201: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of local authority parks or parks and landscape services departments that are staffed with...
- Recreational Amenities
Question 202: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the Ministerial directives, strategies or policies, his Department has issued in relation to the planning,...
- Building Regulations
Question 207: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide a copy of the training specification for the BER inspection programme. [35009/06]
- Decentralisation Programme
Question 208: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the numbers of staff in his Department who have indicated willingness to decentralise; and if he will make a...
