Written answers
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 40: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the estimated increase in the cost of welfare claims in 2008 arising from the entitlement of EU migrant workers to the new...
- Pension Provisions
Question 41: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a backlog of pension claims exists; if so, the details of same; the average waiting time for a claim to be processed; and if he...
- Personal Public Service Numbers
Question 42: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps taken to inform Romanian immigrants about procedures for obtaining PPS numbers following the incidents where immigrants...
- Anti-Poverty Strategy
Question 43: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the percentage of the population regarded as being in consistent poverty; when the 2% target which was set for 2007 in the ten year...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 44: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the main findings of the Government's working group on the rent supplement scheme; the changes he will make to the rent supplement...
- Money Advice and Budgeting Service
Question 47: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made in regard to his consideration of the research commissioned by the Financial Regulator and the Combat Poverty...
- Anti-Poverty Strategy
Question 48: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to combat food poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15184/07]
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 49: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will modify, improve or ease the qualification limits for the back to education allowance; and if he will make a statement on...
- Pension Provisions
Question 50: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has completed his consideration of the recent report he received from the Pensions Board, entitled, Special Savings for...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 51: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress he has made to date in the development of a national carers strategy; the expected publication date of same; and if he...
- Anti-Poverty Strategy
Question 52: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the findings of the Combat Poverty Agency research project into mainstreaming social inclusion issues into public...
- Customer Service
Question 53: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether the public is receiving adequate customer service in regard to inquiries regarding old age contributory...
- Social Insurance
Question 54: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the implications for the social insurance fund of proposals to cut the main PRSI rate from 4% to 2% and the self employed rate from...
- Anti-Poverty Strategy
Question 55: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the efforts his Department is making to reduce the risk of poverty levels among people over 65 years of age; and if he will make a...
- Pension Provisions
Question 59: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to ensure eligibility for old age pension on foot of self employed contributions where both spouses or partners are...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 60: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of Irish nationals who have been refused social welfare payments under the two year habitual residence requirement...
- Departmental Staff
Question 62: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position in regard to proposals that community welfare officers should be transferred from the Health Service Executive to his...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 64: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the new proposals for lone parents. [15245/07]
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 66: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details on the uptake of the family income supplement out of the total amount of people eligible. [15246/07]
- Anti-Poverty Strategy
Question 68: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the programmes and policies his Department will introduce to reduce consistent poverty rates among people of working age with...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 69: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made to date with regard to consideration by his Department of a new mortgage support plan; when the consultation...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 74: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average processing time for a new family income supplement claim; the number of new claims and renewals awaiting decision; and...
- National Development Plan
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has examined the recommendations made by CORI in its socio-economic review 2007; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will accept the recommendation of the Law Reform Commission that same sex cohabitants should be treated in the same way as...
- Departmental Offices
Question 85: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the new Departmental offices in Carrick-on-Shannon have opened; the capacity they have; and the number of members of staff that...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 88: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason employment offices such as Maynooth do not receive or process smart pass applications but instead insist applicants go...
- Pension Provisions
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether the practice of adapting pension rates at budget time is an effective way of dealing with adequate pension...
- Family Support Services
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, further to Parliamentary Question No. 36 of 1 March 2007, if the parenting courses offered by his Department and agencies under...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the main review in the audit of the welfare code to ensure its compatibility with the Equal Status Act 2000 has gone to tender;...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether the practice of back paying the early childcare supplement in April for the period 1 January to 30 March adds...
- Pension Provisions
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has satisfied himself that there are adequate resources in the Social Insurance Fund to fund the proposed increase in...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent claim made by a group (details supplied), that the rent supplement scheme is forcing...
- Employment Action Plan
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of unemployed people referred to the National Employment Action Plan since the scheme began; the number who have...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 102: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the ESRI have concluded their research into a second tier child income support payment; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Advocacy Services
Question 104: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 15 of 1 March 2007, the expected number of personal advocates who will be employed in the...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Garda Strength
Question 105: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community Gardaí assigned to each Garda division. [15397/07]
- Prison Building Programme
Question 106: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of sites for the Thornton Hall Prison project proposed or submitted to the Irish Prison Service in...
- Closed Circuit Television Systems
Question 110: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when funding will be sanctioned from his Department for the installation of closed circuit television in...
- Domestic Violence Legislation
Question 111: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views, in relation to the Domestic Violence Act 1996 and its reference to the time period necessary for...
- Sentencing Policy
Question 112: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the recent suspended sentence awarded to a rapist from Ennis, County Clare, mandatory...
- Sexual Offences
Question 113: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the provisions in place to ensure all sex offenders living in the State are on the Sex Offenders Register...
- Visa Applications
Question 114: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to a person from the Philippines who is working in England and wants to come here to...
- Garda Investigations
Question 115: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) who was seriously assaulted in 2006. [15517/07]
- Asylum Applications
Question 116: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding a family reunification application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway;...
- Residency Permits
Question 117: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on the application for a stamp 4 by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry;...
- Asylum Applications
Question 118: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applicants, families and individuals, granted asylum or the right to remain in the country...
- Visa Applications
Question 119: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider the application of a person (details supplied) to stay in Ireland in view of their...
- Prison Building Programme
Question 120: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, with reference to the evidence given by the Public Works Commissioner, before the Public Accounts...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Code
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Finance if there are proposals for maintenance work on listed buildings that are over 400 years old to be tax free; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Drainage Schemes
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Finance when the Office of Public Works will complete the works to the river wall along East Wall Road, Dublin 3; the works involved; and if dredging of...
- National Monuments
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Finance the caretaking procedures in place in relation to a historic monument (details supplied) in County Kildare; the procedures in relation to...
- Urban Renewal Schemes
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for the delay in making a small portion of land (details supplied) in County Cork available for the redevelopment of a playground. [15583/07]
- Pension Provisions
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for the delay in paying pension and payments due in respect of a deceased person (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to...
- Department of Health and Children
- Child Care Services
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a grant will be approved for a centre (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15511/07]
- Health Services
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position of the appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare against the decision of the community welfare officer; and...
- Hospital Services
Question 129: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will arrange for a person (details supplied) in County Cork to be granted an appointment for a spinal MRI scan. [15386/07]
- Medical Cards
Question 130: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a blue card will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if she will guarantee the immediate awarding of the...
- Child Care Services
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the necessary staff funding will be awarded to a committee (details supplied) in County Mayo to establish this essential service;...
- National Treatment Purchase Fund
Question 132: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in having a person (details supplied) in County Cork admitted to hospital for surgery under the National Treatment...
- Nursing Home Subventions
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will assist in expediting a decision in respect of an application for nursing home subvention by a person (details supplied) in...
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will investigate an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork in respect of a primary health certificate which...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will assist in having a person (details supplied) in County Cork admitted to a hospital for cardiac surgery. [15414/07]
- Health Services
Question 137: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will assist in having the home help hours for a person (details supplied) in County Cork increased owing to their ongoing...
- Community Care
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the resident capacity of the community nursing unit in Swinford, County Mayo; the number of residents there; the annual cost per...
- Ambulance Service
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a dedicated HEMS service will be available throughout Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15442/07]
- Health Services
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the Health Service Executive interservices review group on patient transport services to define the criteria for the eligibility...
- Health Service Staff
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the post of social worker with responsibility for the elderly will be established; her views on whether this should be initiated...
- Community Care
Question 149: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount it costs to run the community nursing home unit in Achill, County Mayo with a breakdown of the staff costs on an annual...
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 155: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when his Department will take responsibility for the provision of transport for a wide range of people which will include patients with...
- Disabled Drivers
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork had their application refused for a disabled drivers and disabled passengers grant...
- Health Services
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the development of a new health centre in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; the cost of the project; when the project...
- Hospital Services
Question 158: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason nothing was done regarding the case of persons (details supplied); the role of the consultant anaesthetist; and if she will...
- Care of the Elderly
Question 159: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the home-care elderly packages available for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 when they are released from hospital. [15516/07]
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 160: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will make additional resources available to ensure that children with Down's syndrome in Galway are provided with adequate speech...
- Ambulance Service
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the number of rheumatology patients particularly in the west and north Mayo area who have no access...
- Hospital Staff
Question 164: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when an appointment of a lactation consultant will be granted to St. Luke's Hospital/Community; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Pharmacy Regulations
Question 165: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if it is proposed that Irish pharmacists are afforded the same rights of establishment in other EU countries as pharmacists from other...
- Hospital Staff
Question 166: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a neurologist will be appointed for the north west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15548/07]
- Pharmacy Regulations
Question 167: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will clarify the directive she has issued in relation to correspondence (details supplied); if she will address the issues...
- Nursing Home Subventions
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the increase in subvention for a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be put in place; and if she will make a statement...
- Housing Aid for the Elderly
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when an application under the housing aid for the elderly will be processed for persons (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she...
- Health Services
Question 170: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be called for their appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Adoption Services
Question 171: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will make a statement on a situation in Cork where the Health Service Executive have given notice to three temporary social...
- Health Service Allowances
Question 172: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been refused domiciliary care allowance for their daughter, despite the fact...
- Hospital Staff
Question 174: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons who have graduated through hospital attendants positions to qualified carers in hospital situations; when it is...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Salmon Hardship Scheme
Question 176: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department will compensate the fish merchants who have made their living from the purchasing of salmon;...
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason a group (details supplied) in County Louth was unsuccessful in its recent application for sport and fitness equipment and...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 179: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grant aid available in establishing a wind turbine business; and if he will confirm the regulations relevant to such an...
- Work Permits
Question 180: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress to date on the application for an employment permit by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [15575/07]
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 181: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will arrange for an appeal in respect of an SWA application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork to be accepted by...
- Departmental Staff
Question 182: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of appeals officers currently working in the Social Welfare Appeals Office giving details of the number for each grade...
- Pension Provisions
Question 183: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will consider making the old age State pension of a person (details supplied) in County Cork payable on a Thursday instead...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 184: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the extent to which inflation has eroded the value of the recent social welfare budget...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 187: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the costs of paying a full old age pension to current recipients of an adult dependent allowance; and if he will make a statement...
- Pension Provisions
Question 189: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has investigated or examined provisions made by other jurisdictions for their missionaries who continue to live abroad on...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 191: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is intended to increase, expand or extend the free schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15597/07]
- Department of Transport
- Road Safety
Question 193: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the concern regarding the apparently retrospective nature of sentences under the Road Traffic Act 2006...
- Rural Transport Services
Question 194: To ask the Minister for Transport the status of an expression of interest submitted to his Department by North Galway Transport Advisory Committee to provide a rural transport...
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Community Development
Question 196: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will provide funding under the CLÁR and Rapid programmes for the transport of people in County Mayo with...
- Harbours and Piers
Question 197: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether there is need for the extension of Mulranny Pier, County Mayo; if he will provide the necessary...
- Charities Legislation
Question 198: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there is provision in the Charities Bill which will protect the interests of bona fide charities who depend on...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Departmental Staff
Question 199: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of extra staff she has relocated to the Farm Development Offices to deal with the new grant application; her views on...
- Milk Quota
Question 200: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to the second offer for milk quota restructuring; if she has satisfied herself that the new system is working...
- Grant Payments
Question 201: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to payment for 2006 and 2007 in respect of being appointed as a keeper of...
- Forestry Industry
Question 202: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Galway of a decision by Coillte not to purchase 21 hectares...
- Grant Payments
Question 203: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding an application for the single farm payment in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if...
- Department of Education and Science
- Schools Building Projects
Question 205: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the proposal for a new building for a school (details supplied) in County Waterford; if her attention has been drawn to...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 207: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the support her Department has provided to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan towards home tuition; if the failure to provide...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 208: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress towards the restructuring of the model school in Monaghan; if money has been allocated towards same; her views on whether...
- Higher Education Grants
Question 209: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will give consideration to students who are studying a four year graduate entry programme at UCD termed medicine special entry...
- School Staffing
Question 210: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will confirm that she informed the INTO national congress in Cork in 2007 that she will train 4,000 primary teachers in the...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 212: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason within the BED teacher training programme there is no specific autism training available to trainee teachers; her views on...
- Youth Services
Question 213: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she will provide the continuation of funds for a project (details supplied) in County Mayo; if her attention has been drawn to...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 214: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the necessary funds will be awarded to a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; if he will act immediately; and if she will...
- Third Level Education
Question 215: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has plans for the introduction of distance learning undergraduate degree courses here; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 216: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if access to a special needs assistant will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has dyspraxic tendencies...
- Youthreach Programme
Question 218: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the length of time the Youthreach project has been on a pilot basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15503/07]
- Teachers' Remuneration
Question 219: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a teacher (details supplied) in Dublin 22 was paid below the proper rate; and if she will resolve this matter. [15514/07]
- Special Educational Needs
Question 220: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is satisfied with the level of service available to children with Down's syndrome in Galway; and if she will make a statement...
- Employment Opportunities
Question 221: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the employment opportunities available to graduates of the speech and language therapy course at NUIG in view of the fact that the...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 222: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin on her Department's school building programme; if this school will be...
- Home Tuition
Question 223: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in paying out the necessary allowances to persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make...
- School Placement
Question 224: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a school placement will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Vocational Education Committees
Question 225: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on reviewing the status of the 12 directors of vocational educational committee recognised outdoor pursuit centres...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Planning Issues
Question 227: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on establishing a local planning monitoring group within each local authority; and if she will make...
- Traffic Calming Measures
Question 228: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the dangerous situation at a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; if...
- Farm Waste Management
Question 229: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there are developments in the extension of the scheme for the disposal of silage wrap under which farmers...
- Water and Sewerage Schemes
Question 230: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to extend the Tuam town sewerage scheme to Birmingham Road, Tuam, County Galway; and if he will...
- Departmental Correspondence
Question 231: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a...
