Written answers
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Afforestation Programme
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her attention has been drawn to the concern expressed by the European Environment Agency regarding the State's tree...
- Use of Pesticides
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her Department has undertaken an assessment of the implications for Irish farming of the EU plan to reduce the use of...
- Animal Diseases
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease and bluetongue disease in the UK, she will establish a biosecurity...
- Suckler Cow Quota
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the actions being taken by her Department to ensure the future of the Irish suckler cow sector, in view of the drop in beef...
- Farm Waste Management
Question 111: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason the Farm Development Services are not processing application forms by farmers under the improvement scheme which...
- Animal Diseases
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the continuing threat to human health and the economy generally from animal diseases, she will consider the...
- Organic Farming
Question 113: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her attention has been drawn to the recent Eurostat survey which showed that Ireland has the third lowest area under...
- Consumer Protection
Question 114: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if in the context of increasing competition for land use between food and fuel production she proposes to protect the...
- Pigmeat Sector
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps she proposes to take to secure the viability of the pig industry here. [21892/07]
- Dairy Industry
Question 116: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps she will take to halt the exodus of farmers from winter milk production to the liquid milk market. [21890/07]
- Bovine Diseases
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress to date on increasing the age limit for BSE testing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21525/07]
- Genetically Modified Organisms
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her position on a genetically modified event (details supplied) in view of the serious repercussions the effective ban is...
- Sustainable Energy
Question 119: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps she is taking to promote wood energy. [21522/07]
- Suckler Cow Quota
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she will honour her commitment to the suckling farmers here to introduce a new suckler cow grant. [21523/07]
- Farm Incomes
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the information available to her Department on the expected impact on farm incomes of the exceptionally wet weather during...
- Farm Prices
Question 122: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps she is taking to ensure that higher market prices for lamb is passed back to farmers; and if she will make a...
- Farm Structures Survey
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her views on the further significant decline in the number of farms reported in the recent Farm Structure Survey published...
- Departmental Offices
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the establishment of the new Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; the reason for the delay...
- Genetically Modified Organisms
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the changes in the Government's policy on genetically modified foods and crops since 1997; the reason that the changes that...
- Farm Employment
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of persons employed full time and part time in farming in 1997, 2002 and the latest date for which figures are...
- Common Agricultural Policy
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the status of talks on the CAP health check for 2008. [21896/07]
- Farm Improvement Scheme
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she will announce the details of the grant aid available for dairy farmers to improve their dairy facilities. [21893/07]
- Animal Diseases
Question 129: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she is satisfied that all appropriate procedures are in place to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease to Ireland,...
- Food Labelling
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps she is taking at national and EU level to establish country of origin labelling on all primary food products....
- Food Prices
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the estimate of the increase in food prices over each of the past five years; if she has quantified the reason for these...
- Beef Quality Assurance Scheme
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the grant aid paid out under the beef quality assurance scheme and An Bord Bia beef marketing scheme; the percentage of this...
- Farm Incomes
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her views on the 26% decline in farm incomes for 2006, compared to 2005, as reported recently by Teagasc; her plans to...
- Fishing Fleet
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her proposals for the decommissioning of one-third of the whitefish fleet; the estimated number of vessels to be scrapped...
- Food Labelling
Question 139: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps she is taking to ensure that non-organic food is not mislabelled; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Farm Accidents
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of persons killed or injured in farm accidents during 2006 and to date in 2007; the steps she will take to...
- Food Safety
Question 141: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she is satisfied that there are adequate checks and safeguards in place to ensure that infected beef is not imported into...
- World Trade Negotiations
Question 142: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the status of the WTO talks. [21894/07]
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Ministerial Expenses
Question 143: To ask the Taoiseach the amount of money paid in expenses to each Minister of State in his Government Department; the headings under which they were paid for each of the past five...
- Department of Finance
- Legal Costs
Question 144: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the role of his Department in a legal case (details supplied); if the State is now the defacto owner of property referred to therein;...
- Tax Code
Question 145: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his plans to request the Revenue Commissioners to discontinue its practice of imposing penalties on deceased tax payers families as it...
- Ministerial Expenses
Question 146: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount of money paid in expenses to each Minister of State in his Government Department; the headings under which they were paid...
- Site Acquisitions
Question 147: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 26 September 2007, if payment has been made to the landowners; the amount paid; the...
- Tax Code
Question 148: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 26 June 2007, it remains his intention to introduce changes to the current VRT system...
- Tax Yield
Question 151: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount of VRT that was recovered by the Exchequer in respect of the sale of motor vehicles for each month in 2007; the proportion...
- Motor Fuels
Question 152: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if, in respect of the recent announcement of a procurement competition for new Ministerial cars by the Government Supplies Agency, he...
- Tax Code
Question 153: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views on whether a more appropriate commencement date for the changes in stamp duty which he introduced would be the start of...
- Tax Incentive Schemes
Question 155: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 238 of 26 September 2007, the hospitals, nursing homes, maternity homes or other institutions...
- Department of Health and Children
- Disability Payments
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the action she proposes to take to introduce a cost of disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21943/07]
- Health Services
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to a letter sent to pharmacists on 17 September 2007 by the Health Service Executive proposing to reduce...
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 159: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of an application for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21940/07]
- Health Service Staff
Question 160: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the post of occupational guidance counsellor will be put in place in a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will...
- Cancer Screening Programme
Question 161: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the additional funding she is providing to University College Hospital, Galway following her announcement of her change in policy...
- Hospital Services
Question 162: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made following her visit to St Brendan's Hospital, Loughrea, in the construction and provision of the new 40 bed unit at...
- Ministerial Expenses
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount of money paid in expenses to each Minister of State in her Government Department; the headings under which they were paid for...
- Health Services
Question 164: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason persons (details supplied) in Dublin 4 are having to pay for both taxi and an escort; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Medical Cards
Question 166: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a medical card appeal in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a...
- Hospital Charges
Question 167: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the annual amount of hospital fees collected and the corresponding amount which remains uncollected; the breakdown of the reasons for...
- Compensation Schemes
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 26 September 2007, when she expects to receive the final report of the Vaccine Damage...
- Hospitals Building Programme
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress on the community hospital, Ballinamore, County Leitrim (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Health Services
Question 170: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will instruct the Health Service Executive to immediately provide home help to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo to...
- Mental Health Services
Question 171: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if moneys from the sale of St. Loman's Hospital will be used for the erection of the new mental health centre in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10;...
- Hospital Services
Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to ensure the establishment of a warfarin clinic at University College Hospital Galway in view of the fact that...
- Health Services
Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in County Louth in providing services to people with cystic fibrosis; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when it is envisaged that eligible patients entitled to refund as a result of illegal nursing home charges will have their claims...
- Hospital Services
Question 179: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to a project (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [22080/07]
- Health Services
Question 180: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a pharmacy (details supplied) in Dublin 3 will be supported. [22081/07]
- Registration of Dental Nurses
Question 181: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to establish a statutory register for dental nurses; if so, the details; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Health Services
Question 182: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to extend or upgrade the scale of services available at the various health centres throughout County Kildare; her intended...
- Department of Transport
- Ministerial Expenses
Question 184: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the amount of money paid in expenses to each Minister of State in his Government Department; the headings under which they were...
- School Transport
Question 185: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine his plans to extend the school bus system to urban areas in an effort to reduce urban congestion; and if he will make a statement...
- Light Rail Project
Question 186: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the reason for the ongoing delays in the commencement of the LUAS line to join the two existing lines; if he will intervene to...
- Company Takeovers
Question 188: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine his views on whether the State shareholding in Aer Lingus can prevent a takeover by airlines other than one seen as the main...
- Aviation Policy
Question 189: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine his views on whether an aviation policy for Ireland must encourage attracting a range of airlines rather than continued dependence...
- Air Services
Question 190: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the progress made in attracting alternative airlines to fly the Shannon to Heathrow route or to fly Shannon to other European hubs;...
- Road Network
Question 191: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the position in relation to planning for the outer ring road; the role envisaged for such a motorway and its priority vis-a-vis the...
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Ministerial Expenses
Question 192: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of money paid in expenses to each Minister of State in his Government Department; the headings under which they were paid for...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- EU Directives
Question 194: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will press the Council of Ministers to amend the EU Toy Safety Directive, 1988; if he will introduce domestic...
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Ministerial Expenses
Question 195: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of money paid in expenses to each Minister of State in his Government Department; the headings under which they were paid...
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Departmental Investigations
Question 198: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of the mismanagement alleged in the running of Waterways Ireland arising out of which damages of...
- Grant Payments
Question 199: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reasons Pobal will only pay grants awarded under DAF in instalments to a group (details supplied); the reason...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Tree Felling
Question 200: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will provide a full response to questions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21944/07]
- Ministerial Expenses
Question 201: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of money paid in expenses to each Minister of State in her Government Department; the headings under which they...
- Animal Welfare
Question 202: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the animal welfare available in each county; and the protection in place for animals. [22035/07]
- Grant Payments
Question 203: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position in relation to grant applications (details supplied); if approval can be given for this application. [22036/07]
- Department of Education and Science
- Departmental Statistics
Question 205: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of national schools by county and the number of second level schools by county. [21942/07]
- Schools Building Projects
Question 206: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made for the construction of a new primary school at a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the result of the site...
- School Accommodation
Question 208: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide funding for the extension to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and when she envisages work will...
- Ministerial Expenses
Question 209: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount of money paid in expenses to each Minister of State in her Government Department; the headings under which they were paid...
- College Appointments
Question 210: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the details of the perceived irregularities in appointment procedures which are being examined by the Commission for Public Service...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 211: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether the promised investment of €4.5 billion in providing new schools and improving existing ones will be sufficient...
- Computerisation Programme
Question 212: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when schools can anticipate funding from the National Development Plan in respect of schools information communications technology in...
- Communications Masts
Question 213: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to ensure that mobile phone masts are not located in the vicinity of schools; and if she will make a statement on the...
- School Staffing
Question 214: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by schools in obtaining the services of school secretaries or school...
- In-Service Training
Question 215: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to ensure that all teachers receive access to in-service education in key areas such as child protection, English as an...
- School Accommodation
Question 216: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the accommodation needs study for post-primary education in the Kilkenny area has been completed; and when its results will be made...
- Languages Programme
Question 217: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when all textbooks relevant to the revised primary curriculum in primary schools will be available in the Irish language for the use...
- In-service Training
Question 218: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when in-service training will be provided for language teachers catering for newcomer children in primary schools. [22045/07]
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Question 219: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is satisfied that the current and projected intake into the colleges of education will be sufficient to enable the Government...
- Grant Payments
Question 220: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will increase the VTOS/Youthreach/STTC/BTEI childcare grant in view of the fact that the maximum grant payable per child under...
- Schools Recognition
Question 221: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the application for recognition of a school (details supplied) in County Clare; the reason there has been a delay in...
- School Transport
Question 222: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if school transport will be provided for a number of school children (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [22098/07]
- Schools Building Projects
Question 224: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1402 of 25 January 2006, if progress has been made in the provision of a new school building to...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 225: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the action she has taken in 2007 to improve the facilities, support and back-up services available to parents of children with autism...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Question 226: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she has taken in 2007 to address the serious issue of classroom overcrowding; the number of schools wherein it can be...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 227: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to improve the scale and quality of services available to children with special needs in mainstream education with...
- School Accommodation
Question 228: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which she has identified and addressed the issue of the poor quality and general standard of accommodation at a number...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 230: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which speech and language therapy or psychological services are available throughout County Kildare with particular...
- Bullying in Schools
Question 231: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which she has been in contact with or received communication from various schools throughout County Kildare or the...
- School Absenteeism
Question 232: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of personnel deployed to monitor school truancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22124/07]
- Education Welfare Service
Question 233: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the strength of the National Welfare Educational Board with particular reference to the availability of front line staff adequate to...
- Science Education
Question 234: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is satisfied regarding the uptake of third level places in the sciences; if numbers are adequate to meet future requirements;...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 235: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the new school in replacement for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a...
- Radon Gas Levels
Question 238: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if adequate and appropriate action has been taken to address the issue of radon gas in all schools throughout County Kildare to the...
- School Accommodation
Question 239: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which school places and facilities at primary and school level exist in Clane, County Kildare to meet requirements; the...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 240: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she or her Department will review stage three submission in the matter of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare for the...
- State Examinations
Question 242: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will implement the recommendation of the Equality Tribunal in early 2007 in respect of appending footnotes to leaving...
- Department of Defence
- Ministerial Expenses
Question 243: To ask the Minister for Defence the amount of money paid in expenses to each Minister of State in his Government Department; the headings under which they were paid for each of the...
- Defences Forces Recruitment
Question 244: To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that vacancies for aeronautical engineers within the Air Corps are open only to officers and that...
- Pension Provisions
Question 245: To ask the Minister for Defence the rates of Defence Forces pensions as they apply to a Class A PRSI contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22095/07]
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- International Agreements
Question 246: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the countries in the Schengen travel zone; the countries that have applied to join; when they will join; if there is a...
- Asylum Applications
Question 247: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application to remain in Ireland on humanitarian grounds for a person (details supplied); and if he will...
- Ministerial Expenses
Question 248: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of money paid in expenses to each Minister of State in his Government Department; the headings under which they...
- Residency Permits
Question 249: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the application for residency by a person (details supplied) has been successful. [22018/07]
- Garda Training
Question 250: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if more training is being provided or will be provided for Gardaí in relation to the requirements and implications of the...
- Weapons Licensing
Question 251: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 1016 of 26 September 2007, if he will ask the Garda Commissioner to detail the expert...
- Garda Complaints Procedures
Question 252: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when his Department will reimburse a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 following an incident in March 2007. [22100/07]
- Prison Visiting Committees
Question 253: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the name of the present chairperson of the prison visiting committee at Limerick Prison; the qualifications they have for...
- National Drugs Strategy
Question 254: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take following the recent drug finds around the Irish coastlines, to prevent Ireland being used as an...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Turbary Rights
Question 255: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in relation to bogs in special area of conservation in County Roscommon; if farmers will be...
- Water and Sewerage Schemes
Question 256: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the names of the various schemes that require funding for water and waste water capital projects in County...
- Social and Affordable Housing
Question 257: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on a review of the affordable housing scheme income limits in view of the fact that many applicants...
- Local Authority Staff
Question 258: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of staff at various levels in many local authorities which is...
- Ministerial Expenses
Question 259: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of money paid in expenses to each Minister of State in his Government Department; the headings...
- Building Regulations
Question 260: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the problems currently being experienced by hundreds of householders in...
- Environmental Policy
Question 265: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the State, in procuring vehicles for the public service and for the Ministerial fleet in particular,...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Ministerial Expenses
Question 267: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of money paid in expenses to each Minister of State in his Government Department; the headings under...
