Written answers
Thursday, 25 October 2007
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Arts Funding
Question 12: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will re-examine the grant application by a group (details supplied) in County Monaghan in view of the fact that significant...
- Tax Code
Question 15: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will make representations to the Department of Finance prior to Budget 2008 to remove the requirement for VAT payments on fees...
- Sports Funding
Question 17: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on whether the Border region deserves at least a fair share of the sports funding as against any other country in Ireland...
- Film Industry Development
Question 18: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if, in view of the fall off in the number of large scale feature films filmed here during the past two years, he will review Section...
- Sports Funding
Question 19: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on the provision of sports grants to clubs and schools in disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on...
- National Concert Hall
Question 20: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25604/07]
- Swimming Pool Projects
Question 21: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position on the proposed swimming pool in Roscrea, County Tipperary; the position with regard to capital funding; when he expects...
- Local Authority Rates
Question 23: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has had discussions with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to investigate the possibility of...
- Sport and Recreational Development
Question 24: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the provisions he has made to encourage people of different nationalities to participate in sport; and if he will make a statement on...
- Abbey Theatre Development
Question 25: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on the development of the new Abbey Theatre; if it is possible to give this project added momentum in order to...
- Tourism Promotion
Question 26: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the plans he has to ensure that the Shannon Region and the mid-west generally benefit from the potential of Open Skies; and if he...
- Arts Promotion
Question 27: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his preferred options for the promotion of the arts in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25763/07]
- Arts Funding
Question 28: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will increase the funding given to Culture Ireland; if he will enable the establishment of a support structure to help the...
- Anti-Doping Measures
Question 29: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he is satisfied that the new measures introduced to deal with the doping of greyhounds are adequate to deal with the use of...
- Tourism Industry
Question 30: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the target of doubling overseas visitor spend by 2012 is still realistic in view of the changing world travel climate; if a review...
- Crime Levels
Question 31: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will liaise with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and bring to his attention the hugely detrimental impact on...
- Arts Policy
Question 32: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will appoint an arts adviser to advise him on issues in relation to the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Sports Funding
Question 33: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if, in view of the €191 million State funding that has been or will be provided for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, he will...
- Film Industry Development
Question 34: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the annual budget of the Irish Film Commission Office in Los Angeles; the way, in its first year of existence, it has fulfilled its...
- Arts Funding
Question 35: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the capital funding available to help local community based arts and cultural organisations to undertake capital projects, in view of...
- Tourism Industry
Question 37: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will ensure that the considerable cost of rebranding Tourism Ireland, should that be the review recommendation, will not be...
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 38: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress in respect of plans for a ground of first class standard for the Irish Cricket Union in view of the great recent success...
- Tourism Promotion
Question 39: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the status of the report of the advisory group on the Church Records Computerisation Project; the actions being considered; and if he...
- Sports and Recreational Development
Question 41: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the measures his Department will take, in view of the increase in child obesity, to promote sporting activities among young children...
- Museum Projects
Question 42: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has considered establishing a card based scheme which would allow certain groups, such as senior citizens free access to...
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 43: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if additional funding will be made available for the new sports hall at school (details supplied) in County Longford as water damage...
- Tourism Industry
Question 45: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his Department's initiatives for making tourism more sustainable with particular reference to tourism's environmental impact and its...
- Swimming Pool Projects
Question 46: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he intends to announce an increase in the funding under the sports tourism capital grants for swimming pools that will enable...
- National Conference Centre
Question 49: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the estimated cost of the National Conference Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25599/07]
- National Aquatic Centre
Question 50: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the estimated cost of remediation work at the National Aquatic Centre and the portion of that which has been paid out to date; and if...
- Sport and Recreational Development
Question 51: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his preferred options or proposals, for the promotion of amateur or professional sports in the future with particular reference to...
- Arts Promotion
Question 53: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made to date in implementing the recommendations of the National Economic and Social Forum's report on the arts,...
- Cultural Visas
Question 54: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in his Department towards creating a combined cultural visa and work permit as set out in the agreed programme for...
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 56: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of funding provided to each GAA club in the period 2002 to date in 2007; the reason for the differences in funding towards...
- Tourism Industry
Question 58: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the 3% decrease in visitors from Britain in the first half of 2007 and the 1% decrease in UK visitors bed night sales in...
- Arts Council
Question 60: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the plans he has in place for supporting the Irish Theatre Institute in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25675/07]
- Museum Opening Hours
Question 61: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress he has made towards introducing much more flexible and extended opening times at national museums and galleries; and if...
- Department of Finance
- Flood Relief
Question 62: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if funding will be made available to refurbish the bank of the River Feale and its tributaries in 2008. [25797/07]
- Recreational Facilities
Question 65: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the timescale for the provision of a new children's playground at Castle Park, Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Tax Collection
Question 66: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he has reviewed the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service to allow the time limit for claiming...
- Disabled Drivers
Question 67: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views on extending the disabled drivers relief to include people who are blind as eligible passengers under the scheme; and if he...
- Garda Stations
Question 68: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when the planning process will be initiated in respect of the proposed redevelopment of Tallaght Garda Station; and if he will make a...
- Tax Code
Question 69: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount of revenue collected to date in 2007 arising from the decision of the Revenue Commissioners to subject the diversification...
- Flood Relief
Question 73: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 11 October 2007 if he will confirm that separate to the study being carried out on the...
- Departmental Staff
Question 74: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if clerical officers will be promoted on seniority; when a clerical officer was last promoted on seniority in the Revenue...
- Tax Code
Question 75: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number in respect of the last year for which figures are available of single and married people availing of tax relief on their...
- Department of Health and Children
- Medical Cards
Question 76: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will put in place a review of the conditions governing qualification for the medical card. [25806/07]
- Hospitals Building Programme
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will guarantee that the new hospital to be built in Cork in place of the Mercy will be located on the north side of the city which...
- Medical Certificates
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if and when a primary medical certificate will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a...
- Community Pharmacy Services
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she or her Department have had discussions with the pharmacists since her recent announcement in respect of the new proposals in...
- Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is entitled to repayments from the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who is waiting to have a hip replaced in Cappagh; if this will...
- Child Care Services
Question 82: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be reached on the application, under the NCIP community childcare subvention scheme 2008 to 2010, of a childcare...
- Nursing Home Subventions
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 83 of 11 October, 2007, if she will address the core issue therein, namely the proposal in A Fair...
- Health Service Staff
Question 85: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide information on an issue (details supplied). [25892/07]
- Health Services
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to extend speech and language therapy services for children; if she will provide additional tutoring services for children with...
- Department of Transport
- Light Rail Project
Question 88: To ask the Minister for Transport the timescale for the delivery of Metro North; the difficulties that have been encountered by the Railway Procurement Agency; and if he will make a...
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Northern Ireland Issues
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will clarify the Government's position on disarming the UDA in the North; and the reason Minister Margaret Ritchie is being undermined...
- Diplomatic Representation
Question 90: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his contacts in respect of the situation in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25844/07]
- Official Engagements
Question 91: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he, or representatives of the Government, will be attending celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the State of...
- Foreign Conflicts
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the attempts made to cut the funding of the UN Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian...
- Diplomatic Representation
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has made representations at international level regarding the replacement of the UN Special Representative for Human Rights in the OPT,...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Health and Safety Regulations
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding Ireland's steps to comply with the Seveso Directive 2003/105/EC regarding plans to deal with...
- Employment Rights
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal who has been summonsed to appear in the District...
- Work Permits
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the procedure for applying for a green card; the professions which are given priority; and if a graphic designer would be...
- Competition Authority
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will request the Competition Authority to examine the role of local authorities as both waste service provider and...
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Film Industry Development
Question 99: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on Government plans to purchase or otherwise replace Ardmore studios; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Sport and Recreational Development
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he expects the task force set up to examine possible opportunities, identify the priority areas of interest and map out a...
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will give consideration to allocating special funding to community groups interested in providing indoor recreational...
- Tourism Promotion
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his obligations to expand and promote tourism here in competition with world wide locations; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Sports Funding
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the value of sport and recreational grant applicants received in his Department in 2007; the value of the applications approved; and...
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Pension Provisions
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps being taken to improve the level of knowledge regarding the typical value of supplementary pensions and the profile of...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 111: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of families in each of counties Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal receiving farm assist or family...
- Pension Provisions
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in the context of proposed pension reform, he will review the spouses partnership option with a view to simplification and...
- School Meals
Question 114: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will roll out a State wide school breakfast and meal scheme free of charge to pupils. [21476/07]
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Road Network
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 637 of 26 September 2007, the allocation of funding available on a county basis...
- Grant Payments
Question 116: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his Department has received a grant application for funding to employ two additional youth workers by a group...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Food Labelling
Question 119: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her views on the fact that food products being labelled as Irish are being produced in other countries; the steps she will...
- Grant Payments
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be awarded the disadvantaged area scheme. [25859/07]
- Food Safety Standards
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the roles of the Food Safety Authority, An Bord Bia, and her Department's pesticide control service in respect of monitoring...
- Farm Retirement Scheme
Question 122: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will implement the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Agriculture regarding improvements to the early...
- Grant Payments
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of grant aid received by a company (details supplied) in County Roscommon; if her Department is entitled to...
- Decentralisation Programme
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 11 October 2007, the number of current staff who have indicated that they are...
- Farm Investigation
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make the reports available from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding a matter (details supplied) in...
- Grant Payments
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will review the application by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary for an allocation of payments from the...
- Department of Education and Science
- School Accommodation
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position with regard to an application of a school (details supplied) in County Sligo for a devolved grant; and if she will make a...
- School Enrolments
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide a full breakdown on a school by school basis on the number of children in each grade and class in each of the 13...
- Schools Amalgamation
Question 129: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the proposed amalgamation of the primary schools in Lixnaw. [25795/07]
- Early School Leavers
Question 130: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide a county by county breakdown of the 3,679 fifteen year olds that have ceased full-time education when a most...
- School Enrolments
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of appeals taken under section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to the Secretary General of her Department, where a student has...
- Gaeltacht Scholarships
Question 132: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason her Department is refusing to pay Gaeltacht scholarships to students who are attending universities and studying in their...
- Pre-School Services
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there are plans to provide State funding for tuition and transport costs for children diagnosed with autism who have to attend...
- School Transport
Question 134: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the operation of the school transport system in the catchment area of a school (details supplied) in County...
- Site Acquisitions
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there has been a successful conclusion to the discussions on the purchase of a site for a permanent school (details supplied) in...
- Driving Tests
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will ensure that all senior pupils in second level schools have the opportunity to study the driving theory test and to pass...
- Education Welfare Service
Question 137: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who was excluded from school in September 2006 and the...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Proposed Legislation
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of many parents regarding the content available to young children via the...
- Garda Recruitment
Question 139: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details regarding Garda recruitment to date; when a person (details supplied) who has been interviewed for a second...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare;...
- Asylum Support Services
Question 141: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of properties spread over a town in which asylum seekers are housed (details supplied) in County Mayo; the...
- Visa Applications
Question 143: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on an application for the extension of a work visa for a person (details supplied) in County...
- Garda Operations
Question 144: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of the Garda Síochána road checkpoints in the period January to June 2007 and in July, August and September...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 145: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when it is expected that a decision will be made regarding naturalisation for persons (details supplied) in County Dublin....
- Visa Applications
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application by persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25842/07]
- Citizenship Applications
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if residency in Northern Ireland can be included in the calculation of the minimum required period of residency prior to...
- Departmental Correspondence
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 649 of 26 June 2007, if progress has been made in this case; and if he will make a...
- Residency Permits
Question 149: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if progress has been made in the application for family reunification in the case of a person (details supplied) in County...
- Garda Investigations
Question 154: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action that has been taken following the discovery of the burial of an unidentified deceased woman by the Gardaí in...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Waste Disposal
Question 155: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Departments policy in relation to landfill, incineration or other forms of waste disposal; and if he will...
- Travel Allowances
Question 156: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the exact position with regard to county councils nationally paying councillors' expenses to attend meetings...
- Waste Recycling
Question 157: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the investigation his Department has carried out in respect of expected markets for materials extracted...
- EU Directives
Question 158: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding Ireland's steps to comply with European Directives 91/271/EEC and 76/464/EEC,...
- Anti-Social Behaviour
Question 160: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on putting in place a proper system to enable resident associations to make complaints to the...
- Archaeological Sites
Question 161: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the urgent need to bring in legislation to ensure that Ireland complies with the...
- Waste Management
Question 163: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the looming crisis in waste management due to the absence of direction and...
- EU Directives
Question 164: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding Ireland's steps to comply with the Environment Noise Directive 2002/49/EC; and if he...
- Legislative Programme
Question 167: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the Social Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will be published; if it will provide for the tenant...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the full Budget 2007 allocation has been allocated to a group (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [25932/07]
- Housing Grants
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on extending the greener home scheme to include log stoves, boilers and gasifiers. [25869/07]
