Written answers
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Internet Safety
Question 74: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has involvement in the new Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform initiatives on...
- Fisheries Protection
Question 75: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he plans to increase the enforcement capacity of the fisheries boards to combat the growing problem of...
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Question 76: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department is working with State agencies or companies to progress a pilot project on carbon storage as...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the value for money review on the metropolitan area networks will be published; and if he will make a...
- Broadcasting Services
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he will take to ease the effects of the close down of analogue television in Wales on Counties...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that the greener homes scheme will have sufficient funding in 2008; if he has plans to...
- Fuel Prices
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking, in view of the unprecedented increase in diesel prices here, to curb these increases;...
- Broadcasting Services
Question 82: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on providing a channel dedicated to the democratic discussions in Dáil Éireann and making it...
- Fuel Poverty
Question 83: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the proposed publication of the findings of the Fuel Poverty Action Research Project; the...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his preference for the functional or structural separation of Eircom; the advice he has received on this matter;...
- Ministerial Meetings
Question 86: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of formal meetings he has had with the Department of Transport in 2008; the topics for discussion at...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to the recent meeting of the International Advisory Forum on Broadband, the timeframe for publication of...
- Broadcasting Services
Question 88: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made to date in the establishment of a digital terrestrial television transmission system; when he...
- Postal Services
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the terms of reference of the analysis of the wider economic and societal benefits of a postcode system here...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 90: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the degree to which high speed broadband is available throughout the entire country to all sectors; the degree...
- Electricity Generation
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on concerns from ESB unions regarding the roll-out of smart meters; if the roll-out will be funded by...
- Energy Resources
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the scale of interconnection projects being advanced by other European...
- EU Directives
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the results of the examination by his officials of the third postal directive which was published in the...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress that has been made in the development and introduction of a biofuels obligation scheme by 2009 as...
- Electricity Generation
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position in relation to and his views on the 8000 MW of wind applications to the grid at the present time;...
- Postal Services
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the VAT advantage enjoyed by An Post in comparison with its competitors; and if he will make a...
- Energy Efficiency
Question 99: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a full report on all available insulation grants for householders; the funding being provided...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to mitigate the growth of the digital divide; the method to ensure equality of access to...
- Broadcasting Services
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his proposals for banning junk food advertising aimed at young people; his time-frame for this proposal; if...
- Electricity Generation
Question 102: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the most up to date position in regard to the reconfiguration of the ESB and the separation of generation,...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 103: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps which he is taking to ensure the availability of quality broadband throughout the country; and if he...
- Natural Gas Grid
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will comment on reports that Bord Gáis is positioning itself for a possible privatisation in three to...
- Nuclear Plants
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in view of his calls for a debate on nuclear power, he has plans to propose a change in legislation that...
- Regulatory Bodies
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has plans to enhance ComReg's enforcement powers; his views on whether the powers given to Ofcom in the...
- Energy Resources
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the publication date of the joint study on natural gas storage and liquefied natural gas...
- Electricity Generation
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps which he is taking to ensure the availability of quality electricity supply throughout the country;...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 111: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects to receive the draft policy paper on next generation broadband networks; if he will implement...
- Energy Resources
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the deadlines that have not been met in relation to the energy White Paper; and if he will make a statement on...
- Electricity Generation
Question 113: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the grid development strategy; the time frame for publication; the benefits of this...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 114: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the EU Telecoms Commissioner's views that retail prices in broadband must come down; if he will...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the grants available for individual wind turbines at a private house or for residential development; and if he...
- Electricity Transmission
Question 116: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the study on the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines versus...
- Electricity Generation
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has set a target for the percentage of electricity generation here that will come from renewables by the...
- Postal Services
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether it is appropriate that An Post has a specific role in postal regulation under clause 8(3)...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on Ireland's commitment to the biofuels directive in view of ethical concerns regarding land use for...
- Postal Services
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on ComReg's finding that only 77% of mail was delivered within one working day in 2007 compared to...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the calls for a review of policies on promotion of biofuels by the UN...
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 124: To ask the Taoiseach the policy decisions he has made to keep the current expenditure of his Department within the parameters allocated in his Department's budget for 2008; the...
- Housing Statistics
Question 125: To ask the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the critical nature of the data on household vacancy rates as recorded in Table 46 of Volume 6 of the 2006 Census for...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Code
Question 126: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the respective cost to the Exchequer, in terms of tax receipts foregone, on the basis of projected 2008 activity levels, of cutting...
- Public Sector Remuneration
Question 128: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the salaries, including Dáil Éireann salaries, of An Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Ministers and Ministers of State; the increases to these...
- Theatre Licences
Question 129: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the procedure and circumstances in which the Revenue Commissioners have the power to grant a theatre licence in respect of licensed...
- Registration of Title
Question 130: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the progress on the handing over of title of open spaces and so on at an estate (details supplied) in County Dublin to Fingal County...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 131: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the policy decisions he has made to keep the current expenditure of his Department within the parameters allocated in his Department's...
- Tax Collection
Question 132: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive the money which was deducted incorrectly from their pension payment....
- Department of Health and Children
- Hospital Services
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can expect to be called for an operation in view of the fact that this person's...
- Health Service Staff
Question 134: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people working in the health services both part-time and full-time that are not included in the payroll system for dates...
- Health Services
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if changes are envisaged in the priority ratings for physiotherapy to persons with identified long-term illnesses, in particular, those...
- Telecommunications Masts
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the health of persons who live near telephone masts is endangered; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Pharmacy Services
Question 139: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the specific contingency plans being put in place to supply medicines to patients in Mayo affected by the ongoing pharmacists dispute...
- Cancer Screening Programme
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the centres here where cervical smear tests are available for public patients; the waiting list in each for the test; the average...
- Health Services
Question 144: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will arrange for a medical item to be replaced in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [15536/08]
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 145: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her Department will issue a comprehensive information leaflet for parents of children with special needs in the age group of up to...
- Vaccination Programme
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the latest situation in regard to the shortage of BCG vaccinations; and the effort in view of the ongoing problems the Government is...
- Cancer Screening Programme
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason medical card patients are being charged for cervical smear tests; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that medical...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 149: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the policy decisions she has made to keep the current expenditure of her Department within the parameters allocated in her Department's...
- Paediatric Illnesses
Question 150: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the extent of the increase in the incidence of positional plagiocephaly or cranial asymmetry here since the adoption of back to sleep...
- Health Services
Question 151: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a project (details supplied). [15588/08]
- Grant Payments
Question 152: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will provide the extra funding to cover the respite grants administered by the Health Service Executive to allow people to take...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 153: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount of interest paid to suppliers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15634/08]
- Department of Transport
- Public Transport
Question 154: To ask the Minister for Transport if any decision has been made on the application for a licence under the Road Transport Act 1932 (details supplied); if his attention has been...
- Air Services
Question 155: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention had been drawn to the lack of rigour in enforcement of maintenance of aircraft requirements in the US in view of the fact that...
- Ministerial Appointments
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will confirm the inclusion of elected members of the seven local authorities on the proposed Dublin Transport Authority. [15539/08]
- Rail Network
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the delivery date for metro north. [15541/08]
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 158: To ask the Minister for Transport the policy decisions he has made to keep the current expenditure of his Department within the parameters allocated in his Department's budget for...
- Public Transport
Question 160: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason his Department told Dublin Bus to withdraw buses or withdraw the departure of buses on the 25X route from south Lucan at a time when...
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Human Rights Issues
Question 161: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, following the sending of three Brazilian students to Mountjoy prison upon their arrival here, he will give details of the contact which...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 162: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the policy decisions he has made to keep the current expenditure of his Department within the parameters allocated in his Department's...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Work Permits
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 108 and 110 of 10 April 2008, when a green card will issue to a person (details...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 164: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the policy decisions he has made to keep the current expenditure of his Department within the parameters allocated in his...
- Consumer Protection
Question 165: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether retailers, particularly those who price goods in both euro and sterling, are not passing on to...
- Work Permits
Question 166: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an early decision can be taken in respect of a work permit application by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 which...
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 167: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the policy decisions he has made to keep the current expenditure of his Department within the parameters allocated in his...
- Arts Plan
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress of the work of the interdepartmental committee on public art; when it is expected this committee will complete its...
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of applications to his Department for capital sports grants in County Kildare for each of the past three years including...
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Registration of Deaths
Question 170: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is possible for a death certificate to issue in respect of a person in view of the circumstances (details supplied). [15500/08]
- Social Welfare Code
Question 172: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is possible to have job seeker's allowance paid by electronic transfer; and if not, the reason this means should not be...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 173: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason rent supplement has been stopped for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 174: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the policy decisions he has made to keep the current expenditure of his Department within the parameters allocated in his...
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Decentralisation Programme
Question 175: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the timeframe, now that a site has been selected for the decentralisation of his Department to Charlestown, for the...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 176: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the policy decisions he has made to keep the current expenditure of his Department within the parameters allocated in...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Coastal Protection
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if applications have been submitted by Donegal County Council under the coastal protection programme 2008; the number of...
- Department of Education and Science
- Schools Refurbishment
Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if an application has been received in her Department for refurbishment of a college (details supplied) in County Donegal; when it was...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 180: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the proposed extension of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 181: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will assist in a case (details supplied). [15507/08]
- Public Private Partnerships
Question 182: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will explain public private partnership; the way it will operate in relation to education and specifically in relation to the...
- Clár Tógála Scoileanna
Question 183: To ask the Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta cad é an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le scoil úr (sonraí tugtha) a thógáil, an bhfuil suíomh úr aimsithe, an bhfuil an...
- Site Acquisitions
Question 184: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a report from her Department's architects arising from a visit to schools (details supplied) in County Wicklow in February 2008...
- Third Level Education
Question 185: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of students who registered for PhD. degrees in universities (details supplied) between the years 1997 to 2007 who were...
- School Transport
Question 186: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has received a report on the Ombudsman's findings regarding the refund of school transport costs to parents in a catchment area...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 187: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position with regard to the school extension and refurbishment at a school (details supplied) that has waited for several years...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 188: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the drawing up of a comprehensive information guide for parents of children with special needs in the age group of five...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 189: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the policy decisions she has made to keep the current expenditure of her Department within the parameters allocated in her...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 190: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if Special Education Circular 02/05 will be revised to ensure that children with specific special needs or with a mild general...
- Schools ICT Strategy
Question 191: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she proposes to provide the promised €250 million provision for up-to-date information and communications technology in primary...
- Physical Education Facilities
Question 192: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to ensure that appropriate indoor physical education facilities will be provided in all primary schools; if provision will...
- Capitation Grants
Question 193: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to drastically increase the annual capitation grant to schools to realistically take account of the real administrational...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 194: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will take the necessary steps to ensure that all children with Down's syndrome will have an automatic entitlement to the...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 195: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will take steps to expedite the provision of a new school building (details supplied) in County Westmeath which has been...
- School Staffing
Question 196: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will confirm having received the correspondence (details supplied) from a school in County Westmeath; if having reviewed the...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 197: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will order an immediate evaluation of the need for a second level school at Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, Dublin 24, where her...
- Department of Defence
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 199: To ask the Minister for Defence the policy decisions he has made to keep the current expenditure of his Department within the parameters allocated in his Department's budget for...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Asylum Applications
Question 200: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the application for residency for a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [15491/08]
- Prisoner Releases
Question 201: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there are any prisoners convicted of paramilitary offences still in custody whose conviction fell clearly within the...
- Garda Operations
Question 202: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make the document Traffic Collision Investigation Policy available to a road safety group (details supplied)....
- Citizenship Applications
Question 203: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the recent announcement by the US immigration service that it has reduced the processing...
- Asylum Support Services
Question 204: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum seekers, male to female ratio and children resident in the Old Convent, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo; and...
- Parking Regulations
Question 205: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will resolve a matter (details supplied). [15514/08]
- Asylum Applications
Question 206: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Roscommon. [15528/08]
- Crime Levels
Question 207: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the incidents in border areas of County Donegal, including Lifford, Killygordon and...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 208: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the policy decisions he has made to keep the current expenditure of his Department within the parameters allocated in his...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 209: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will revisit an application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a...
- Young Offenders
Question 210: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will ensure that all law abiding young people are treated fairly in the justice system (details supplied). [15589/08]
- Residency Permits
Question 211: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the long-term residency application made on 23 April 2007 for a person (details supplied) in County...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Register of Electors
Question 212: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there are methods for members of the Defence and security forces to be registered to vote and be on the...
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Question 213: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of money that has been paid out to date in respect of the commitment contained in the programme...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 215: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will sanction an application to his Department in respect of the downsizing scheme for the elderly and...
- Local Authority Staff
Question 216: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will clarify the terms of circular letter ref. W02/07 regarding expenses of local authority members on...
- Telecommunications Masts
Question 218: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has set down guidelines or if he will do so regarding the distance the sites of telephone masts should...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 219: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if funding is available for the remedial regeneration works to be carried out on estates (details supplied)...
- Local Authority Funding
Question 221: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the percentage of local government funding, on average, related to motor tax; and if he will make a statement...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 222: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the policy decisions he has made to keep the current expenditure of his Department within the parameters...
- Planning Issues
Question 223: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will undertake a review of the development levy process to establish the way the introduction of this...
- National Monuments
Question 226: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the monitoring that has taken place of works by the National Roads Authority in the vicinity of Rath Lugh to...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Electricity Generation
Question 228: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will clarify the contribution that wind will make to the electricity grid by the year 2020; and if he has...
- Waste Disposal
Question 229: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his policy on waste to energy production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14928/08]
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 230: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of enterprises throughout the country seeking approval for the provision of alternative energy...
- Offshore Exploration
Question 232: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of commercially viable discoveries of oil, gas or other minerals in the past 12 months; and if he...
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 233: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the precise growth in bio-diesel, ethanol, wind energy or other forms of alternative energy in the past six...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 234: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had discussions with the regulator and achieved any consensus in the matter of the availability of...
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Question 235: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if national emission targets are expected to be achieved on time without detrimental economic impact; and if...
- Broadcasting Services
Question 236: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he has had discussions with the RTÉ authorities in the past 12 months with particular...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 238: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he has taken to accelerate the provision of high speed broadband to the industrial, educational,...
- Postal Services
Question 240: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his and the Government's preferred options for the future of An Post, the postal service and the post office...
- Mobile Telephony
Question 243: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has plans to introduce a cap on roaming charges, similar to the EU roaming charge cap, on mobile phone...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 244: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the long delay in providing a broadband service to the Burtonport area,...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 246: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the policy decisions he has made to keep the current expenditure of his Department within the parameters...
