Written answers
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
- Department of Defence
- Overseas Missions
Question 73: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress that has been made on allowing members of the Reserve Defence Forces to participate in overseas duties; and if he will make a statement...
- Defence Forces Representative Associations
Question 76: To ask the Minister for Defence if a Defence Forces representative association was admonished by his officials or the military authorities for its response to the announcement of...
- Naval Service Operations
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that there are sufficient resources available to the Naval Service to allow it to discharge its role in regard to the prevention...
- Random Drug Testing Programmes
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel tested under the drug testing programme in 2007 and to date in 2008; the number and rank of those who tested...
- Naval Service Operations
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Defence the agencies other than the Naval Service that assisted an officer of the Naval Service (details supplied) in calculating the movements and journey...
- Overseas Missions
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Defence when he will make a decision on the extension of the Chad mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42779/08]
- Defence Forces Equipment
Question 82: To ask the Minister for Defence if any equipment from previous barracks closures remains unpacked or in storage following the move; the range of the equipment; the barracks the...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 83: To ask the Minister for Defence the way it is intended to achieve the 19% reduction in medical expenses projected in the Estimates for defence; and if he will make a statement on...
- Defence Forces Recruitment
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Defence the situation for people who wish to apply to join the Defence Forces over the coming months; the situation with those who were in the process of...
- Ombudsman for the Defence Forces
Question 85: To ask the Minister for Defence when he will move the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces to alternative accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42777/08]
- Decentralisation Programme
Question 86: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the implementation by his Department of the Government decision on decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Naval Service Vessels
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Defence if he still intends to replace three naval vessels in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42781/08]
- Defence Forces Operations
Question 88: To ask the Minister for Defence the discussions he has had with the military authorities regarding the offensive use of computer technology in military operations; and if he will...
- National Security
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Defence the action he has taken to develop a pro-active approach to cyber defence at national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42750/08]
- Overseas Missions
Question 90: To ask the Minister for Defence the full extent of proposed participation by members of the Army, Navy and Air-Corps in EU or UN sponsored overseas peacekeeping or peace maintenance...
- Departmental Staff
Question 91: To ask the Minister for Defence if the authority of the Secretary General of his Department under the three year administrative budget arrangements to configure the grading of his...
- Defence Forces Reserve
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans on the expansion and development of the role of the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42799/08]
- Control of Firearms
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Defence if any weapons handed in by members of the public under the Firearms (Dangerous Weapons) Order, 1972 are held in storage by the Defence Forces; if so...
- Defence Forces Equipment
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Defence if it is intended to proceed with the acquisition of new light tactical armoured vehicles for the Defence Forces; when these are expected to be...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason, in respect of the published Estimates for the Public Service 2009, the total estimated expenditure for 2009 under the administration...
- Defence Forces Reserve
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with fitness levels within the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42754/08]
- Naval Service Vessels
Question 104: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of tenders received to date for the re-floating of the [i]Asgard II[/i]; when a decision will be made on the possible re-floating of the...
- Defence Forces Equipment
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Defence the procedures involved in selling off large items of disused military equipment such as aircraft, ships and APCs; if he is satisfied that the...
- Departmental Bodies
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Defence the boards or agencies for which his Department has responsibility, which it is intended to abolish or merge; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Defence Forces Property
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Defence when it is planned to close St. Bricin's military hospital; his plans for the future use of the site; if the medical facilities offered at the...
- Common Foreign and Security Policy
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on Ireland's involvement with the EU Satellite Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42752/08]
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 113: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of personnel from his Department and from the Defence Forces who attended a seminar and meeting organised by his Department at a four...
- Overseas Missions
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Defence if a decision has been made as to the future participation by Ireland in the KFOR, EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina; if it is intended to...
- Departmental Estimates
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's Estimates for 2009. [42776/08]
- National Monuments
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the recent unveiling of a national monument to members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who have died in the service of the State; and...
- Defence Forces Operations
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of occasions during 2006, 2007 and to date in 2008, on which the Army bomb squad has been called out to deal with suspected explosive...
- Commemorative Events
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Defence when the committee to consider plans for appropriate commemorations to mark the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising in 2016 will be convened; the...
- Departmental Staff
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Defence the number by grade and rank of civil servants in his Department and in agencies under his control on 1 September 1995, 1 September 2000, 1...
- Air Corps Equipment
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Defence if a decision has been made in regard to the replacement of the Air Corps Cessna fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42773/08]
- Overseas Missions
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has concluded his investigation into the leasing of two helicopters. [42778/08]
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Crime Levels
Question 135: To ask the Taoiseach the number of crimes involving the possession of a knife, the use of a knife to inflict injury, and the use of a knife to inflict fatal wounds respectively...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- EU Funding
Question 136: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the European funds available to businesses, in particular small businesses, from which they could get a...
- Departmental Agencies
Question 137: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grounds for her concerns in respect of FÁS; and the scope of the investigation which she has asked the...
- Consumer Protection
Question 138: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason consumers here continue to pay more for goods sold here by British retail outlets; if the National...
- Community Employment Schemes
Question 139: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of places nationwide on community employment schemes or social employment schemes available in...
- FÁS Training Programmes
Question 140: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will support a matter (details supplied). [43033/08]
- Small Business Sector
Question 141: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will support the small business sector on the north side of Dublin. [43034/08]
- Community Employment Schemes
Question 142: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will alter community employment eligibility criteria to allow for the fact that once budget 2009...
- Department of Finance
- Flood Relief
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Finance the Department that is taking the lead on the cross-departmental action on the control of flooding in Arklow town. [42980/08]
- Tax Code
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will raise the issue of a reduced VAT rate for defibrillators as a contribution to the debate being held at the EU Council of Ministers...
- Pension Provisions
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Finance if it is intended to extend the offer recently made to the trustees of the pension funds of certain semi-State bodies to other bodies such as a...
- Tax Code
Question 149: To ask the Minister for Finance the foreign countries with which the State has signed a double taxation treaty but the treaty is not yet ratified and in force, indicating, in...
- Department of Health and Children
- Suicide Incidence
Question 150: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the suicide statistics, crucial for research and prevention, are accurate; if the required form 104 is completed in all cases of...
- Hospital Staff
Question 151: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the details of the health personnel that are recruited and available for the control of infection in St. Columcille's Hospital; if these...
- Medical Cards
Question 152: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the medical card covers the cost of a general practitioner issuing a sick certificate. [42949/08]
- Health Services
Question 153: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of funding in 2007 and 2008 for rape crisis centres (details supplied). [42955/08]
- Mental Health Services
Question 155: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children and adolescents admitted to adult psychiatric hospitals or units in the first six months of 2008. [42959/08]
- Inter-Country Adoptions
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason there are delays, running up to four or five years, in the completion of assessments for inter-country adoptions; her...
- Ambulance Service
Question 158: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, following on from a recent parliamentary question, she will indicate the person who is undertaking the work to examine the potential...
- Medical Cards
Question 159: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there is an agreement between the UK and Ireland for Irish medical card holders to receive dental treatment whist residing in a...
- National Lottery Funding
Question 160: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding allocated to the Health Service Executive under national lottery funding in the years 2000 to 2008; the projects...
- Child Abuse
Question 161: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made by the high level group formed after publication of the review inquiry on any matter pertaining to child protection...
- Food Poverty
Question 162: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her definition of food poverty; the measures she is taking to alleviate food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Health Services
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the funding allocated to the Health Service Executive Dublin mid-Leinster in each year since 2004 in respect of Beechpark Services; the...
- Vaccination Programme
Question 164: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the general situation as known to her Department relating to the distribution, purchase and administration of cervical cancer vaccine in...
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 165: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a person who was unaware of an entitlement under mobility allowance can apply for its application retrospectively; and the...
- Hospitals Building Programme
Question 166: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a matter (details supplied). [43029/08]
- Health Services
Question 167: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a matter (details supplied). [43030/08]
- Medical Cards
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a matter (details supplied). [43031/08]
- Nursing Home Subventions
Question 170: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if contract beds will be offered to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43101/08]
- Health Services
Question 172: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide this Deputy with a copy of the report given by the Health Service Executive multi-disciplinary group on resources...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the improvements implemented in the waiting list initiative; the way the issues raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General in his...
- Department of Transport
- Road Network
Question 174: To ask the Minister for Transport the improvements implemented by the National Roads Authority following the Comptroller and Auditor General's value for money report of 1999 on the...
- Public Transport
Question 175: To ask the Minister for Transport if action is being taken following the removal of the derogation on excise duties in respect of fuel for buses since 1 November 2008. [42944/08]
- Pension Provisions
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Transport the funding deficit in the Aer Rianta pension fund; if he has discussed this with the company; and if it is his intention to promote measures that...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Drug Seizures
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of drugs seizures carried out here to date in 2008; the quality of each drug seized; the way these drugs are...
- Liquor Licensing Laws
Question 179: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding alcohol that is confiscated by gardaí following new legislation enacted in 2008 to curb under age...
- Visa Applications
Question 180: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the visa application of a person (details supplied). [42948/08]
- Data Protection
Question 181: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views with regard to the approach of the EU framework decision on the use of passenger name records for law enforcement...
- Garda Deployment
Question 182: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 161 of 19 November 2008, if he will ask the Garda authorities to state the location...
- Irish Prison Service
Question 183: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of mobile phones confiscated in prisons here in 2007; the number confiscated in 2008; and if he will make a...
- Control of Firearms
Question 184: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of legally held hand guns registered in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43002/08]
- Garda Deployment
Question 185: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí at any given time that work in the national drugs unit; the number of gardaí allocated to this unit;...
- Visa Applications
Question 186: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for family reunification in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and...
- Residency Permits
Question 187: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for residency status or refugee status will be concluded in the case of a person (details supplied) in...
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- National Drugs Strategy
Question 188: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has received a submission for the new national drugs strategy from a group (details supplied); his views on its...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 189: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the agencies he is referring to when he refers to savings being made in his Department in 2009 by reducing dependence...
- National Drugs Strategy
Question 190: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in his efforts to make savings in 2009 while still delivering front line services, the local drugs task forces...
- Community Development
Question 191: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in the context of budget 2009, he will explain his statement that his Department will not be entering into new...
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 193: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42981/08]
- Social Welfare Code
Question 194: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person signing on for credits but receiving no weekly payment is eligible under the rules for the back to education allowance...
- Department of Defence
- Pension Provisions
Question 196: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason an additional gratuity agreed with PDFORRA and his Department on retirement from the Army was not granted to a person (details supplied)...
- Defence Forces Personnel
Question 197: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will support a matter (details supplied). [43036/08]
- Defence Forces Reserve
Question 198: To ask the Minister for Defence the criteria to qualify for the new gratuity payments to recruits; the reason his Department decided not to pay recruits a gratuity in December...
- Defence Forces Training
Question 201: To ask the Minister for Defence when suitable indoor training facilities, equipment and full-time fitness training personnel will be made available at Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick;...
- Defence Forces Equipment
Question 202: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide defibrillators for all Defence Force installations in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43088/08]
- Defence Forces Personnel
Question 203: To ask the Minister for Defence if members of the Defence Forces will be allowed to undergo an eye test at local eye test centres rather than travelling long distances for a test;...
- Defence Forces Reserve
Question 204: To ask the Minister for Defence the number serving in the Defence Forces Reserve; the effects that the reduction in funding from €10.49 million in 2008 to €10 million in 2009...
- Defence Forces Strength
Question 205: To ask the Minister for Defence the anticipated strength of the Army, Navy and Air Corps over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43091/08]
- Defence Forces Equipment
Question 206: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which it is intended or expected to upgrade military equipment in respect of each of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a...
- Defence Forces Strength
Question 207: To ask the Minister for Defence the strength by rank and gender of the Army, Navy and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43093/08]
- Army Barracks
Question 208: To ask the Minister for Defence the improvements expected to take place in the remaining military installations throughout the country in the wake of the recently announced barrack...
- Defence Forces Training
Question 209: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which the Defence Forces will continue to have ready access to training alongside the EU or UN for peace making or peacekeeping...
- Army Barracks
Question 211: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which he has taken into account the local economic impact of the recent decision to close a number of military installations...
- Overseas Missions
Question 213: To ask the Minister for Defence if particular lessons have been learned from the most recent overseas deployments of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Naval Service Operations
Question 214: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which it is intended or expected to provide additional resources to the Defence Forces with a view to increased air and sea...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Air Quality
Question 217: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce mandatory smokeless fuel emission standards; and when the air quality monitoring report...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 218: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on local authorities rehousing people from Limerick in other counties. [42947/08]
- Planning Issues
Question 219: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if all planning conditions will be enforced by law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42954/08]
- Local Authority Housing
Question 220: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way the recent drop in mortgage interest rates will affect home owners who have opted for shared...
- Water Quality
Question 221: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the water quality of Arklow Harbour has been tested and if it is considered a risk to the health and...
- House Prices
Question 222: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to media comments to the effect that the home choice loan scheme could...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Energy Conservation
Question 225: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will support a matter (details supplied). [43035/08]
- Fisheries Protection
Question 226: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of viable commercial eel fisheries here in view of the success of the French eel fishery during the...
- Inland Fisheries
Question 227: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of silver eels removed from the Corrib fishery in the years 1997 to 2007. [43024/08]
- Fisheries Protection
Question 228: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the process by which he arrived at the introduction of by-laws governing commercial eel fishing; and if the...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Departmental Bodies
Question 230: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of resources deployed in setting up Coillte and its contribution to the Exchequer; and if retaining the resource...
- Grant Payments
Question 231: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding disadvantaged area payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [42945/08]
- Poultry Industry
Question 233: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has convened the poultry advisory group; the brief of the advisory group; the reason it has taken so long to take...
- Grant Payments
Question 234: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Education and Science
- Institutes of Technology
Question 238: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the increase of 2.5% payable under Towards 2016 and due on 1 September 2008 will be granted to teaching staff in institutes of...
- School Accommodation
Question 239: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will approve the application for EWS grant to a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in which the condition of the...
- School Staffing
Question 240: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the vetting system for untrained substitute teachers; and the number of untrained substitute teachers currently employed. [42958/08]
- Departmental Legal Costs
Question 242: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will instruct his legal team, through the Attorney General's office and his own legal advisers, not to proceed to obtain the...
- Departmental Properties
Question 243: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has in his Department possession of an original lease (details supplied) relevant to a property; and if he will make the said...
- Institutes of Technology
Question 245: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the funding required by the Grangegorman Development Agency for the delivery of the new DIT campus will be made available in 2009;...
- Residential Institutions Redress Scheme
Question 246: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school (details supplied) in County Cork is not included as an institution under the Residential Institutions Redress Act...
- Teachers' Remuneration
Question 247: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in having payment made to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been providing substitute...
- School Staffing
Question 248: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if discrimination on the grounds of physical disability is permitted in the recruitment of teachers in view of the fact that a person...
- School Books Scheme
Question 249: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on the abolition of the book support scheme grant operated in designated disadvantaged schools; and the impact on low-income...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 251: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the estimated cost of the planned new 24-classroom school and ancillary accommodation approved for a school (details supplied) in...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 252: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his proposals to meet the concerns of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford regarding the education cuts in budget 2009; and...
