Written answers
Thursday, 4 December 2008
- Department of Education and Science
- Third Level Funding
Question 9: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the budget deficits of University College Dublin, University College Cork, the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Trinity...
- Departmental Statistics
Question 10: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason his Department claims to compile statistics on primary schools on a county basis, as in Parliamentary Question No. 173 of 20...
- State Examinations
Question 11: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on ending the practice of exempting students sitting their State exams from grammar and spelling mistakes in view of the need...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Question 12: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which the budget 2009 reduction proposals are expected to result in an increased pupil-teacher ratio on a county basis at...
- Departmental Funding
Question 13: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the percentage of the €8 billion committed to the strategy for science, technology and innovation that is being spent on achieving...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Question 14: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the percentage of children in respect of primary school sizes in primary schools of 30 pupils or more for the years 1987 to 2009; the...
- School Curriculum
Question 16: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his Department will drop the requirement of field work that makes up an integral part of the biology leaving certificate curriculum...
- Departmental Funding
Question 17: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he had meetings with the managers of the Protestant fee-paying schools to discuss the implications of budget 2009; if not, if he...
- Bogus Educational Institutions
Question 18: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason he is reluctant to use the full rigours of the law to close down bogus educational institutions; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 19: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount his Department spends on postage costs regarding the circulation of notices to school boards of management; his Department's...
- Third Level Education
Question 20: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will request each third level institution to publish the number of staff involved in direct education provision and those...
- School Transport
Question 21: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if medical card holders are exempt from paying the recently increased school transport charges of €300; and if he will make a...
- Halla Spóirt
Question 22: To ask the Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta cén fáth nach bhfuil halla spóirt ag scoil (sonraí tugtha) go fóill agus nach bhfuil sé tar éis a bheith tógtha le breis mhór...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Question 23: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will explain the decision to increase the class size in further education courses from 16:1 to 17:1; the reason this was not...
- Water Charges
Question 24: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the payment of water charges by schools; the financial support his Department will be providing to schools to...
- School Curriculum
Question 27: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the funding his Department provides for the leaving certificate applied curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- On-line Databases
Question 28: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will require all third level institutions to establish an on-line database of research dissertations which have merited graduate...
- Language Schools
Question 29: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans to ensure statutory regulation of the English language school sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44356/08]
- Schools Building Projects
Question 30: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the school building projects that are planned under the public private partnership model with the location of each school, a brief...
- School Curriculum
Question 31: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans to ensure that children receive at least two hours of physical education in school per week; and if he will make a statement...
- Language Schools
Question 32: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the procedures followed in the Advisory Council for English Language Schools' accreditation process; the qualifications required by...
- Higher Education Grants
Question 34: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding grants available for teachers who wish to pursue a postgraduate qualification; and if he will make a statement...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 35: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on the future development of school campuses in view of the expected 100,000 increase in pupil numbers in the next ten years;...
- School Accommodation
Question 36: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of prefabs currently in use by primary schools on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44347/08]
- Schools Building Projects
Question 37: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will announce the next public private partnership schools bundle; if he has finalised the schools to be included; and if he...
- Third Level Funding
Question 38: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on linking budget allocation for third level institutions to results achieved in improving third level access to students...
- Departmental Statistics
Question 39: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the statistics his Department collects with regard to primary schools; the way this data gathering operates; and if he will make a...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 40: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the primary and post-primary capital school building projects that are on site at 30 November 2008; the expected completion date of...
- School Accommodation
Question 42: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason more than €1 million has been spent on renting prefabs at a school (details supplied) in County Waterford over the past...
- Schools Refurbishment
Question 43: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the details for the summer works scheme 2009 will be completed; the date by which the details of the summer works scheme will be...
- Legislative Programme
Question 45: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the date for the Committee Stage of the Student Support Bill; the reason for the delay of this stage; and if he will make a statement...
- School Transport
Question 46: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of his Department's review of school transport catchment boundaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44384/08]
- Departmental Guidelines
Question 47: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his Department will issue guidelines to schools regarding dealings with separated parents of pupils; and if he will make a...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Research Funding
Question 48: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the various programmes funded by Science Foundation Ireland in 2008; the level of funding...
- Consumer Rights
Question 53: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44399/08]
- Trade Missions
Question 54: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses from Kildare south that accompanied her on each of the trade missions undertaken by...
- Economic Competitiveness
Question 56: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action she will take, in view of the significant price and VAT difference in Border areas and the...
- Department of Finance
- Road Safety
Question 57: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to continuing safety problems in the Phoenix Park due to pedestrians using cycle lanes; if his further attention has...
- Tax Collection
Question 58: To ask the Minister for Finance if an instalment payment plan will be set up to assist small businesses make payments to the Revenue Commissioners, particularly during the current...
- Tax Code
Question 59: To ask the Minister for Finance if employers who charge employees market value for car parking space will be exempt from the €200 levy; if such an employer who charges a token...
- Fiscal Policy
Question 61: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a request from coach operators and Fáilte Ireland (details supplied) regarding the cost and competitive disadvantage which their...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 62: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of expenses incurred to date under section 4 of the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act, 2008; and if he will make a statement on...
- State Airports
Question 63: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will expand further on his statement of 26 November 2008 in relation to the way he will improve standards in the value for money assessment...
- Economic Competitiveness
Question 64: To ask the Minister for Finance the action he will take, in view of the significant price and VAT difference in Border areas and the consequent loss of business and employment in...
- Departmental Procurement
Question 65: To ask the Minister for Finance the way the artists were selected in relation to purchases recently made by the Office of Public Works (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- National Lottery Funding
Question 66: To ask the Minister for Finance the grants made which used national lottery funds in the years 2006, 2007 and 2008; the sum involved in each grant; and if he will make a statement...
- Public Service Staff
Question 67: To ask the Minister for Finance the procedure to be followed for those wishing to return to civil or public service following retirement on ill health or other grounds when the...
- Department of Health and Children
- Medical Cards
Question 68: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views in relation to a submission (details supplied); the action she will take to address the issues raised in regard to medical card...
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 69: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he has proposals to meet in full the speech and language requests at all primary schools here; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Hospital Services
Question 70: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the provision of a colposcopy service in Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal; if it is available to both...
- Criminal Prosecutions
Question 71: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of prosecutions that have taken place on a county basis in relation to breaches (details supplied). [44494/08]
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 72: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to ensure that a child under five waiting more than three months...
- Hospital Services
Question 73: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the appointment of an executive management board at Mallow General Hospital, County Cork; and if she will make a...
- Hospital Staff
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will appoint a second consultant neurologist in Sligo General Hospital in view of the needs in the north west. [44550/08]
- Vaccination Programme
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 257 of 7 October 2008, if she has received the final report of the Vaccine Damage Compensation...
- Health Services
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when local term residency care is expected to be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a...
- Department of Transport
- State Airports
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Transport if a scheme (details supplied) helps subvent recipients costs of operations, which include marketing; and his views on whether this encourages...
- Taxi Regulations
Question 82: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing problems being experienced in the taxi business as a result of the increased number of taxi licences...
- Rail Safety
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will ban the use of cell phones by train operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44523/08]
- Bus Services
Question 85: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department has received complaints regarding the cessation by a company (details supplied) of an hourly bus service on the Cork to Galway...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 86: To ask the Minister for Transport the major capital projects which are being considered for deferral; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44615/08]
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Decentralisation Programme
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of posts at each grade to be created at the decentralised Property Registration Authority offices in Roscommon...
- Residency Permits
Question 88: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position of a residency claim for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Visa Applications
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an application for a holiday visa by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on...
- Residency Permits
Question 90: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for long-stay residency by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he...
- Travel Documentation
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when and the basis on which it was decided to refer a person (details supplied) in County Cork to the Embassy of Burundi,...
- Asylum Applications
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will allow family reunification in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a...
- Residency Permits
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current or expected residency status in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a...
- Probation and Welfare Service
Question 102: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding a house (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and when he envisages this much needed facility will...
- Residency Permits
Question 103: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; when a decision will be made on same; and...
- Garda Vehicles
Question 104: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when this Deputy will receive a full response to Parliamentary Question Nos. 313 to 338 of 18 November 2008; and if he will...
- Immigration Law
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 329 of 25 November 2008 and letter of 29 September 2008, the nature of the alleged...
- Visa Applications
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to an application for family reunification in the case of a person (details supplied) in County...
- Residency Permits
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to an application for residency in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he...
- Visa Applications
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to an application for family reunification in the case of a person (details supplied) in County...
- Residency Permits
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to an application for residency in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if...
- Travel Documentation
Question 114: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the necessary travel documentation will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a...
- Residency Permits
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to residency in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a...
- Travel Documentation
Question 116: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to provision of travel documents in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he...
- Residency Permits
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to a residency application in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he...
- Asylum Applications
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to a residency application in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will...
- Residency Permits
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to a residency application in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will...
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- International Agreements
Question 122: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the reciprocal agreement that will allow Irish citizens to work and travel to the US for up to 12 months will become operational; and...
- Passport Applications
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that no fraud was involved in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; if his Department have carried out an...
- Waste Management
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a Romani encampment at a toxic dump of mine tailings in northern Kosovo; if Irish diplomats or the Irish...
- Departmental Schemes
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm details of the scheme he has announced in respect of the appointment of the Football Association of Ireland's new welfare...
- Foreign Conflicts
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding his contacts with the Indian authorities in respect of the recent events in Mumbai, India; and if he will make a...
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Departmental Funding
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will allocate €20,000 to a group (details supplied). [44535/08]
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he will advertise for the sports capital programme 2009; the budget available; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 129: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason rent allowance has been withdrawn in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a...
- National Carers Strategy
Question 132: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a strategy for carers will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44538/08]
- Pension Provisions
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of defined benefit and defined contribution company pension schemes in operation; and if she will make a statement on...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 139: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason mortgage supplement has been withdrawn in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason an appeal has not been accepted against the decision to refuse unemployment benefit in the case of a person (details...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Water and Sewerage Schemes
Question 141: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 944 of 8 July 2008, the reason for the delay in approving contract...
- Care of the Elderly
Question 143: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to provide funding to local authorities to assist with funding for the provision of grants to the...
- Housing Grants
Question 144: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make funding available to carry out radon remedial works for a person (details supplied) in County...
- Flood Relief
Question 145: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to compensate farmers such as a person (details supplied) in County Galway through a Dúchas scheme...
- Water Pollution
Question 146: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps being taken to ensure that a carcinogen (details supplied) does not enter the public water supply....
- Rental Accommodation
Question 148: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, with reference to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 27 November 2008 and his reply that any rental...
- Water Pollution
Question 150: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans for eliminating the pollution of Lough Corrib which is the main source of water supply for Galway...
- Waste Management
Question 152: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether all the requirements of the Aarhus Convention and the Public Participation Directive are...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 153: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost to the taxpayer of the court decisions in the High Court and Supreme Court, arising out of the...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Health and Safety Issues
Question 154: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in relation to health problems highlighted by national miners covering health problems arising from...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Grant Payments
Question 155: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding an application for the REP scheme for the years 2006 and 2008 for a person (details supplied) in...
- Sheep Sector
Question 159: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps he will take to support the sheep sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44416/08]
- Grant Payments
Question 160: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that all outstanding payments under REP scheme four and the farm waste schemes in County Roscommon will be...
- Bovine Diseases
Question 162: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the annual herd number since 1997; the annual number of cattle tested for tuberculosis; and the number of reactors there...
- Bovine Disease Controls
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number per annum, since 1997, of all reactors that were false positives. [44591/08]
- Veterinary Inspection Services
Question 165: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are or have been, since 1997, problems with the funding and remuneration of vets who conduct tuberculosis tests;...
- Bovine Disease Controls
Question 166: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the details of controls since 1997 for cattle pre-movement tests; and the tests required before sale or movement between...
- Cattle Identification Scheme
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if cattle are microchipped rather than tagged; if there is a list of known tag switching; and if so, if he will provide a...
- Bovine Disease Controls
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the cost of bovine tuberculosis eradication per annum since 1997 under the general headings of administration, supplies and...
- Grant Payments
Question 172: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement regarding a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [44609/08]
- Department of Education and Science
- Trade Qualifications
Question 174: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm that FÁS recognises the trade qualification received by Irish people in the US who wish to work here; if mutual...
- School Transport
Question 175: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps he has taken to alleviate the financial hardship imposed on school transport operators following the withdrawal of the fuel...
- Third Level Institutions
Question 176: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will remove the cap on student numbers at the National College of Ireland; his views on whether to do so would be likely to...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if in view of the effects the budget 2009 announcements will have on a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow, he will reconsider...
- Site Acquisitions
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will reverse the decision to postpone the acquisition of a three-acre site for a school (details supplied) in Dublin; and grant...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the exact stage of the campaign by a school (details supplied) in Dublin 7 for a permanent building; and the amount of time they are...
- Residential Institutions Redress Scheme
Question 180: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a property (details supplied) in County Waterford was transferred to the ownership of the State in accordance with the indemnity...
- Site Acquisitions
Question 203: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a property (details supplied) in County Cork was transferred to the ownership of the State in accordance with the indemnity...
- Residential Institutions Redress Scheme
Question 226: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a property (details supplied) in County Longford was transferred to the ownership of the State in accordance with the indemnity...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 243: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a school (details supplied) in County Offaly which has applied for the replacement of its old building and prefabricated...
- Schools Refurbishment
Question 244: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of large school projects his Department has delivered in 2008 as a result of channelling the summer works scheme 2008...
- Higher Education Grants
Question 246: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will address the anomaly that has resulted in third level courses being categorised as the same, which means that students on...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 248: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has received a request for the establishment of an autism unit at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if...
- Third Level Examinations
Question 249: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the failure rate among first year students in third level colleges; the cost to the State for repeat exams; the failure rates for the...
- Grant Payments
Question 250: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the estimate of the number of schools which will lose funding as a result of the recent abolition of grants announced in budget 2009;...
- Physical Education Facilities
Question 251: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his dealings with a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 in respect of the ongoing funding difficulties which occur; if he will...
- Further Education Sector
Question 252: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the Teaching Council has made a formal representation to his Department in respect of dealing with the issue regarding teachers...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Question 253: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the savings that will be achieved by increasing the teacher-pupil ratio from 1:27 to 1:28; the proportion of the savings that relates...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 254: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there are plans to provide additional car parking and drop-off facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he...
- School Staffing
Question 255: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has finalised the level of teaching resources to be allocated to a school (details supplied) in County Cork for the...
- Disadvantaged Status
Question 256: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on correspondence from a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44549/08]
- Special Educational Needs
Question 257: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on the provision of an autism specific class for a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim in view of the large number...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 258: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his proposals to address the concerns of persons (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Question 259: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary school teachers that are expected to lose their jobs arising from the proposed budget 2009 cuts from January...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 262: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his proposals to improve and extend facilities for children with autism in 2009 at all mainstream schools here; and if he will make a...
