Written answers
Thursday, 5 March 2009
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Employment Support Services
Question 10: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is satisfied with the integration of local social welfare offices, local partnership areas and local employment services in...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 11: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to review the mortgage interest supplement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9178/09]
- Social Welfare Code
Question 12: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on whether the new PRSI requirements for jobseeker's benefit unfairly penalise young people who may have lost their first...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 14: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the measures put in place by her in conjunction with other Departments to meet the growing applications for...
- Pension Provisions
Question 15: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the discussions and correspondence between her Department and the European Commission in relation to Ireland's compliance with...
- Decentralisation Programme
Question 16: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to decentralise sections of her Department to Donegal town; if a site has been identified and purchased; when its is...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 18: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average time it took for a jobseeker's benefit claim to be processed during the period from the start of October 2008 to the...
- Departmental Staff
Question 20: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is satisfied with the funding arrangements for community welfare officers outside Dublin and that the percentage of the cost...
- Pension Provisions
Question 21: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the date the long-term pension framework will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9140/09]
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 25: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the personal advocacy service for people with disabilities will be rolled out in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 26: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the discussions which have taken place with her regarding the top up scheme to allow jobless people retain their jobseeker's...
- Carer's Strategy
Question 30: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the date the national carer's strategy will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9125/09]
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 31: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has had discussions regarding inter-departmental pooling of funds in terms of training and resources that will be available...
- Social Insurance
Question 34: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to expand the range of income that is subject to pay related social insurance. [9283/09]
- Social Welfare Code
Question 36: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by people who had been on low wages and who are not entitled...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 37: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details of process improvement initiatives introduced to reduce processing times of jobseeker's applications; the locations at...
- Departmental Staff
Question 39: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she is taking to address the particular problems of backlogs in the processing of jobseeker payments in social welfare...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 41: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she will take to ensure that ex-miners are compensated for the health problems that they have suffered after years of...
- Departmental Staff
Question 42: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of the 115 additional staff announced by her in December 2008 to deal with the rising number of social welfare...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 44: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount in extra overtime spent in 2008 and in 2009 to deal with the backlog in processing jobseeker claims. [9268/09]
- Pension Provisions
Question 46: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to amend the State non-contributory pension income calculation for land owners; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Social Welfare Fraud
Question 47: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will make a full statement on the suggestion that fraud has been permitted in connection with the school meals scheme. [9013/09]
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 48: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the criteria by which she is judging the affordability of rent for persons on rent supplement; and the savings she will make on...
- Social Insurance
Question 53: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to allow self-employed persons pay extra social insurance in order that they are covered for jobseeker's benefit in the...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 56: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her intentions to allow the long-standing partner of a deceased person to claim widows or widower's pension. [9296/09]
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 57: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her estimate for the increase in family income supplement claims arising from the introduction of the pension levy on public...
- Human Rights Issues
Question 58: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action she proposed to take arising from the High Court's 2007 ruling that the State is in breach of the European Convention on...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 59: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the full extent and requirement in terms of social welfare, supplementary welfare and associated...
- Social Insurance
Question 64: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will amend legislation to allow a person who takes a career break during the recession to be credited with a full credit...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 66: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if changes will be made to the back to work enterprise allowance. [9245/09]
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Work Permits
Question 76: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeframe in which employees must commence employment under a work permit when granted; if the employee...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 78: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 141 of 28 January 2009, when her Department will furnish the cost of...
- FÁS Training Programmes
Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timescale for the full expansion of the catchment areas of local employment service offices to match the...
- Redundancy Payments
Question 80: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the entitlement to redundancy in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will...
- Department of Finance
- Banking Sector Regulation
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Finance the legal firm which advised Anglo Irish Bank and the ten investors that the borrowing arrangements entered into were legal and above board; if that...
- Decentralisation Programme
Question 82: To ask the Minister for Finance if the necessary finance has been provided to enable the construction of his Department offices in Mullingar, County Westmeath to commence; if he...
- Pension Provisions
Question 83: To ask the Minister for Finance if the income of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be subjected to the public service levy. [9316/09]
- Tax Code
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be furnished with a P21 balancing statement for 2007; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Pension Provisions
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Finance if, in view of the fact that part-time firemen do not receive a pension from the local authority, he will ensure that they are not liable for the...
- Tax Code
Question 88: To ask the Minister for Finance her views on a standardised tax and accounting year from 1 January to 31 December for all companies in line with the Government tax and social...
- Pension Provisions
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding a matter (details supplied). [9392/09]
- Departmental Schemes
Question 90: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for the delay in issuing a circular to other Government Departments and bodies regarding the cycle to work scheme; and if he will make a...
- Tax Code
Question 91: To ask the Minister for Finance when a P45 will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9478/09]
- Department of Health and Children
- Health Repayment Scheme
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of claims under the nursing home repayment scheme which remain outstanding; the number awaiting payment; the number currently...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can expect their operation to be re-scheduled for a Dublin hospital. [9339/09]
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 28 January 2009, when her Department will furnish the cost of reports and that of agencies...
- Hospital Staff
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of full time cystic fibrosis nurses at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin; her plans to increase this number; and if she will make a...
- Health Services
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will support the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [9383/09]
- Health Service Expenditure
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost of rented premises in County Mayo used by the Health Service Executive on a periodic basis over the past five years; if any of...
- Service for People with Disabilities
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that a facility which was specially built by the Health Service Executive to provide respite care services for...
- Hospital Services
Question 99: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will proceed with the centralisation of paediatric medicine in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9396/09]
- Nursing Home Subventions
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that recent increases in nursing home charges in some nursing homes in County Louth are...
- Parliamentary Questions
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive to Parliamentary Question No. 431 of 27 January 2009. [9416/09]
- Child Care Services
Question 104: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made in relation to funding under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 to 2010, in particular...
- Medical Cards
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Health Services
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare can change their doctor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9476/09]
- Child Care Services
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if an applicant can provide a service (details supplied) under childcare legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Proposed Legislation
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Bill on multi-unit developments will come before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on...
- Crime Statistics
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on a refusal (details supplied) by the Central Statistics Office to provide information in view of the fact that...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 111: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision for citizenship will be decided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 113: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 200 of 28 January 2009, when his Department will furnish the costs of reports and...
- Drug Seizures
Question 114: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the drugs seizures in north Dublin, including dates, quantities and location to date in 2009; and if he will make a...
- Prison Committals
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the population of St. Patrick's Institution, in tabular format, stating on an annual basis for the period 2002 to 2008, the...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 116: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the annual budget of St. Patrick's institution in each year since 2002; the comparing annual population of the prison; the...
- Prison Services
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the services and resources available at St. Patrick's institution; the percentage of the population who are participating...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Deportation Orders
Question 119: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will extend the time to enable a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath to apply for subsidiary protection in...
- Residency Permits
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a review will be undertaken regarding a decision to refuse residency in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin...
- Visa Applications
Question 122: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) can return to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9429/09]
- Citizenship Applications
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to an application for citizenship in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and...
- Work Permits
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an updated stamp four will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a...
- Refugee Status
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a travel document will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the requirements to qualify for Irish citizenship in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he...
- Residency Permits
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 19 February 2009 and No. 622 of 27 January 2009, when a decision will be made...
- Refugee Status
Question 129: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to residency and refugee status in view of the background to the case in respect of a person...
- Asylum Applications
Question 130: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to residency in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; if an extension of residency...
- Residency Permits
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to an application for residency in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if he...
- Travel Documentation
Question 132: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if passports or travel documentation will issue in respect of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if he will make...
- Residency Permits
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, having regard to judgments, he will review the case in respect of residency in relation to a person (details supplied)...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to an application for citizenship in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and...
- Work Permits
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a stamp four will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on...
- Visa Applications
Question 137: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 161 of 19 February 2009, the options open in respect of persons (details supplied) in...
- Citizenship Application
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a naturalisation certificate will re-issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if he will make...
- Asylum Applications
Question 139: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current or expected position in relation to the application for residency in respect of a person (details supplied) in...
- Residency Permits
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if further consideration will be given regarding determination of the application for residency status in respect of...
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Northern Ireland Issues
Question 143: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the review of the North-South implementation bodies and areas for co-operation, as agreed by the North-South Ministerial Council, at its...
- Passport Information
Question 144: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his proposals to include further information on Irish passports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9410/09]
- Passport Applications
Question 145: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused an Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9411/09]
- Emigrant Support Services
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts he is making or the contacts he has made with the US Administration in regard to bringing forward legislation to deal with...
- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
- Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism If he has concluded his review of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund; the level of funding that has been available to the horse and...
- Sports Funding
Question 149: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of funding that was provided to inter-county GAA players to afford parity of esteem with other elite amateur athletes in...
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 150: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism further to a previous parliamentary question by this Deputy of 8 January 2009, if his attention has been drawn to the merits of the...
- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Comhlachtaí Poiblí agus Tras-Teorann
Question 151: To ask the Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén tsuim airgid atá ceadaithe do na Príomhfheidhmeannaigh sna comhlachtaí poiblí agus trasteorann atá faoi chúram...
- Northern Ireland Issues
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when he was last furnished with annual reports and audited accounts by the North-South implementation bodies under...
- Departmental Programmes
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will provide a progress report on the State's attempts to recoup assets invested in the last Leader programme...
- Dormant Accounts Fund
Question 158: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding an application for funding under the dormant accounts fund on behalf of a club (details...
- Department of Social and Family Affairs
- Civil Registration
Question 159: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on correspondence (details supplied); her plans to introduce legislation to address the matter; when such legislation...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 160: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the benefit that accrues in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare arising from PRSI payments in 2008; and if...
- Departmental Staff
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she is taking to improve processing times for jobseeker's claims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9409/09]
- Social Welfare Code
Question 164: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she plans to amend the system whereby a person must be on jobseeker's assistance for two years before they qualify for a back...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 165: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded jobseeker's allowance. [9404/09]
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 167: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if this parliamentary question can be taken by way of appeal regarding the habitual residence clause used to refuse unemployment...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her proposals to alleviate hardship caused by delays in processing applications for various social welfare payments; and if she...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will ensure adequate funding to meet the requirements of carers in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Social Welfare Code
Question 172: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to review the habitual residency clause having particular regard to the fact that as currently applied it deprives many...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 176: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will restore the heretofore entitlement of the members of part-time fire services to a social welfare payment thereby...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will restore previously established entitlements to means tested social welfare payments on the basis of a means test for...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the maximum amount of rent support offered for a five person house in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare;...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces Recruitment
Question 181: To ask the Minister for Defence the establishment and the appointments filled in the Reserve Defence Force; the number of each rank to have attended annual training in 2008; the...
- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Social and Affordable Housing
Question 182: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals to pass on reductions in interest rates to persons who are purchasing houses under the...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 184: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 242 of 28 January 2009, when his Department will furnish the cost of...
- Tax Code
Question 185: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the difficulties being faced by the motor industry he will review legislation whereby second...
- Housing Aid for the Elderly
Question 186: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon, his Department will ensure an application...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Telecommunications Services
Question 187: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the provision of broadband in the Rossnowlagh area, County Donegal; and if he will make...
- Departmental Schemes
Question 188: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of smaller insulation companies have been excluded...
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Grant Payments
Question 190: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a payment under REP scheme four; and if he will make a...
- Installation Aid Scheme
Question 193: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the installation aid scheme is co-funded by the EU; if so, if the EU Commission has the right to override decisions made...
- Grant Payments
Question 194: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [9361/09]
- Department of Education and Science
- Schools Refurbishment
Question 198: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a grant for a school (details supplied) in County Sligo was withdrawn after the architect was employed, the job given to a...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 199: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the new school building for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the...
- School Staffing
Question 200: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the appeal by a school (details supplied) in County Kildare, in connection with the change in the staffing...
- Schools Buildings Projects
Question 201: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [9315/09]
- School Accommodation
Question 202: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the situation in relation to the provision of a new classroom at a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when the project...
- School Transport
Question 203: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans for catchment boundary pupils in Kilmacrennan, Termon, and Ballykeeran areas of County Donegal who attend a school (details...
- Schools Buildings Projects
Question 204: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the proposed extension to a school (details supplied) in County Laois in view of the recent announcement in...
- School Transport
Question 205: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the method of payment for school transport to its original form whereby parents can pay each quarter rather than the...
- Grant Payments
Question 207: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the funding given to fee paying private schools in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; his views on the impact of funding and fees being...
