Written answers

Thursday, 8 October 2009

  • Department of Defence
    • Sail Training Vessel
      Question 13: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the recommendation in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes that plans to build a...
    • Naval Service Vessels
      Question 15: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the recommendation in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes that the vessel replacement...
    • Army Equitation School
      Question 16: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the recommendation in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes that the State funding of the...
    • Overseas Missions
      Question 17: To ask the Minister for Defence if the Army Ranger Wing has been deployed overseas without a UN mandate, Government and Dáil Éireann approval; and if he will make a statement on...
    • Defence Forces Equipment
      Question 19: To ask the Minister for Defence when he expects the safety roll bars recommended after the Granard crash to be installed on military troop carrying vehicles; and if he will make a...
    • Defence Forces Strength
      Question 20: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the recommendation in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes that the number of personnel...
    • Defence Forces Recruitment
      Question 21: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of cadetships in the Army and Naval Service respectively it is intended to award as a result of the competition currently ongoing; the...
    • Departmental Staff
      Question 22: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the recommendation in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes that the number of staff in...
    • Industrial Relations
      Question 27: To ask the Minister for Defence the directive he gave PDFORRA in regard to its representation at the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Departmental Expenditure
      Question 28: To ask the Minister for Defence the cost of aid to civil power, aid to civil authority and non-emergency services in the years 2002 to 2009 inclusive; the full economic cost...
    • Register of Electors
      Question 30: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to provide an option of postal voting for members of the Reserve Defence Force in view of complaints from RDF members that due to Reserve...
    • PDFORRA Conference
      Question 31: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on his attendance and address to the PDFORRA annual delegate conference and his meeting with PDFORRA on 30 September 2009; and if...
    • Defence Forces Strength
      Question 32: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Permanent Defence Force on 30 September 2009; if he expects this total to rise or fall before the end of 2009; and if he...
    • Overseas Missions
      Question 34: To ask the Minister for Defence the future of the Defence Forces in Chad; the length of time it is expected they will remain there; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Defence Forces Medical Services
      Question 37: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the PA Consulting Group report on the Medical Services; if the representative associations...
    • Defence Forces Equipment
      Question 39: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that there is a sufficient Defence Force air intercept capability. [34860/09]
    • Defence Forces Recruitment
      Question 40: To ask the Minister for Defence if, in view of his statement to the Houses of the Oireachtas on 23 June 2009 that he had written to the Department of Finance, he has had a response...
    • Defence Forces Investigations
      Question 43: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has received the report of the investigation into the incident at Kilworth Camp, when a young officer was seriously injured in a training...
    • Air Corps Recruitment
      Question 45: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason there was no recruitment requirement to recruit Air Corps cadets in 2008 and in 2009. [34859/09]
    • Defence Forces Operations
      Question 47: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of call outs made by the Army bomb disposal teams to date in 2009 on a county basis; the number of these call outs which turned out to be...
    • Defence Forces Equipment
      Question 49: To ask the Minister for Defence when he expects the new RG32M light tactical armoured vehicles to enter service on peace keeping missions; the type and nature of the protective and...
    • Ministerial Transport
      Question 51: To ask the Minister for Defence the action he will take in relation to the Ministerial Air Transport Service following the recommendation of the report of the special group on...
    • Defence Forces Regulations
      Question 52: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of positive results that have been obtained since the targeted drugs testing was introduced in April 2009. [34858/09]
    • Departmental Reports
      Question 54: To ask the Minister for Defence if the report of the Governance Committee within the Irish Red Cross, which is currently considering the governance organisational structures and...
    • Defence Forces Representation
      Question 57: To ask the Minister for Defence the legislation and regulations governing the operation of the system of representation within the Defence Forces; if he has satisfied himself that...
    • Overseas Missions
      Question 58: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Force serving in Afghanistan; the person under whose command they are serving; the international mandate under...
    • Army Barracks
      Question 62: To ask the Minister for Defence the planned developments at Custume Barracks, Athlone, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34695/09]
  • Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
    • Job Creation
      Question 66: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of job losses and new jobs created by job creation agencies in County Louth by location for each...
    • Company Closures
      Question 67: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will intervene in the Labour Relation Commission to ensure that a company (details supplied) will...
    • Departmental Agencies
      Question 69: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she or officials from her Department sought written consent from the Department of Finance for the...
    • Legal Advices
      Question 72: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the issues she sought legal advice on in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35017/09]
    • Departmental Staff
      Question 74: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vacant civil servant or public servant positions in her Department on 1 October 2009, and in the...
    • Small Business Forum
      Question 75: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the recommendations of the Small Business Forum which have been implemented by her; the progress made in...
    • Business Regulation Forum
      Question 76: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the recommendations of the Business Regulation Forum which have been implemented by her; the progress made in...
    • Departmental Expenditure
      Question 77: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 86 of 24 June 2009, the position regarding this issue; and if she will...
    • Job Creation
      Question 78: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will respond to correspondence (details supplied) regarding employment activation measures. [35090/09]
    • Higher Education Grants
      Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the training options available for unemployed people with third level qualifications; the reason third level...
    • Ministerial Travel (1 comment)
      Question 80: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of foreign visits undertaken by her and her Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009;...
    • Departmental Agencies
      Question 81: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received a report into an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
  • Department of Finance
    • Departmental Expenditure (1 comment)
      Question 82: To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of printing polling cards for the Lisbon treaty referendum held on 2 October 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34998/09]
    • Social Welfare Benefits
      Question 84: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will make provisions for homeowners who find themselves in a situation in which either they or their spouse or partner are out of work and are...
    • Tax Code
      Question 85: To ask the Minister for Finance if it is the policy of the Revenue Commissioners not to prosecute financial institutions in certain circumstances in which an institution incorrectly...
    • Departmental Agencies
      Question 86: To ask the Minister for Finance if he gave his written or verbal consent to the financial package agreed with the former director general of FÁS; if his consent included keeping...
    • Departmental Staff
      Question 88: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of vacant civil servant or public servant positions in his Department on 1 October 2009, and in the State bodies or organisations...
    • Ministerial Travel
      Question 89: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of foreign visits undertaken by him or his Minister of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the location of each; the number of people...
    • Departmental Agencies
      Question 90: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has issued guidelines in respect of expenses for board directors and senior executives at State boards and agencies; when such guidelines were...
  • Department of Health and Children
    • Preschool Services
      Question 91: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Limerick can avail of free pre-school service; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Medical Cards
      Question 92: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made on an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Hospital Services
      Question 93: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of operations cancelled at University College Galway to date in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34977/09]
    • Medical Cards
      Question 97: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of medical card and general practitioner visit card applications received for counties Louth and Meath to date in 2009; the...
    • National Treatment Purchase Fund
      Question 99: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding an admission date for an operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if they will be...
    • Health Service Staff
      Question 100: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if an appeals procedure is in operation regarding decisions reached arising from meditation under the provisions of the Health Act 2004;...
    • Nursing Home Subventions
      Question 103: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the nursing home support scheme will be implemented. [35020/09]
    • Medical Cards
      Question 104: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [35022/09]
    • Community Care
      Question 105: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of community welfare officers employed in the Waterford Community Services on 31 December 2007; the number currently...
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      Question 106: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if they will be seen; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Vaccination Programme
      Question 107: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on concerns expressed, both in the United States and in Britain, at the mercury content in the planned swine flu vaccine, same...
    • Departmental Staff
      Question 108: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of vacant civil servant or public servant positions in her Department on 1 October 2009, and in the State bodies or...
    • Health Services
      Question 109: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason an application for additional home care hours in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway has been refused;...
    • Medical Cards
      Question 110: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will be awarded a medical card. [35050/09]
    • Health Service Staff
      Question 111: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35051/09]
    • Hospital Services
      Question 112: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the availability of maternity services to EU families residing here as in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and...
    • Medical Cards
      Question 113: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made on a medical card review in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make...
    • Health Services
      Question 114: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the results of tests will be made available in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a...
    • Health Service Allowances
      Question 115: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will reconsider an appeal against a decision to refuse the back to school clothing and footwear allowance to a person (details...
    • Legislative Programme
      Question 116: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will respond to a matter (details supplied). [35092/09]
    • Medical Cards
      Question 117: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [35106/09]
    • Ministerial Travel
      Question 118: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of foreign visits undertaken by her and her Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the location of each; the...
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      Question 119: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will take steps to have a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath, admitted to the neurosurgical department at Beaumont...
    • Health Service Staff
      Question 120: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the composition and terms of reference the committee established by the Health Service Executive and the State Claims Agency to consider...
    • Inter-Country Adoptions
      Question 121: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the adoption agreement with Vietnam. [35155/09]
  • Department of Transport
    • Air Services
      Question 122: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the arrangements with respect to perquisites gifted to executives and former executives, board members and...
    • Departmental Staff
      Question 123: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of vacant civil servant or public servant positions in his Department on 1 October 2009, and in the State bodies or organisations...
    • Rail Network
      Question 124: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding a project (details supplied); if the project is going according to the timeframe initially set out; if same is going ahead...
    • Ministerial Travel
      Question 125: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of foreign visits undertaken by him and his Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the location of each; the number of...
  • Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
    • Garda Investigations
      Question 126: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí, by rank, assigned to the Anglo Irish Bank Investigation; the number of these gardaí which have...
    • Departmental Staff
      Question 127: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of vacant civil servant or public servant positions in his Department on 1 October 2009, and in the State bodies...
    • Proposed Legislation
      Question 128: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will clarify a matter (details supplied). [35053/09]
    • Crime Levels
      Question 129: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide the crime detection rate for the new Kildare garda division for the years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and...
    • Ministerial Travel
      Question 132: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of foreign visits undertaken by him and his Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the location...
    • Visa Applications
      Question 133: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for family reunification in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare;...
    • Citizenship Applications
      Question 134: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he...
    • Asylum Applications
      Question 135: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a review will be undertaken regarding an application for residency in the case of a person (details supplied) in County...
    • Deportation Orders
      Question 136: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will revoke a deportation order in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a...
    • Asylum Applications
      Question 137: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the...
  • Department of Foreign Affairs
    • Departmental Staff
      Question 142: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of vacant civil servant or public servant positions in his Department on 1 October 2009, and in the State bodies or organisations...
    • Ministerial Travel (1 comment)
      Question 143: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of foreign visits undertaken by him and his Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the location of each; the...
  • Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
    • Departmental Staff
      Question 144: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of vacant civil servant or public servant positions in his Department on 1 October 2009, and in the State bodies or...
    • Ministerial Travel
      Question 145: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of foreign visits undertaken by him and his Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the location of each;...
  • Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
    • Departmental Staff
      Question 146: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of vacant civil servant or public servant positions in his Department on 1 October 2009, and in the State...
    • Community Development
      Question 147: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if CLÁR funding will be awarded to a project (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason funding has not been made...
    • Rail Services
      Question 148: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he is satisfied with the progress of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Ministerial Travel
      Question 149: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of foreign visits undertaken by him and his Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the...
  • Department of Social and Family Affairs
    • Social Welfare Benefits
      Question 150: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans regarding twin and multiple births in relation to the cutbacks in child benefit as proposed by the Special Group on...
    • Family Support Services
      Question 152: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a centre (details supplied) in County Louth, who operate under the auspices of the Family Support Agency, will continue to be...
    • Social Welfare Benefits
      Question 153: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a child (details supplied) in Co Cork was refused the domiciliary care allowance. [35003/09]
    • Social Welfare Appeals
      Question 154: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will issue on a jobseeker's benefit appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if...
    • Departmental Staff
      Question 156: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of vacant civil servant or public servant positions in her Department on 1 October 2009, and in the State bodies or...
    • Social Welfare Benefits
      Question 157: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding a carer's allowance appeal in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will...
    • Ministerial Travel
      Question 158: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of foreign visits undertaken by her and her Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the location of each;...
    • Social Welfare Appeals
      Question 159: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Galway, who has been waiting since April 2009, will expect to be called for a medical...
    • Social Welfare Benefits
      Question 160: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when rent support will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement...
  • Department of Defence
    • Military Training
      Question 162: To ask the Minister for Defence if Irish soldiers have been involved in training Iraqi soldiers in the recent past in San Remo, Italy; the number of soldiers involved; and the...
    • Departmental Staff
      Question 165: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of vacant civil servant or public servant positions in his Department on 1 October 2009, and in the State bodies or organisations...
    • Ministerial Travel
      Question 166: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of foreign visits undertaken by him and his Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the location of each; the number of...
    • Emergency Planning
      Question 168: To ask the Minister for Defence the role of the Defence Force in the event of a major emergency or terrorist attack; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35143/09]
    • Defence Forces Strength
      Question 169: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of female personnel in the Defence Force; the extent to which such numbers have fluctuated over the past five years; and if he will make...
    • Defence Forces Training
      Question 170: To ask the Minister for Defence if all Irish troops serving on peacekeeping or stabilisation missions have had opportunity to train with EU and UN personnel to achieve standards...
    • Defence Forces Strength
      Question 171: To ask the Minister for Defence if the strength of the Naval Service is currently up to the required level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35146/09]
    • Defence Forces Equipment
      Question 174: To ask the Minister for Defence if sufficient resources are available to the Air Corps and Naval Service to provide sufficient surveillance to prevent drug trafficking; and if he...
  • Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
    • Water Quality
      Question 176: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make a statement on his failure to follow through on his commitment to improve water quality...
    • Proposed Legislation
      Question 177: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will confirm his commitment to exclude registered hunt kennels from the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act...
    • Departmental Staff
      Question 178: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of vacant civil servant or public servant positions in his Department on 1 October 2009, and in...
    • Proposed Legislation
      Question 179: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals for modernising the landlord and tenant contact that will be included in the Housing Bill 2008...
    • Social and Affordable Housing
      Question 182: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he plans to facilitate persons who purchased houses under the affordable housing scheme to re-mortgage...
    • Waste Disposal
      Question 183: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will require uniformity from local authorities regarding construction and demolition waste where...
    • Water and Sewerage Schemes
      Question 185: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make a statement on a matter (details supplied) in County Limerick. [35097/09]
    • Election Management System
      Question 186: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of polling clerks and presiding officers employed to work on the Lisbon treaty referendum on 2...
    • Ministerial Travel
      Question 189: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of foreign visits undertaken by him and his Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009;...
  • Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
    • Electricity Generation
      Question 190: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount spent on all aspects of the Flagford to Srananagh 220kv project since its inception. [34986/09]
    • Telecommunications Services
      Question 192: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the lack of broadband provision in County Sligo; his views on concerns that...
    • Ministerial Travel
      Question 193: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of foreign visits undertaken by him and his Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009;...
  • Department of Agriculture and Food
    • Grant Payments
      Question 194: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason the single farm payment of a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been issued; if he will ensure...
    • Pigmeat Recall Scheme
      Question 195: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the funds paid to pork primary processors, to secondary processors, wholesalers and retailers as a result of the recall of...
    • Grant Payments
      Question 196: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when an application will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a...
    • Ministerial Travel
      Question 197: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of foreign visits undertaken by him and his Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the location...
  • Department of Education and Science
    • Public Procurement Guidelines
      Question 198: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a contract (details supplied) did not go through the normal public procurement procedure; the further reason for the...
    • Educational Disadvantage
      Question 199: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the withdrawal of funding to arts organisations funded by his Department (details supplied). [35001/09]
    • Departmental Investigations
      Question 200: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when an investigation will be concluded in respect of a matter (detail supplied): the reason for the delay; and if he will make a...
    • Higher Education Grants
      Question 201: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the assistance he will provide to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. ...
    • Schools Building Projects
      Question 202: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement regarding the outstanding moneys for a school (details supplied); the reason he refuses to release these...
    • School Staffing
      Question 203: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the loss of a teacher at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3 has caused class...
    • School Staff Recruitment
      Question 204: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons applying for teaching positions in certain secondary schools were asked...
    • Ministerial Travel
      Question 205: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of foreign visits undertaken by him and his Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the location of each;...