Written answers
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
- Industrial Development
Question 12: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new business start-ups that have been achieved in the seven months since he came to office, on a county basis;...
- Credit Availability
Question 13: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views that Irish business are experiencing great difficulties in accessing credit; the measures he will take to...
- Industrial Development
Question 14: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to bring forward proposals in relation to developing the digital gaming industry here; and if he will make a...
- Job Losses (1 comment)
Question 16: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs lost throughout the various skilled categories in each of the past ten years to date; the research...
- Industrial Disputes
Question 18: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will expedite payments to a person (details supplied). [28899/11]
- Departmental Staff
Question 19: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of civil servants transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade since the redeployment of...
- Departmental Reports
Question 20: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the name and number of external reports that were commissioned by his Department from 2004 to 2008 in tabular form; the cost...
- Enterprise Support Services
Question 21: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the assistance available to start up and non-start up businesses for the employment of new staff; his plans for additional...
- Economic Competitiveness
Question 24: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report on the publication of Ireland's competitiveness scorecard 2011 by the National Competitiveness Council. ...
- Company Law
Question 25: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to update the current partnership law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28649/11]
- Consultancy Contracts
Question 26: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount that was spent on consultants in his Department in 2009 and 2010; and the amount that will be spent on...
- Skill Shortages
Question 27: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, in view of the mismatch of available skills and available jobs in the market and the expensive and often slow...
- Emigration Levels
Question 28: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to reduce the level of emigration which has reached 50,000 persons a year; and if he will quantify the level of...
- Job Creation
Question 29: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans for job creation in view of the planned privatisation of State assets; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Export Markets
Question 30: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the changes he has made in the seven months since he came to office to reorientate our foreign enterprise development...
- Job Protection
Question 31: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he is taking to secure jobs at the MBNA site in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Agencies
Question 33: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of the administration of each of the enterprise development agencies; and if he will estimate the savings that would...
- County Enterprise Boards
Question 34: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the changes he will make to the institutional and corporate arrangements for the county enterprise boards; if local...
- EU Funding
Question 35: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has approached the European Investment Bank to co-fund capital building projects. [28876/11]
- Economic Competitiveness
Question 36: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reductions in the cost of utility services that have been achieved in the seven months since he took office; and the...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Overseas Development Aid
Question 37: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the criteria for which funding is allocated by Irish Aid to non-governmental organisations; the measures in place to...
- Diplomatic Representation
Question 38: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the location of Irish embassies currently without an ambassador; his plans to amalgamate or fill these posts; and if...
- Grant Payments
Question 39: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the grant awarded to an organisation (details supplied) in County Antrim to continue its work of reconciling...
- Diplomatic Representation
Question 40: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of embassies this State has; the location of these embassies; the current number of staff in these...
- Tourism Promotion
Question 41: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Irish embassies have a role in promoting Ireland as a tourism location; if he will consider seeking a more...
- Department of Finance
- Banking Sector Recruitment
Question 42: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons recruited on an annual basis to the Central Bank of Ireland since 2008 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Consultancy Contracts
Question 45: To ask the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank of Ireland has consulted with any outside agencies with regard to stressed mortgages; the names of these agencies; the nature of...
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 46: To ask the Minister for Finance the appointments made to State agencies and boards under his remit for the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; and if he will make a statement on...
- Tax Code
Question 47: To ask the Minister for Finance the arrangements in place regarding recouping VAT to the Exchequer when State agencies arrange the sale of assets abroad and when VAT may be charged...
- Financial Institutions Support Scheme
Question 48: To ask the Minister for Finance if the bank guarantee scheme will remain the same and if deposit accounts containing up to €100,000 will be safe; the length of time the guarantee...
- Legislative Programme
Question 49: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Central Bank and Credit Institutions (Resolution) (No. 2) Bill 2011; and if he will make a...
- Banks Recapitalisation
Question 50: To ask the Minister for Finance the arrangements in respect of the €1 billion that is being recouped from the sale of Bank of Ireland shares to private investors; if he will...
- Tax Code
Question 51: To ask the Minister for Finance the savings to be made to the Exchequer from placing an earnings ceiling of €80,000 on pensions contributions and standardising tax relief for...
- Department of Education and Skills
- FÁS Training Programmes
Question 52: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects to liaise with the educational and training sectors with a view to maximising job opportunities for...
- Early Childhood Education
Question 53: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children that commence school each year in September who have reached their fourth birthday in the months of July or...
- School Transport
Question 54: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide funding to operate a shuttle bus service between the school bus drop off point and a new school (details supplied)....
- Special Educational Needs
Question 55: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will deal with a matter (details supplied) regarding special needs assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Funding
Question 56: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the responsibility for providing funding for street lighting outside of schools lies with his Department or with the local authority....
- Special Educational Needs
Question 57: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he will approve the appointment of a replacement teacher at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a...
- Schools Refurbishment
Question 58: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that there was no official correspondence from his Department aside from the note on the online claim system on 20...
- School Transport
Question 59: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the transport difficulties being currently experienced by pupils attending a school (details...
- FÁS Training Programmes
Question 64: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in furnishing a FETAC certificate to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; when this person can expect to...
- School Statistics
Question 65: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the number of pupils attending primary school per county and per patronage. [29014/11]
- Higher Education Grants
Question 66: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a full grant of €6,100 to a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Ombudsman for Children
Question 68: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the request by the Ombudsman for Children to extend the remit of that office to cover the working of the National Council...
- Vocational Education Committees
Question 69: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way decisions were reached regarding the location of vocational education committee head offices; the person who made the final...
- School Staffing
Question 72: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to assist graduate teachers who are currently unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29069/11]
- EU Funding
Question 73: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for co-financing support from the European Globalisation Fund for retraining and upskilling...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Flood Relief
Question 74: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures taken by the Office of Public Works to resolve flooding at a river at Ballycatlan, Carrickmacross, County...
- Departmental Agencies
Question 75: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it envisaged that a voluntary redundancy scheme will be introduced at FÁS in the context of the reorganisation of the body...
- Public Service Agreements
Question 76: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the Croke Park agreement; if he has received implementation plans for this agreement from each...
- Public Service Staff
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a consistent policy in place within the public service regarding absenteeism; and if he will make a statement on...
- Pension Provisions
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason a single person in the public sector is compelled by law to pay a pension for a spouse and child even if they do not...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
- Public Contracts
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the nationality of the firms which were successful in applying for public contracts in the years 2009 and 2010; and if he...
- Export Markets
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures available to small and medium enterprises who wish to break into emerging economy export markets; the new...
- Employment Rights
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he plans to bring in legislation to protect low-paid workers. [28941/11]
- EU Funding
Question 82: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he has had discussions with the EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science with a view to...
- Job Losses
Question 83: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs lost and created in each of the past five years to date in 2011; the extent to which particular sectors...
- Economic Competitiveness
Question 86: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he has managed to address issues affecting the competitiveness of the manufacturing and service sectors...
- Trade Relations
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans for the expansion and promotion of trade and commerce nationally and internationally with the objective of...
- Department of Social Protection
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 91: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the impact of the cuts affecting PRSI patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29096/11]
- General Register Office
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason there is a delay in the issuing of birth certificates for infants born in Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, County Mayo; and if...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if payment under the rent supplement scheme will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will...
- Employment Support Services
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken to ensure that the positions advertised on JobBridge are suitable for internships which will benefit the internee on...
- Departmental Agencies
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the additional staff that will be made available to the various Monetary Advice and Budgeting Service offices around the country; the way...
- Community Employment Schemes
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason there is a reluctance to continue the t code status of the community employment schemes; the criteria for ring fenced projects...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether applications for carer's allowance are now taking over six months to process despite the fact that her Department's...
- Departmental Properties
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the proposed capital programme regarding the refurbishment or replacement of social welfare offices; if an office (details supplied) in...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 111: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of farm assist; if there are applications outstanding; her plans to expand this programme; and if she...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will protect social welfare rates in budget 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29115/11]
- Employment Support Services
Question 113: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to address flaws in the JobBridge programme with respect to the specification of internships permissible under the...
- Social Insurance
Question 114: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is seeking any changes to the PRSI system in order to provide a social welfare safety net underneath self-employed persons. [28889/11]
- Employment Support Services
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the safeguards in place to guarantee that employees participating on the national internship programme are not exploited and achieve their...
- Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs
- State Property
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reasons for the delay in the transaction for lands (details supplied) which he wishes to purchase. [28990/11]
- Arts Funding
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide information with regard to an exhibition, Dublin Contemporary 2011, hosted by the National Gallery of...
- National Gallery
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to build a helipad as part of the redevelopment of the National Gallery of Ireland; if the effects of such a...
- Wildlife Protection
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will investigate the use of Larsen traps for the purpose of capturing birds in view of the incidents of misuse of...
- National Parks
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the current complement of workers at Killarney National Park, County Kerry; the vacancies that have arisen due to...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Alternative Energy Projects
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to develop an ocean energy test site centre at Belmullet, County Mayo; and the progress made to date...
- Telecommunications Services
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent of utilisation of the metropolitan area networks in County Mayo indicating in each case if there is...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Environmental Policy
Question 130: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the recent weather conditions if he intends to extend the date for the spread of slurry; and if...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 131: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will sanction the purchase of land by Mayo County Council for the building of a home in respect of a...
- Local Authority Services
Question 132: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the responsibility for providing funding for street lighting outside of schools lies with the Department...
- Ministerial Appointments
Question 133: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the appointments made to State agencies and boards under his remit for the years 2009, 2010 and to date in...
- Register of Electors
Question 134: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to allow Irish residents living abroad vote in presidential elections and referenda; and if he...
- Official Engagements
Question 135: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he participated in a climate policy workshop that was organised by IBEC; if this conference has any...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 136: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role of the relevant local authorities, through whom funding is provided from his Department for...
- Local Government Reforms
Question 137: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the remuneration package the members of a group (details supplied) established to implement his decision for...
- Sheltered Housing Projects
Question 138: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the sheltered housing provisions for recovering drug addicts in Dublin; if any of these services cater to...
- Foreshore Licences
Question 139: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an application for a foreshore licence (details supplied) in County Mayo. [29109/11]
- Department of Justice, Equality and Defence
- Proposed Legislation
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the timescale for introducing legislation based on the report of the medical negligence working group which recommended the...
- Coroners Service
Question 141: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if there has been an audit on C71 forms completed by coroners' offices in public hospitals; if there is any monitoring of these forms;...
- Council of Europe Conventions
Question 142: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when he will sign the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. [28787/11]
- Proposed Legislation
Question 144: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe in which he will introduce consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic...
- Human Rights Issues
Question 145: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will make provision for the working group established to advise him on the new human rights and equality commission to receive...
- Deportation Orders
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will allow a person (details supplied) to remain in County Longford until he has completed his secondary education at a local...
- Crime Prevention
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his policy on tackling domestic violence and supporting victims of domestic violence; the number of refuge centres in place for persons...
- Mother and Baby Homes
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to investigate the activities of mother and baby homes that operated here; if there is a register of all the mother and baby...
- Defence Forces Reserve
Question 149: To ask the Minister for Defence the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Forces officers by rank and brigade. [28977/11]
- Departmental Staff
Question 151: To ask the Minister for Defence if a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be allowed to retire on grounds of ill health in line with medical advice. [28983/11]
- Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food
- Grant Payments
Question 152: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the digitisation process will be completed on an agri-environment options scheme application in respect of a person...
- Departmental Agencies
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason some agencies under his remit that have staff reduction targets under the Croke Park agreement are not...
- Grant Payments
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was only paid for three of their six calves under the suckler cow...
- Alternative Farm Enterprises
Question 158: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding mink farming (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29045/11]
- Grant Payments
Question 159: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when agri-environment option scheme will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if his attention has been...
- Department of Health
- Early Childhood Education
Question 160: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has been furnished with an estimate of the numbers of children that miss out on early childhood care and education scheme...
- Health Services
Question 161: To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to dentures free of charges. [28954/11]
- Health Service Staff
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding nursing administration fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28903/11]
- Health Services
Question 164: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to recognise fibromyalgia as an accepted Health Service Executive illness, allowing sufferers to benefit from a range of HSE supports and...
- Medical Cards
Question 166: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to remove the requirement for Apert syndrome sufferers to have to continually re-apply for their medical cards; if his attention has been...
- Health Services
Question 167: To ask the Minister for Health his views that a third review of domestic violence services by the Health Service Executive is an appropriate response by him to the increasing...
- Health Service Staff
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Health the number of retired Health Service Executive staff who are directors of limited companies that have consultancy contracts with the HSE; and if he...
- Hospital Services
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide as a matter of urgency a dedicated fully equipped stroke unit at Kerry General Hospital, as evidence from the national clinical...
- National Lottery Funding
Question 170: To ask the Minister for Health if he will acknowledge the tremendous fund raising efforts of the Kerry based charity Build 4 Life which has already fund raised €2 million,...
- Mental Health Services
Question 171: To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who prior to 1 November 2011 were included under the terms of the psychiatric scheme; and if he will provide a breakdown of the...
- Hospital Accommodation
Question 172: To ask the Minister for Health if he will increase the number of beds in the critical care unit in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28964/11]
- Hospital Staff
Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacancies in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin; his plans to fill these vital positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28965/11]
- Hospital Services
Question 174: To ask the Minister for Health the impact to the provision of acute services in County Roscommon of the redesignation of up to 20 acute medical beds at Roscommon County Hospital as...
- Mental Health Services
Question 175: To ask the Minister for Health his priorities for mental health services; if he will ensure that there are no cuts in expenditure in this area in budget 2012; and if he will make a...
- Hospital Accommodation
Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health if he has received a request from the Health Service Executive for additional financial resources to address the overcrowding problem at our Lady of...
- Emergency Services
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Health, further to Parliamentary Question No. 484 of 20 September 2011, if he will furnish an accurate table clearly indicating the location of advanced...
- Health Services
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health the efforts being made to reduce the extensive waiting times associated with audiology services in the public health system; his views on the use of...
- Departmental Offices
Question 180: To ask the Minister for Health his role and that of the Health Service Executive in relation to the confidential inquiry into maternal and child health; and if he will make a...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 181: To ask the Minister for Health when the human tissue Bill will be published. [29042/11]
- Departmental Records
Question 183: To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the files and information considered during the Dunne inquiry and Madden report are still in storage and will remain in...
- Mental Health Services
Question 185: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to address the major lack of adequate child and adolescent psychiatric services in County Wicklow; the services that are currently in...
- Health Services
Question 186: To ask the Minister for Health his policy on palliative care; if he will provide details of the implementation plan for this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- National Positive Ageing Strategy
Question 189: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the National Positive Ageing Strategy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29083/11]
- Medical Cards
Question 190: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [29084/11]
- Health Services
Question 191: To ask the Minister for Health if he will review an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29085/11]
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Road Traffic Offences
Question 209: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason section 63 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 in relation to the presentation of licences in court has not come into...
- Road Network
Question 210: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the revenue and the profit raised from the west link toll bridge for the past three years for which figures are available....
- Road Safety
Question 215: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the research taken to support the proposed regulation making the wearing of high visibility clothing compulsory for...
