Written answers
Thursday, 8 March 2012
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- National Spatial Strategy
Question 14: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the revision of the national spatial strategy; his plans to review county development plans,...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 15: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the work he is undertaking to ensure there are no more stoppages to regeneration work in an estate (details...
- Unfinished Housing Estates
Question 16: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that local authorities that did not apply for or did not receive funding for the making...
- Water and Sewerage Schemes
Question 17: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government taking into consideration the substantial population increase in County Kildare since 1996, the stage which...
- Pension Provisions
Question 18: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the amount of pension and lump sum payments made to city managers; and if he will make a...
- Water Services
Question 19: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his timeframe for establishing Irish Water; the anticipated job losses that may result from the shift of...
- Planning Issues
Question 20: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to review the role of An Bord Pleanála in critical infrastructure projects such as the national...
- Water Services
Question 21: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of money spent on a company (details supplied) thus far with regard to the review of Irish...
- Local Government Reform
Question 22: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress he has made in drafting recommendations for more comprehensive policy decisions on local...
- Local Authority Funding
Question 23: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a shortfall in the €160 million raised through household charges, if he will pay the balance of...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 24: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he will take to address the housing shortage as evidenced by the 100,000 families currently on...
- Foreshore Licences
Question 25: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that the issue of Providence Resources application for a foreshore licence to drill for...
- Motor Fuels
Question 26: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will give details of the cost incurred by local authorities to address the dumping of diesel sludge on...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 27: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason for the delays in dealing with applications from local authorities for funding in respect of...
- Household Charge
Question 28: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the household charge waiver for unfinished housing estates was calculated on the basis of the 2010...
- Unfinished Housing Estates
Question 30: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the public tender requirement still applies for works on unfinished housing estates funded from the €5...
- Building Regulations
Question 31: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if inspectors from his Department inspected the Priory Hall complex, Dublin, in 2006 and reported concerns...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 33: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to encourage local authorities to use land banks they have procured to provide social housing....
- Unfinished Housing Estates
Question 34: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline county by county the draw down of funds for the making safe of unfinished estates; and the...
- International Agreements
Question 35: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funds that have been drawn down from the World Bank carbon funds for the years 2010, 2011 and for the...
- Building Regulations (2 comments)
Question 36: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to help the thousands of home owners whose houses are damaged due to non-compliance with building...
- Unfinished Housing Estates
Question 38: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to appraise the effectiveness of the use of the fund for making safe unfinished estates; and if any...
- Landfill Sites
Question 39: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if funding will continue for the remediation of the landfill site at Kerdiffstown, County Kildare; the future...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 40: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the development of the social housing stock owned by the State over the course of 2012. [13081/12]
- International Agreements
Question 41: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the Aarhaus Convention will be brought into Irish law; if he will consider putting on hold all major...
- Local Authority Staff
Question 43: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of dedicated building control inspectors that have been employed in the State and separately in...
- Departmental Reports
Question 44: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a detailed update on the progress made in implementing the recommendations made in the...
- Building Regulations
Question 46: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that following a meeting with DNCC chief fire officer in April 2011, that the Dublin City...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 47: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered taking all suitable National Asset Management Agency houses and apartments into public...
- Water Quality
Question 49: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the degree to which overflows from municipal waste water treatment systems, septic tanks or other sources...
- Homeless Persons
Question 50: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has met with the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to discuss the...
- Community Development
Question 51: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he is safeguarding the future of marginalised and vulnerable communities in view of the number of...
- Planning Issues
Question 52: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends to amend the law in relation to bonds associated with construction; if an analysis has been...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 55: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria used to cut the funding for those social inclusion projects, including an organisation (details...
- Social and Affordable Housing
Question 56: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the standard application for social housing need. [13090/12]
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 60: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by him, including any appointments to the position...
- Diplomatic Representation
Question 61: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if other embassies, instead of the Vatican and Italy, could be co-located such as the three in Brussels, the two in...
- Department of Finance
- Universal Social Charge
Question 62: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on whether the numbers of lone parents who were taken out of the net for the universal social charge in budget 2012 is...
- EU Treaties
Question 63: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will clarify a matter regarding the European Stability Mechanism (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13357/12]
- Banks Recapitalisation
Question 64: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to reports that the two pillar banks are approving loans but later imposing conditions so strict and so unreasonable...
- EU Treaties
Question 65: To ask the Minister for Finance if Ireland will have financial obligations under the euro area loan facility if ratified by all member states of the EU irrespective of the outcome...
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 67: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by him, including any appointments to the position of chairperson shown...
- Tax Code
Question 68: To ask the Minister for Finance if VAT is applicable to promotional material (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13326/12]
- Banks Recapitalisation
Question 69: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the planned recapitalisation of Irish Life & Permanent; the proposed restructuring of the group; if he intends to put €1.3...
- Banking Sector Regulation
Question 70: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that mortgage lenders here are adequately providing for the expected losses on their mortgage books; and if he will make a...
- Tax Code
Question 71: To ask the Minister for Finance the approximate amount of PRSI income that was reclassified as income tax in the February Exchequer returns; the way this impacted the overall...
- Banking Sector Redundancies
Question 72: To ask the Minister for Finance the plans he intends to put in place to assist employees of covered institutions who are made redundant as part of the ongoing restructure of the...
- Banking Sector Regulation
Question 73: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether the availability of negative equity mortgages would be of benefit to both consumers and the wider economy; and if he will make a...
- Tax Reliefs
Question 74: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the delays experienced with some mortgage providers in passing on to customers the increase in the rate of mortgage interest...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Site Acquisitions
Question 75: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on negotiations that are ongoing between his Department and an organisation (details supplied); the current...
- Higher Education Grants
Question 76: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding proof of residence for a grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will...
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by him, including any appointments to the position of chairperson...
- Redundancy Payments
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive their redundancy payment; the reason for the delay; the total payment...
- School Staffing
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13368/12]
- Public Sector Pay
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of his Department's current gross budget that will be spent on public service pay and pensions in higher level education...
- State Examinations
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process and procedure to be followed by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in their efforts to have their position as...
- School Staffing
Question 85: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will retain its staffing complement for the next school year in view of the fact that it is a school...
- Grant Payments
Question 86: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of grant aid approved under his various building grant schemes for a school (details supplied) since 2002; and if he...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a national school pupil (details supplied) suffering from dsypraxia has been told by his Department that his-her application...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- State Bodies
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of every new semi-State organisation set up since March 2011; if there is a sunset clause embedded in...
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 90: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by him, including any appointments to the position of...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
- Credit Availability
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if businesses (details supplied) will have access to the proposed credit guarantee scheme; and if he will make a statement on...
- Job Protection
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, in view of the fact that more than 5,000 people turned up at a jobs expo promoting jobs in Australia and Canada, his...
- Department of Social Protection
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when an application for disability benefit will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if she will...
- Employment Support Services
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline, in tabular form, the number of employers who availed of the employee retention grant for each of the years 2007 to...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Social Protection to outline, in tabular form, the cost to the State of illness benefit, invalidity pension and occupational injury benefit for each of the...
- Employment Support Services
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there are any plans to review the 12 week qualifying period for the JobBridge scheme, in view of the fact that graduates who are...
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 102: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by her, including any appointments to the position of chairperson...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 103: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the appeal against the disallowance of domiciliary care allowance will be decided in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when disability allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Redundancy Payments
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reasons for the delay in the processing of a statutory redundancy payment from the social insurance fund in respect of a person...
- Social Welfare Code
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13374/12]
- Social Welfare Code
Question 116: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the level of income that a couple and a child can have in order to qualify for rent supplement and in particular where a person and their...
- Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by him, including any appointments to the position of...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Inland Fisheries
Question 119: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there are plans in place to reopen the rivers Finn and Foyle to fishing and a timeframe for same. [13271/12]
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by him, including any appointments to the...
- Energy Conservation
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Electric Ireland contracts work to Northern Ireland companies for the purpose of retrofitting Irish homes...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Proposed Legislation
Question 123: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the Noise Nuisance Bill is due to come before Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Water and Sewerage Schemes
Question 125: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a sewerage scheme for Laurencetown, Ballinasloe, County Galway; and if he will make a...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 126: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure of regeneration funding in 2011 in respect of the eastern...
- Local Authority Staff
Question 128: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in a tabular form, a list of the city and county managers who have retired since 1995 to...
- Leader Programmes
Question 129: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to Leader funding, if it is true to say that in Europe it is being suggested that instead of 50%...
- Household Charge
Question 130: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider a recent proposal from a parish residents' association in Dublin 13 (details supplied)...
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 131: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by him, including any appointments to the...
- Environmental Policy
Question 132: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made by him in relation to the agreement between the Irish Detergent and Allied...
- Household Charge
Question 133: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Question No. 584 of 11 January 2012, if he will further investigate who is liable...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 137: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when legislation is expected to improve the shared ownership mortgage scheme with particular reference to...
- Environmental Policy
Question 139: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which the level of groundwater and air pollutants have been identified and the extent of the...
- Fire Services
Question 140: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his preferred options for the future development of the part-time fire services throughout the country; the...
- Water Pollution
Question 141: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of reported incidents of pollution arising from the malfunction or inadequacy of municipal waste...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 142: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has studied the number of applicants on local authority housing waiting lists on a...
- Residential Property Sales
Question 145: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent, if any, to which he has monitored enforced sales of residential property with a view to...
- Private Rented Accommodation
Question 146: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of landlords registered in each of the years 2002 to date in 2012; and if he will make a...
- Voluntary Housing Sector
Question 147: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure that voluntary housing authorities are in compliance with the relevant...
- Local Authority Staff
Question 149: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of staff members at the various local authorities that have availed of the recent early...
- House Purchase Schemes
Question 150: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are any plans to introduce legislation to allow tenants of co-op housing to purchase the houses;...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 151: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the Environmental Liability Bill; if he will provide an update on any action taken by...
- Commencement of Legislation
Question 152: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the specific draft regulations under section 70 L of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2011 will be...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Defence
- Crime Prevention
Question 153: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to introduce measures to support retailers in combating fraudulent on-line purchases; and if he will make a statement on...
- Public Order Offences
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the request by the Garda to the protesters at the Central Bank of Ireland, his view that we may need legislation to deal...
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by him, including any appointments to the position of chairperson...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 158: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current or expected position on an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if...
- Road Safety
Question 159: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of accidents reported to the Garda at a crossroads (details supplied) each year from 2001 to 2011; and if he will make a...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 160: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in the determination of entitlement to residency or naturalisation in the case of persons (details supplied)...
- Residency Permits
Question 161: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when stamp 4 will be updated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in the determination of entitlement to naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin...
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 164: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by him, including any appointments to the position of chairperson shown...
- Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food
- Organic Farming
Question 166: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on an organic farming scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County...
- Pig Sector
Question 167: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will give consideration to the requests made to him to assist the pig production sector particularly in view of the...
- Inland Fisheries
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans regarding the opening of new fishery sites for razor and clams; the procedures that will have to be undertaken...
- Department of Health
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 169: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by her, including any appointments to the position of...
- Services for People with Disabilities
Question 170: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the options for free preschool education that are available to the parents of a child with Down's syndrome (details supplied)...
- Medical Cards
Question 171: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement...
- Hospital Services
Question 174: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding an operation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13265/12]
- Health Services
Question 175: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a long-term care plan in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [13291/12]
- Cosmetic Surgery
Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health if he has met a group (details supplied); if he is taking any measures to address the health concerns of the 1,500 women in Ireland who have been...
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 177: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by him, including any appointments to the position of chairperson shown...
- Health Service Staff
Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who is working for the Health Service Executive since 2003 can be made permanent; and if he will make a statement on...
- Health Services
Question 179: To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons in an area (details supplied) who have been diagnosed with dementia; the way this compares with the national average; and if he...
- Mental Health Services
Question 185: To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider liaising with the ISPCA on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13330/12]
- Medical Cards
Question 186: To ask the Minister for Health if a medical card will be renewed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13331/12]
- Health Services
Question 187: To ask the Minister for Health if he will resolve the dichotomy in the response from different elements of the Health Service Executive regarding the urgently required treatment of...
- National Carers' Strategy
Question 188: To ask the Minister for Health the progress of the national carers' strategy; and the timeframe for its delivery in view of the vital role played by carers in communities across...
- Medical Cards
Question 189: To ask the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13351/12]
- Long-Term Illness Scheme
Question 191: To ask the Minister for Health when he will be in a position to implement plans to provide those on the long-term illness scheme with a general practitioner visit card; and if he...
- Medical Cards
Question 192: To ask the Minister for Health if a medical card will be renewed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as an emergency measure; and if he will make a statement...
- Hospital Services
Question 193: To ask the Minister for Health, further to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of 23 February 2012, regarding newborn screening, if he will publish the report; and if he will make a...
- Long-Term Illness Scheme
Question 196: To ask the Minister for Health if he will deal with the following matter (details supplied) regarding the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Medical Cards
Question 197: To ask the Minister for Health the reason information supplied in support of an application for a GP visit card renewal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork has...
- Health Services
Question 199: To ask the Minister for Health if he will support a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [13383/12]
- Medical Cards
Question 200: To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare qualifies for an EU medical card in view of the fact that they are the holder of a current medical...
- Hospital Services
Question 203: To ask the Minister for Health if he and the Health Service Executive will provide details on the criteria applied to the decision to include the Cottage Hospital, Drogheda, and...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
Question 206: To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) may expect to receive an appointment to have urgent surgery carried out; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Driving Licences
Question 207: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of Irish driver licence records that have been forwarded to and recorded by the Department's national vehicle and...
- Sports Capital Programme
Question 208: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the next round of the sports capital programme will re-open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13283/12]
- Appointments to State Boards
Question 209: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of all appointments to State boards made by him, including any appointments to the position of...
- Road Traffic Offences
Question 210: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider proposals to introduce fixed charge penalties or on-the-spot fines for cyclists who fail to observe the...
- Rail Network
Question 212: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ask Iarnród Éireann to release to local residents the report carried out on its behalf into the flood last...
- Cycle Facilities
Question 213: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport with regards to public bike rental schemes in Irish cities, including Galway city, if he will confirm that he has ring fenced...
- Tourism Industry
Question 214: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to realise the potential of genealogy tourism at home and abroad; and if he will make a statement on...
