Written answers
Thursday, 23 June 2011
- Department of Justice, Equality and Defence
- Legal Aid Service
Question 15: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the total budget of the Legal Aid Board in 2010; the costs of each individual centre in the country and the amount of money paid by the...
- Immigration Services
Question 18: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reform the immigration system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16627/11]
- Public Sector Staff
Question 19: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current salary scales of the various grades of judges. [16622/11]
- Crime Levels
Question 20: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the number of criminal gangs known to be actively involved, directly or indirectly in drug importation,...
- Departmental Staff
Question 21: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons over the past ten years employed by him, who did not undergo the required one year probation and appropriate...
- Firearms Licences
Question 22: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality with particular reference to the report of the Garda Commissioner on the operation of the new firearms licensing system which has...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 23: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on his proposals to fast-track personal bankruptcy reform particularly in relation to introducing a...
- Ministerial Appointments
Question 25: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the contacts he had with the prescribed persons or organisations prior to the appointment of a person (details supplied) as confidential...
- Immigration Services
Question 26: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to review the policy of direct provision. [16631/11]
- Proposed Legislation
Question 27: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to enact legislation to strengthen the rights of victims of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16725/11]
- Immigration Services
Question 28: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will review the State's asylum system in view of the criticism from the United Nations Committee Against Torture. [13447/11]
- Garda Strength
Question 30: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the European average for police to population across the European Union; the Irish equivalent of same; the minimum number of gardaí...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 31: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the total costs to the State of the visits of Queen Elizabeth II of England and the President of the USA. [16632/11]
- Garda Equipment
Question 32: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 258 of 6 October 2011, the progress made in relation to the roll out of sound level meters to the...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 33: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to update the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau to pursue white collar criminals; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Court Procedures
Question 34: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the recent criminal case in the UK that collapsed due to a juror using a social media outlet and his...
- Criminal Prosecutions
Question 35: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prosecutions to date under Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act regarding juror or witness intimidation. [16786/11]
- National Disability Strategy
Question 37: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the implementation of the national disability strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16729/11]
- Legal Profession
Question 38: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the plans he has to reform the public complaints system for the legal profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16628/11]
- Compensation Payments
Question 39: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if compensation will be paid to former residents of the Magdalene laundries as called for by the UN, the Irish Human Rights Commission...
- Garda Strength
Question 40: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that there are in the region of 20 Garda superintendent positions vacant in the State, including a vacancy in the...
- Human Rights Issues
Question 41: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the criticisms from the Irish Human Rights Commission that the human rights of prisoners, asylum seekers and former...
- Neighbourhood Watch
Question 42: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the announcement of the Garda recruitment moratorium for 2011 and 2012, if he will consider a media and press promotion of...
- Garda Strength
Question 43: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the positions the Garda Commissioner sought to fill or promote, by Garda division in 2011; the positions that have been filled, by...
- Proposed Legislation
Question 45: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he will take to reduce the costs of rents for struggling businesses in order to help restore economic competitiveness. [14238/11]
- Departmental Committees
Question 46: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if an inquiry into the detention and abuse of women at Magdalene laundries will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Appointments
Question 47: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reform the appointments procedure to the board of the Equality Authority, the present board being scheduled to complete...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Diplomatic Appointments
Question 48: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will detail the contacts he has had with the US Secretary of State Ms Hillary Clinton and UK Secretary of State...
- Department of Finance
- Public Sector Staff
Question 49: To ask the Minister for Finance the type of early retirement packages available for those working in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16841/11]
- Departmental Functions
Question 50: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to harmonise IT systems across Departments to improve compatibility and improve communication; the platform he has considered; and if...
- Departmental Staff
Question 51: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to provide for redundancies in the public sector; if will he indicate the provision for individual sectors such as local authorities,...
- Bank Guarantee Scheme
Question 52: To ask the Minister for Finance the total amount of loans outstanding and deposits at each of the banks under the State guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Bank Deposits
Question 53: To ask the Minister for Finance if there are non-repatriated profits on deposit at banks located in the International Financial Services Centre; the amounts on deposit in Irish...
- Bank Guarantee Scheme
Question 54: To ask the Minister for Finance the value of guaranteed bank bonds that have been paid off by the State since September 2008; the breakdown of these payments by bank; the value by...
- Tax Clearance Certificates
Question 55: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will facilitate a situation with the Revenue Commissioners whereby an organisation (details provided) in County Cork can secure payment from a...
- State Properties
Question 56: To ask the Minister for Finance, further to Parliamentary Question No. 54 of 2 June 2011, if an issue concerning a property previously owned by the dissolved company has arisen and...
- National Asset Management Agency
Question 57: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether there is a need to appoint Government representatives to the National Asset Management Agency; the number of times the head of...
- Departmental Bodies
Question 58: To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the fiscal advisory council contained in the programme for Government; the way that the council will be composed; if the composition of...
- Pension Provisions
Question 59: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason staff at an academy (details supplied) are being levied both the newly established pension levy on private pensions, while they are...
- Croke Park Agreement
Question 60: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the expected increase in the annual public sector pension bill and the once-off lump sum payments attributable to the...
- Banks Recapitalisation
Question 61: To ask the Minister for Finance the consultations he has had with the European Commission or the European Central Bank prior to his recent announcement in the United States of his...
- EU-IMF Programme
Question 66: To ask the Minister for Finance if, in the event of the final deal with Greece resulting in burden sharing with private creditors, it will change his views on debt restructuring for...
- Fiscal Policy
Question 68: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to increase the loan thresholds which the Credit Review Office can examine. [16945/11]
- Banks Recapitalisation
Question 69: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of money lent or invested by the Exchequer in the guaranteed financial institutions and National Asset Management Agency broken down...
- Financial Services Sector
Question 72: To ask the Minister for Finance in view of previous responses by him that it was not possible to identify the bondholders of Irish banks because of the selling on of bonds to...
- State Banking Sector
Question 73: To ask the Minister for Finance with regard to Anglo Irish Bank repaying a €750 million bond on 31 January 2011, if it was senior unsecured debt borrowed on the 17 January 2006 at...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Special Educational Needs
Question 74: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding constraints in the provision for special needs education for children with autism; the position regarding whether...
- State Examinations
Question 75: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered allowing students who sit and fail leaving certificate higher level maths to complete some form of matriculation...
- Residential Institutions Redress Scheme
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who applied to the redress board for compensation from 2002 to date; the number whose applications were...
- Special Educational Needs
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to streamline access to learning resources (details supplied) in post primary schools; and the timeframe for same. [16866/11]
- School Transport
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if concessionary terms for fees can be applied in respect of a case (details supplied) in County Limerick. [16876/11]
- School Accommodation
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money that has been set aside by him for the 2011 additional accommodation scheme; and if he will provide a breakdown of...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 82: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money that has been set aside by him for the 2011 major works programme; and if he will provide a breakdown of the total...
- School Staffing
Question 83: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the instructions that have been given to a board of management (details supplied) in Dublin 11 in relation to the...
- Schools Refurbishment
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a decision on an application for the emergency works scheme by a school (details supplied) in County Cork in view of...
- Schools Building Projects
Question 85: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school building project in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a...
- School Curriculum
Question 86: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce a leaving certificate course on political science, philosophy, ethics or social studies or any combination of...
- Third Level Fees
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be provided through any agency under his remit to permit a person (details supplied) in County Kildare to complete a...
- Ministerial Correspondence
Question 88: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) regarding payment for public relations work carried out by their...
- Employment Support Services
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received representation from the Dell Redundant Workers' Association containing proposals (details supplied); the reason the...
- FÁS Training Programmes
Question 90: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that can be taken to complete an apprenticeship in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [16972/11]
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
- County and City Enterprise Boards
Question 91: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans for the future of county enterprise boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16878/11]
- Legislative Provisions
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if in accordance with the Factories Act 1955, section 84, Ireland's Magdalene laundries were considered factories and, as...
- Departmental Expenditure
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 170 of 19 January 2010, if he will provide the most recently available data in tabular...
- Jobs Initiative
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to introduce a partial loan guarantee scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16946/11]
- International Agreements
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to ratify the International Labour Organisation convention on domestic workers; and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Social Protection
- Job Creation
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if Members of the Oireachtas will be able to hire interns under the national internship scheme. [16854/11]
- Departmental Schemes
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the support mechanisms available for persons whose employment is seasonal or sporadic; her plans to look at the circumstances of persons...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the decision to refuse supplementary welfare allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the procedure to be followed to transfer from jobseeker's allowance to disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in...
- FÁS Training Programmes
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is entitled to apply for any training or community employment schemes; and if she will...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an appeal against a disallowance of a carer's allowance claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in...
- Social Welfare Benefits
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will continue to pay child benefit for children who are 18 years but who have not yet sat their leaving certificate while the child...
- Social Welfare Appeals
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Local Authority Charges
Question 111: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider a waiver of the non-principal private residence tax for persons forced to migrate for...
- Departmental Schemes
Question 113: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the walks scheme; if he will reopen the scheme to new applicants; and if he will make...
- Local Authority Charges
Question 114: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he will determine the free water allowance to be granted to each household before such time as...
- Departmental Funding
Question 115: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason funding was withdrawn from the Community Workers' Co-operative; the assessment criteria employed...
- Local Authority Charges
Question 116: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 139 of 16 June 2011, the local authorities currently offering the...
- Environmental Protection
Question 118: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that Cork City Council implements the noise action plan regarding the south city link...
- Local Authority Housing
Question 119: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the basis in legislation for a local authority imposing assessed rent arrears on a tenant who maintained up...
- Social and Affordable Housing
Question 120: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he proposes to address the rehousing of the 19,880 persons and families on the Dublin City Council...
- Unfinished Housing Developments
Question 121: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his timeframe for the occupation of the empty and unfinished homes in Dublin north east which number up to...
- Social and Affordable Housing
Question 122: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the recent statement of housing means there will be no more rental-buy or shared ownership arrangements...
- Department of Justice, Equality and Defence
- Garda Vetting of Personnel
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the vetting system for those working with children (details supplied); the reason that this process is taking so...
- Missing Persons
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce the 116000 European hotline for missing children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16851/11]
- Gaming Licences
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to grant a gaming licence to the consortium which has received planning permission for a casino in County Tipperary; and if...
- Citizenship Applications
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for citizenship in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make...
- Prison Accommodation
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cells in each institution here; the number that accommodate two, three, four or more prisoners; and the current levels of...
- Organised Crime
Question 129: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of cases in respect of which proceedings are currently under way against criminal gangs or members thereof; and if he...
- Prison Education Service
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which rehabilitative, educational, psychological or other training is available for prisoners at all locations throughout...
- Crime Levels
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons charged with anti-social behaviour in each Garda division and subdivision throughout the country in each of the...
- Courts Service
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent, if any, to which changes are required to address any backlog in the courts system; if there are particular areas identified...
- Residency Permits
Question 139: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will expedite an application for long-term residency in the case of a person (details supplied ) in County Kildare; and if he...
- Visa Applications
Question 140: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application of a person (details supplied) to come to their family in Ireland; and if he will make a...
- Garda Recruitment
Question 141: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when he expects Garda training to recommence for recruits at Templemore training college, County Tipperary; and if he will make a...
- Army Barracks
Question 142: To ask the Minister for Defence his future plans for retaining the Army presence in Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16865/11]
- Defence Forces Recruitment
Question 143: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans for recruitment into the various sections of the Defence Forces in 2011 and 2012; and if recruitment will be sought when applications will...
- Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food
- Grant Payments
Question 144: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding an application for a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry;...
- Department of Health
- Foster Care
Question 145: To ask the Minister for Health further to Questions Nos. 543 and 544 of 15 June 2011, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that private arrangements made by social workers...
- Children in Care
Question 146: To ask the Minister for Health the reason 145 applications to place a young person in special care were refused by the Health Service Executive's national special care admissions...
- Nursing Homes Support Scheme
Question 147: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a definite date on which the fair deal scheme will resume; the number of persons covered by the west Cork Health Service Executive...
- Health Services
Question 148: To ask the Minister for Health when Tralee Community Hospital, County Kerry, will be operational; the reason there has been a delay in its opening; and if he will make a statement...
- Health Services
Question 149: To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 133 of 19 May 2011 when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive. [16890/11]
- Medical Cards
Question 150: To ask the Minister for Health when a medical card application will be processed in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry. [16920/11]
- Nursing Homes Support Scheme
Question 151: To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be allocated the funding necessary to remain in a nursing home; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Funding
Question 152: To ask the Minister for Health if funding will be provided through any agency under his remit to permit a person (details supplied) in County Kildare to complete a designated...
- Accident and Emergency Services
Question 153: To ask the Minister for Health his views on the serious risk of cross infection to immuno compromised patients cancer patients, and other patients old and young waiting for long...
- Medical Cards
Question 154: To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick had their medical card withdrawn. [16964/11]
- Health Services
Question 155: To ask the Minister for Health when braces will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [16968/11]
- Nursing Homes Support Scheme
Question 156: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the fair deal scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Sport and Recreational Development
Question 157: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason darts which is recognised as a sport in the UK and other European countries cannot receive designation here; his...
- Tourism Promotion
Question 158: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the promotion (details supplied) of Valentia Island , County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
