140 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that the public service pension levy will not apply to an institute of technology employee who has a contract of indefinite duration but is not a member of a public service pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6521/09]
287 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an Australian citizen who is in a relationship for two years with an Irish citizen and who has been employed here since March 2008, can be considered for an interdependent partner visa to enable them to continue living and working here; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such visas may be obtained in Australia after a relationship of 12 months’ duration; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5597/09]
144 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the equality for women measure; if a change is proposed in relation to the funding of this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5534/09]
119 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it is possible for the Australian spouse of an Irish national, who lives with their spouse in Australia, to become a naturalised citizen of Ireland without residing here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5353/09]
98 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which budget 2009 proposals are expected to impact on the number of training places for undergraduates nurses in the health care system; her views on whether a reduction in the number of nurses employed by the Health Service Executive is commensurate with delivery of a quality health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[5352/09]
273 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children when an application for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford was received in her Department; the reason this application has not been dealt with; if she will ensure that any entitlement to domiciliary care allowance in this case will be paid without further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[4694/09]
255 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application for a visitor visa in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2975/09]
1454 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has received an application for funding to replace dilapidated and unsuitable furniture, which is dangerous and uncomfortable for pupils, in a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the minor works grant which will be paid to this school in January 2009 is earmarked for replacement of two windows which are a health and safety risk; his views on the fact that the school has no resources to fund furniture replacement; if he will ensure that funding for that purpose is provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[48082/08]
947 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, further to Parliamentary Question No. 452 of 11 November 2008, if her attention has been drawn to facts (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1213/09]
686 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received a further application for a visa extension from a person (details supplied) in County Wexford based on the graduate scheme; the status of this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1748/09]
684 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date on which an application for naturalisation was received by his Department in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Waterford; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this person’s spouse has been granted a passport; if he will confirm that all documentation requested by his Department in relation to this application has been submitted; if he will arrange to have this application finalised without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1729/09]
369 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in the case of separated or divorced parents who have joint guardianship of their child, the consent of both parents is required in relation to medical treatment of the child or if, as stated by the Health Service Executive, consent is legally only needed from one person with parental responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1018/09]
200 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; if her further attention has been drawn to the newspaper reports of 22 September 2008 indicating her intention to regularise the status of migrant workers who have become undocumented through no fault of their own, as has occurred in this case; if the benefit of this policy will be applied in this case; her views on whether it is equitable to treat this as a new employment permit application and to refuse a permit under the Employment Permits Act 2006, when the applicant had a valid work permit up to May 2005 and was unaware of and not responsible for the fact that their employer had failed to apply for further renewal and that the refusal of this renewal application is not reasonable; if she will review the refusal decision in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1679/09]
199 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding a person (details supplied).
[1653/09]
193 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a person who does not satisfy the means test for jobseeker’s allowance because of income derived from savings or property and has no entitlement to social welfare credited contributions can apply for a placement on a community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1211/09]
264 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons (details supplied) in County Wexford have been refused supplementary welfare allowance pending a decision on jobseeker’s benefit; if she will ensure that they receive funding to enable them to sustain themselves and their two dependant children; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[47271/08]
194 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that five Irish women (details supplied) serving prison sentences in the United Kingdom may be due for release on remission in late January 2009 with electronic tagging for the remainder of their sentence; if his Department, through the Irish Prison Service, will negotiate with the UK authorities to allow the remainder of these sentences to be served in custody here as an alternative to the arrangement proposed by the UK Probation Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[47272/08]
279 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an application for extension of a visa in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is under consideration by the naturalisation and immigration service division of his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the applicant wishes to remain here in order to assist with the care of their grandchildren; if consideration will be given to this application before expiry of the applicant’s current visa on 27 December 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45965/08]
278 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of applications for long-term residency and for naturalisation from a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; when decisions are expected to be made on these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45957/08]
158 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that the waiting period for the processing of applications for naturalisation is 28 months from date of receipt; if so, if he has proposals to reduce this timeframe to a more reasonable waiting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45802/08]
438 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science when, further to his meeting earlier in 2008 with Wexford Deputies and the fact that premises of a school (details supplied) in County Wexford are unsafe and under continuing pressure, he will sanction the remedial works required at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45074/08]
336 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in context of disability allowance, non-contributory State pension and rent supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, an elderly Irish citizen with a special needs daughter would be subject to the habitual residence condition on returning to reside near family members here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[45046/08]
306 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in relation to children from Belarus who come here under the Chernobyl children’s charity, there is a facility whereby group rather than individual visas for such children can be issued during 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45047/08]
281 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied with conditions for gardaí employed at Wexford Garda station; when he expects the new Wexford Garda station to be available for occupation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[44880/08]
372 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the contraction in the construction industry and difficulties in the financial services sector, he will review relevant legislation in order to provide that planning permission can be extended from five to eight years when commencement of construction is delayed specifically as a result of the recession; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43810/08]
370 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he is taking in respect of his Department’s direction to local authorities to implement a 3% reduction in pay costs, to ensure that this measure does not result in diminution in emergency public services such as the fire service; if he will issue a directive to local authorities to maintain their fire services at least at their present level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43796/08]
287 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people who have been granted asylum here, the number of people who have been refused asylum here and the number of people with asylum appeals pending here in relation to applicants for asylum from the Democratic Republic of Congo in respect of each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43534/08]
594 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Wexford would have qualified for admission to the third level course of their first choice in 2007 but for the fact that their leaving certificate biology was incorrect (details supplied); if his Department will accept responsibility for the consequences of the error in marking the student’s biology paper; if he will sanction third level funding for the entire of the student’s course of first choice studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[39202/08]
565 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the basis on which his Department has informed a person (details supplied) in County Wexford that headage payments in respect of commonage land on which they have sheep grazing rights, and which have been paid to them since 1991, have been withdrawn; if he will ensure that this person’s entitlement is fully restored with immediate effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[39201/08]
452 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has no income from any source, an overdraft of €25,000, with a dependant spouse and three children, has been refused supplementary welfare allowance on that basis that they own two houses which are for sale; if consideration will be given to the fact that these two houses have been on the market for 18 months and have not sold; if she will expedite a decision on their jobseeker’s allowance application and, in the meantime, ensure that supplementary welfare allowance is awarded in order that the family can be maintained; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[39236/08]
269 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a 20-month waiting list for the adult audiology service in Wexford; if she has had discussions with the Health Service Executive in relation to improving this service; if funding dedicated to substantially reducing this waiting period will be provided to the HSE by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[39467/08]
351 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the National Rural Development Programme 2007 to 2014; when the evaluation of business plans received under the programme will be completed; if he will confirm that the programme will be open to applications for grant assistance in respect of projects in late October 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[38318/08]
338 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps taken by his Department, through diplomatic or other channels, to ensure that children from Belarus can continue to make visits to Ireland under sponsorship by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36868/08]
316 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the local immigration officer has stated, in relation to a person (details supplied) whose visitor visa is due to expire on 8 November 2008, that they are not authorised to sanction a visa extension; if his Department will accept an application for visa extension in respect of this person; if due account will be taken of the fact that the extension of visa is required to give the family adequate time to make appropriate care arrangements in India for this person, before they return to their home country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37308/08]
533 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, regarding an application by Iarnród Éireann for disposal at sea of dredge material from maintenance dredging at Rosslare Europort, full account will be taken in the decision making process of the undertaking by CIÉ to ensure that a minimum of three feet of water is consistently maintained at low tide in the lagoon and of a survey commissioned by an association (details supplied) which is at odds with the survey commissioned by Iarnród Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35684/08]
351 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in relation to the application to INIS for temporary permission to remain in the State for the purposes of a work permit renewal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has resided here since 2002, he will take steps to expedite registration of permission to remain in order to ensure continuity of the applicant’s employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35707/08]
314 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, he will sanction the scrappage of a boat in order to obviate the need for its owner to continue paying berthing fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34947/08]
259 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if SI No. 2 of 2002 will be amended in order to extend the benefit of the €50 per finger-post sign provision to include craft enterprises located in remote areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34477/08]
181 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to introduce the Irish Sports Council (Amendment) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33757/08]
527 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the notified cut in the school completion programme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that provision is already inadequate to meet identified needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33713/08]
316 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the construction of a swimming pool in Wexford town in respect of Wexford Borough Council; if funding has been allocated; when the project is expected to be completed; if this project has been assessed as part of the value for money audit undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33414/08]
159 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in relation to the proposed special area of conservation for Wexford Harbour, regard was given to the submissions received and the public meetings which were held in Wexford regarding the proposed boundaries of the SAC; if a decision has been made in relation to the boundaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32706/08]
131 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances relating to a visa application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford which has been refused on the grounds that it is contrary to general policy that comprise compelling grounds as to the reason an exception to this policy should be made; if this visa application will be reconsidered on an exception to policy basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32980/08]
388 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied with conditions for gardaí employed at Wexford Garda station; when the new Wexford Garda station will be available for occupation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32363/08]
345 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if he has commissioned a report or review in relation to an emergency towing vessel; his views regarding the acquisition of an emergency towing vessel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31917/08]
253 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the reports, in regard to genetically modified animals in the United States of America, which suggest that foods produced from some bioengineered animals will not have to be labelled; if there is a requirement that all foods imported into Ireland from the United States must be labelled to indicate all ingredients including genetically modified ingredients; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32441/08]
167 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children when her review of eligibility for medical cards will be completed; if it will be published when completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32172/08]
154 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will clarify reports that two of the proposed centres of excellence for cancer will now operate as one centre; if, in those circumstances, she will reconsider retaining a centre in County Sligo, at which a high standard pertains; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32182/08]
37 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will index the income tax bands to inflation in Budget 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31345/08]
64 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the losses incurred by the National Pension Reserve Fund during 2007 and to date in 2008; if he will propose adjustments to the NPRF’s investment guidelines; if he will adjust the Exchequer contribution to the NPRF for each of 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31347/08]