237 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her Department has responsibility for implementation of EEC Council Regulation No. 2080/92; if a national programme instituting a community aid scheme for forestry measures in agriculture has been devised; if such a programme is being implemented; the manner of its implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7802/07]
93 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the value of major drugs finds in the State in 2006 came to over €40 million, with a record €25.6 million worth of heroin discovered; his views on whether this is a major increase on the figure for 2005, and demonstrates in stark detail the scale and amount of drugs available here; if such an increase requires a total re-appraisal of drugs schemes and the National Drugs Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7689/07]
108 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the results of a recent survey carried out by researchers from the DCU’s National Centre for Sensor Research which found that 100% of Irish banknotes examined showed traces of cocaine; his views on the widespread use of cocaine reflected in the survey’s results; the steps he is taking to deal with what has been described as a cocaine heroin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6835/07]
142 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of social and affordable housing units, which have been delivered to date, under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7454/07]
87 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of names removed from the 2006 electoral register; the number of names added to the register as a result of the revision of the electoral register; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7455/07]
41 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when, in regard to his announcement of 19 December 2006, the promised additional garda will be recruited; when the extra Garda Reserve members will be in place; when the proposed civilianisation of Garda posts will take place; the number involved in respect of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6852/07]
25 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a Garda file was sent to the DPP arising from the reported arrest of a person (details supplied) in connection with the seizure of a major consignment of drugs at Ardee, County Louth in October 2005; if the Gardaí have received a response to the file; if his attention has been drawn to newspaper reports in which the person in question is reported to have boasted that they were untouchable; his response to such claims; if the case has been the subject of an internal Garda inquiry; if so, the basis of the inquiry and the outcome of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6853/07]
5 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cases he was referring to in regard to statements he made in which he referred to 24 associates of a deceased criminal having been arrested, of whom 23 were granted bail despite objections by the Garda; if he will confirm that the Garda objected to bail in all cases; if not, the number of cases in which it objected to bail; the offences with which people were charged in each case; the number of such cases where bail was initially refused but then granted by a higher court; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6944/07]
2 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the investigation that has been held into the circumstances in which the Garda Síochána failed to act on information supplied through Interpol from the Austrian authorities regarding the alleged involvement of people based here in a global child pornography ring; the outcome of such an investigation; if the information supplied has been followed up; if he expects this will lead to prosecutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6943/07]
278 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans the Office of Public Works have to preserve the integrity and fabric of Johnstown Castle, County Wexford; the work carried out in recent years on the castle; the nature and cost of same; the future intended use of the castle; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[6776/07]
154 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the steps he and the Dublin Airport Authority are taking to reduce congestion at Dublin Airport during the 2007 high season.
[6668/07]
476 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in relation to the higher education grants scheme, her attention has been drawn to the fact that the requirement for each applicant to submit a balancing statement puts pressure on Revenue resources in circumstances where this information should be readily available from P60s; if she will amend the scheme to provide that P60s would be an acceptable form of income verification for grant purposes, obviating the need for Revenue to deal with an inordinate demand for balancing statements within a particular timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[5968/07]
194 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has plans to provide additional funding for dedicated services on domestic violence in view of the continuing extent of this problem and the funding difficulties facing many support organisations and refuges; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[41939/06]
195 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made to reach the targets that she set with regard to the consultant contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[6268/07]
172 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if access to a special needs assistant will be provided for a child (details supplied) in County Wexford; if the contents of the school based psychological report on this child have been considered by her Department in the context of their special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[5946/07]
161 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1726 of 31 January 2007, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the maps received from her Department, dated 12 April 2006 under a freedom of information request, differ from the map currently displayed on the Wexford VEC website; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that a letter dated 3 March 2006 from the transport liaison officer of County Wexford in Bus Éireann requested a copy of Bus Éireann’s maps to replace the catchment boundary maps then in use by the TLO; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[5788/07]
43 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has discussed the case of a person (details supplied) with the Garda Commissioner with a view to having it investigated thoroughly; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5784/07]
131 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will provide details on the workings of the newly established new independent statutory Sea Fisheries Protection Authority; when will he appoint the S-FPA’s statutory consultative committee; the persons he will appoint to this committee; the way the S-FPA will be invigilated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5264/07]
106 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has provided resources for river counters and inland fisheries staff to effectively implement the salmon conservation programme as outlined in the report of the independent salmon group; the stage of the development of single stock management and the compensatory measures for affected licence holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5265/07]
621 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if money has been allocated to Wexford Borough Council to carry out urgently needed upgrading and refurbishment of local authority houses for elderly persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5210/07]
255 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in respect of the death of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly and his replies to Parliamentary Question Nos. 194 to 196 of 5 December 2006, the Garda Commissioner has completed his examination of the correspondence received from an RTÉ correspondent, including the contents of an interview conducted by that correspondent; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5124/07]
254 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in respect of the death of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly and the findings of the second Garda investigation into the death, the Commissioner has received a report from the assistant commissioner who had been asked to address the issues highlighted in the report; if it is proposed to take action based on the assistant commissioner’s findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5123/07]
253 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in respect of the death of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly, he has concluded his examination of the report submitted to him based on the second investigation into the death carried out by a Garda superintendent from outside the Offaly area; if he will take action arising from the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5122/07]
239 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community gardaí based at Clondalkin Garda station in each of the years 2002 to 2006.
[4878/07]
238 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there are plans to locate a Garda station or a Garda substation in Palmerstown, Dublin 20.
[4877/07]
229 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in response to requests from airport authorities for background checks in respect of persons seeking employment in airports throughout the world, An Garda Síochána issue certificates confirming that the applicant has no criminal record but qualified by the disclaimer this letter may not be construed as proof of no convictions, police certificate, Garda reference, Garda clearance, character reference, security clearance, or any other interpretation thereof; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that as a result of this situation the employment prospects of Irish nationals seeking employment in foreign airports is severely compromised as current Garda vetting certification is not acceptable to employers; his views on whether such qualified certification by An Garda Síochána is nonsensical and does not meet the needs of Irish applicants for employment in foreign airports; the steps he will take to ensure that a Garda vetting system which is acceptable to airport authorities worldwide is put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4754/07]
139 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the way she will provide for the educational rights of young people who are excluded from school under section 29 of the Education Act 1998 when it is amended; if the numbers of such young people will be greater when the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007 is enacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[5076/07]
218 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science her response to the research carried out by a union (details supplied) which showed that 69.5% of students had to engage in part-time employment to pay for costs associated with teaching practice; if she will provide a fund to help student teachers to pay for these costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[5075/07]
114 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if in relation to the 13th report of the Independent Monitoring Commission, he is concerned at ongoing paramilitary and criminal behaviour by loyalist organisations; if he has raised this issue with the British Secretary of State and with the authorities in Northern Ireland; his views on whether efforts to assist and develop loyalist areas that his Department are involved in are compromised by the activities of these groups.
[4326/07]
9 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his view on the recent investigation by the Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland into the killing of Raymond McCord junior and other murders; if he has met with the McCord family to discuss the report; if he has discussed the report with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Chief Constable of the PSNI; his views on whether prosecutions must follow the findings of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4325/07]
212 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in relation to the notice published by his Department in the national newspapers on 31 January 2007 (details supplied) the relevant terms applicable to the scheme have been at any stage within his Department amalgamated into one comprehensive document; if he has available to himself or has published such a document, which states comprehensively all the relevant terms applicable to the scheme; if not, the reason for same; if so, the reason he has not published it; the further reason applicants under the scheme are directed to three different documents in their efforts to find out the applicable terms; if those three documents are in fact comprehensive of the applicable terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4225/07]
162 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the impact of individualisation on a married couple with one earner, a married couple with 2 earners and a separated couple where both are earning; the difference in allowance and credits for each of the years since the introduction of individualisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3900/07]
154 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the position in relation to the clawback provisions in respect of stamp duty; the number of occasions the clawback has been exercised; the number of properties in relation to same; the amount of stamp duty involved; the reason for the clawback being applied; if the Financial Regulator has issued guidelines to financial institutions regarding advising buyers of this potential clawback; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3866/07]
366 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the process regarding the decision making process on Ireland’s Overseas Development Aid which led to the identification of the programmes funded in Africa; the policy framework within which the programmes are approved; the manner and level of involvement of the donor parliament; the level of consultation and engagement with donor non-Governmental organisations; the other Government Departments involved in policy decisions; if linkage and compliance with NEPAD principles is taken into account; the link between donor programmes and recipient partner national development plans and poverty reduction strategies; the level of compliance with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness particularly with regard to the role of Parliament; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4044/07]
204 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the immigration status of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; if a renewal of registration with a stamp four on expiry of their current certificate of registration will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3409/07]
81 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Garda station in Portarlington opens only during office hours and residents are often connected to Portlaoise when they ring Portarlington station; if Garda deployment will be reviewed in view of the fact that the population of both Portarlington and the nearby village of Killenard has increased substantially in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3261/07]
8 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the steps he has taken to implement the findings of the Behan report into the Niemba Ambush in the Congo in 1960; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2803/07]
1726 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in relation to ongoing school transport issues in County Wexford, she will determine if the Wexford transport liaison officer has been instructed by her Department to use the map on the website to determine eligibility for 2007; if so the basis on which the Wexford map was replaced without review or consultation; if notice of changed catchment has been notified to Wexford schools and parents; if the transport liaison officer has been instructed, in relation to the Blackwater area, to use the boundary on the Wexford section or the boundary on the Kilmuckridge section of that map since they both show different boundaries for Blackwater; and if not, if the transport liaison officer has been instructed to reinstate the official vocational education committee map which has always been used to determine school transport eligibility in County Wexford.
[2885/07]
1721 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Wexford, her Department will provide funding to meet the cost of security fencing to surround the school premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[2828/07]
1431 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has been refused a higher education maintenance grant by Kildare County Council on the grounds that they resided in France from 2002 to 2005; the basis on which a habitual residence requirement can be applied to debar an Irish born citizen of grant entitlement; if she will review the decision made in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[43916/06]
1184 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason child benefit for which application was made in March 2006 is not in payment in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Wexford; if entitlement to child benefit has been established in this case; if he will ensure that entitlement to child benefit in this case, including arrears, is awarded without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2818/07]
1151 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way entitlement to diet supplement payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme is assessed; if rates of diet supplement payments are laid down by his Department; if rates have been regularly reviewed; when they were most recently reviewed; his views on whether current levels of diet supplement payments are realistic in view of food cost inflation; if he will review the levels of payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43933/06]
1156 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is intended to provide taxi services for pensioners residing in remote rural areas which have no public transport service; when such services will become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1306/07]
1026 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the certificate of registry issued by his Department in July 2000 in respect of a fishing vessel (details supplied) had incorrect engine details, that this certificate was returned to his Department for amendment and, despite numerous letters and telephone calls in the meantime, the correct certificate of registry was not issued until July 2005; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that as a result of this situation it was impossible for the owners of this vessel to fish legally between 2000 and 2005; the reason, having complied fully with both SI No. 245 of 2005 and SI No. 464 of 2005, an authorisation to conduct scallop fishing was not issued in respect of this vessel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3084/07]
545 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if a person who has no personal pension but whose spouse has a pension of €29,000 per annum can avail of the SSIA pension bonus scheme; if he will take steps to ensure that homemakers who have no occupational pension scheme are not excluded from the SSIA pension bonus scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1587/07]
573 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if a site has been purchased for the new Garda divisional headquarters in Wexford; the location of the site; the amount paid for same; if the site is now in the legal ownership of the State; when construction is expected to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2405/07]
504 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance when he expects that the new divisional headquarters of An Garda Síochána will commence construction in Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2428/07]
440 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that under the terms of a tourist visa granted to a person (details supplied), the person concerned will be permitted to remain in Ireland for up to 90 days provided they arrive here before 16 February 2007.
[2745/07]
439 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proportion of cases in relation to those criminal trials in which a prosecution witness has been admitted to the witness protection programme, in which the prosecution witness so admitted has been an innocent victim of crime or an innocent third party, rather than a former criminal accomplice of the person or persons standing trial; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2744/07]