24 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether the perceived increased top-down control of community organisations by his Department which has brought about frustration and increased concern in the sector will be further drastically increased by his decision to withdraw funding from the Community Workers Co-operative; if he will reconsider his decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5541/05]
23 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on the guidelines for 2005 for the per cent scheme for public art; if he is satisfied with the level of awareness about the scheme; the level of uptake of the funding allocated in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5338/05]
128 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he still proposes to have 1,000 gardaí on duty as part of his promised traffic corps; when he proposes to set up this corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4960/05]
95 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí authorised to drive Garda vehicles; the number of such gardaí who have passed the official Garda driving test; his views on the number of crashes involving Garda vehicles; the steps being taken to reduce such crashes having regard not only to the death and injury that can be caused to members but also to personal injury claims that can arise from such crashes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4932/05]
485 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science when work will begin on the long awaited and urgently needed extension to a secondary school (details supplied) in County Wexford; the reason this extension, which appeared on the 2003/2004 lists has not appeared on the 2005 list; if her attention has been drawn to the list of urgent requirements in the school; if she will meet with a deputation of the school board of management and staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[4826/05]
422 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is required to apply to him for leave to remain here owing to their having separated from their spouse; if the local immigration officer has the authority to extend this person’s leave to remain here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4629/05]
196 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive is empowered to contribute to the funding of private nursing home care in circumstances in which the income of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is insufficient to meet the full cost of private nursing home care but exceeds the prescribed limited for nursing home subvention; if this person, being unable to fully provide for their own health needs, may access entitlement to financial support equivalent to the cost of the public long-term residential care to which they are entitled; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[4627/05]
109 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the latest plans with regard to the development of a dedicated rail link from the city centre to Dublin Airport; if his attention has been dawn to the recent comments from the manager of strategic planning of Iarnród Éireann that such a link would take four years to deliver; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4787/05]
49 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of reported cases of abuse of older persons in their homes or in long stay residential care since 1 January 2000; and if she has satisfied herself that there are sufficient trained personnel available with the relevant knowledge to identify the different types of abuse and, therefore, protect highly vulnerable older persons.
[4223/05]
14 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress made with regard to the recruitment of a chief executive for the Health Service Executive; when it is expected that an appointment will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[4245/05]
84 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to recent figures produced by the Irish Institute of Auctioneers and Valuers that the cost of building land was increasing at a rate significantly above house price inflation; if he intends to take steps to deal with this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3894/05]
62 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the average increase in the price of a new house and a second hand house in Dublin and the rest of the country during 2004; the anticipated level of increase during 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3895/05]
490 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the application of a school (details supplied) in County Wexford for an extension and refurbishment to the existing school premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[3816/05]
148 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the recent EU negotiations on fishing catches and quotas for 2005; his further views on whether the 27% cut in the Irish mackerel quota will be particularly detrimental to the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3583/05]
135 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to a recent European Commission report showing that consumers here are paying some of the highest Internet rates in Europe; if his attention has been drawn to the Commission’s concern that Ireland’s Internet provider market is not sufficiently competitive; if he plans to take any action in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3582/05]
64 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the actions her Department intends to take as a result of the YES process carried out by her predecessor; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[3022/05]
27 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has satisfied herself that sufficient support is available to teachers in schools with large numbers of non-English speaking pupils; if teachers are adequately advised and equipped to help overcome any such difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[3021/05]
330 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that, despite concentrations of disadvantaged children in its catchment area, a school (details supplied) in County Wexford stands to lose two of its current resource allocations under the weighted system; if she will immediately review this decision and grant full disadvantaged status to this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[3074/05]
184 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the meetings he envisages taking place at Irish or European Union level as would advance the road map for peace in the Middle East; if he proposes to meet the new President of the Palestinian Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2763/05]
166 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the establishment of a special unit to train and resource appropriate personnel for service abroad and at home in the area of disaster relief logistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2764/05]
87 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of court prosecutions initiated as a result of tax evasion in respect of each year since 1997; the number of cases in which convictions were secured; the number of cases in which prison sentences were imposed and the details of the sentence in each case; if he has satisfied himself with the level of court cases taken, in view of the high level of evasion; if he will report on the work of the investigations and prosecutions division of the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2472/05]
86 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of breaches detected of the Waiver of Certain Tax, Interest and Penalties Act 1993 in respect of each year since 1994; the number of prosecutions initiated and convictions secured arising from such detection; if he has satisfied himself that the law is being applied in the manner intended; if his attention has been drawn to comments made by a person (details supplied) regarding the difficulties faced in initiating prosecution for breaches of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2473/05]
52 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the very small increase in farm incomes in 2004 as reported by the CSO which is not keeping pace with inflation; her proposals to improve farm incomes; the proportion of farm incomes which is derived directly from payments from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1918/05]
40 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to a recent publication for the IFA, Dealing with Stress, which aims to combat stress levels among farmers; her views on this study; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1917/05]
129 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the details of the report carried out by his Department into a group of Irish soldiers who were falsely accused of cowardice in a battle in the Congo more than 40 years ago while on service with the United Nations; if the men have been exonerated in this report; if he has plans to commemorate the actions of these men; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1501/05]
57 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will introduce legislation to allow the Health and Safety Authority to investigate non-workplace accidents such as the recent tragedy near Askeaton, County Limerick (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33742/04]
35 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the information available to his Department on the impact on Irish trade, particularly Irish exports of the industrial dispute involving employees of a company (details supplied) that has led to a suspension of all its services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33741/04]
5 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the serious economic difficulties facing the Mitchelstown and north Cork area as a result of the decision of a company (details supplied) to shed 1,000 jobs and its proposal to transfer administrative staff to a new centre close to Cork city; the results of his recent meetings with the company management and business and community representatives from the area; if he will elaborate on his suggestion that the industrial base of Mitchelstown must be diversified; if he has specific proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33884/04]
2 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has plans for amendments to labour law to provide workers here with some degree of protection in situations in which employers decide to lay workers off and replace them with contract labour from other countries paid at a lower rate and under inferior conditions; if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns expressed by trade unions regarding the outsourcing of jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33883/04]
59 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to companies that are failing to fulfil their legal obligation to allow staff to open a PRSA account; if so, the steps he is taking to ensure that these obligations are being fulfilled by all employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33449/04]
43 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action he proposes to take on foot of a recent report which calls for a father-inclusive culture and a significant overhaul of the family law and welfare systems to make them more father-friendly and recognise the role of unmarried fathers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33450/04]
79 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when he plans to introduce regulations requiring all signage and stationery for the 700 public bodies to be translated into Irish; the estimated cost of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33243/04]
74 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when he expects legislation concerning the dormant accounts fund to be enacted; the criteria the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board will use in terms of considering the groups that will receive money from the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33230/04]
68 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when his Department received the study prepared by the Health Research Board on the health implications of waste incineration; when he intends to publish his response to the study; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32667/04]
56 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in regard to the number of his Department’s Dublin based staff who have applied through the central applications facility for decentralisation to the proposed new locations for his Department at Kilkenny, New Ross, and Wexford; the grades of staff who have applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32666/04]
32 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of recorded murders involving the use of firearms in respect of each year since 1998; the number of such cases in which prosecutions were initiated; the number of cases in which convictions were secured; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32495/04]
12 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it is intended to reduce the number of gardaí who carry arms; the number currently trained in the use of firearms; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32496/04]
297 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a primary school (details supplied) in County Wexford has two junior infant classes that have had to be amalgamated, resulting in a pupil-teacher ratio of 37:1 at that level, that there is only one teacher for third and fourth class which, with a combined enrolment of 40 pupils, is far in excess of the prescribed limit for mixed classes with a single teacher and that three of the six classes in this school have more than 31 pupils, while the remaining three classes each have more than 20 pupils; the way in which she proposes to deal with the unsatisfactory pupil-teacher ratios in this school; if she will sanction an additional teaching post to ensure that junior infant pupils can receive a measure of individual attention; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32099/04]
186 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, when paid in a lump sum, backdated wage increases to public service workers under benchmarking and Sustaining Progress are subject to PRSI deduction in cases in which, even with benchmarking and Sustaining Progress enhancement, the weekly wage remains below the PRSI threshold; if, in view of the fact that there would be no PRSI deduction from the weekly wage of such workers had benchmarking and Sustaining Progress increases been paid from the due date of January 2004, deferred payment of entitlements will not result in financial disadvantage to low paid workers through deduction of PRSI for which they would not ordinarily be liable; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32093/04]
101 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if he is considering extending the DART line to Maynooth and Dunboyne; when a decision will be made on such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32331/04]
86 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the position with regard to proposals for a rail link to Dublin Airport; if both a metro and a DART spur off the Howth line are under consideration; when a decision is likely to be made on an airport rail link; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32329/04]
101 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the application of the European working time directive to non-consultant hospital doctors; if the directive is being implemented in all hospitals; the impact on staffing rosters in hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[31558/04]
9 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the recent report of the strategic task force on alcohol; if it is intended to implement the recommendations of the report; if she has brought proposals to the Government on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[31559/04]
72 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he would provide an update regarding the proposed audit of the country’s sports facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31436/04]
62 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if progress has been made in filling the position of Chief Herald of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31435/04]
151 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he plans to introduce a national register for owners of third generation mobile phones; his views on stated views (details supplied) that Ireland needs a register of 3G phones and that the register should be in place before the commercial roll-out of 3G; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31252/04]
122 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a prolonged strike at Bord na Móna may disrupt electricity supplies from peat-burning ESB stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31253/04]
21 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the failure to publish estimates of civilian deaths in Iraq; if he sought such estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30078/04]
14 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the action the Security Council of the United Nations, or a delegated organisation on its behalf, should take in relation to the threat to lives in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30079/04]
289 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if current rules enable the award of rent subsidy to an elderly Irish citizen, currently residing in the UK, who is in poor health and has very limited means, if he or she returns here and secures private rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29754/04]