239 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress being made in relation to nitrates directive and derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9945/06]
238 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way in which the nitrates directive will be enforced; the bodies that will be charged with enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9944/06]
168 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if having a masters qualification is a disadvantage to somebody who wishes to become a member of the Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9915/06]
167 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of new gardaí recruited each year since 2000; the number of these recruits who had graduate or postgraduate qualifications; the breakdown of same; the age profile of these Garda recruits in each respective year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9914/06]
93 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children how means are calculated when assessing eligibility for home help services; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9946/06]
91 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if it is acceptable to her Department and to all Health Service Executive inspection teams that inspect private nursing homes that patient and other records in these homes are maintained as electronic based record systems; if she has or intends to issue advice or directives in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9913/06]
82 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to alter, amend or introduce legislation in relation to organ donation and transplantation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9856/06]
53 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he agrees with the Equality Authority that, following the findings of the recent report entitled Inequality and the Stereotyping of Young People, there is an urgent need to redefine the age ground under the Equal Status Acts to extend the provisions of the Acts on the age ground to people under 18, the equality legislation currently allows discrimination on the age ground in relation to young people under 18; his plans to amend existing equality legislation as suggested; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9745/06]
33 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he can provide a full listing of the sections of the Disability Act 2005 which have been implemented and are fully operational; the dates when they came into effect; the details of the sections of the Act which remain to be implemented and the timescale for the implementation of same; if all sections of the Act have and will be implemented on schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9746/06]
183 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform , further to Question No. 414 of 13 December 2005, if he has received the draft codes of practice for the implementation of sections 26 to 28 of the Disability Act 2005 which cover the accessibility of public services, accessibility of goods and services supplied to a public body and accessibility of information provided by a public body from the National Disability Authority; if so, when he expects these to be approved and be implemented; if not, when he expects to receive them and when he expects them to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9747/06]
149 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of staff currently working in the maintenance recovery unit of his Department; the number of these who have chosen to relocate under his planned decentralisation programme; the way in which he intends to fill the posts that will be vacated by staff who opt not to decentralise; the date by which he expects the full decentralisation of the MRU to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9775/06]
146 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the percentage of claimants for carer’s allowance who receive 100% of their potential entitlement and the percentage receiving less than 50%, less than 75% and less than 90% of their potential entitlement at present; the equivalent figures for 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9701/06]
145 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of claims for the carer’s allowance received in each of the past three years; the percentage in each case of persons who transferred to the carer’s allowance from other social welfare payment; the approximate proportion for each year of such cases that transferred from carer’s benefit, an unemployment payment, sickness benefit or other social welfare payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9700/06]
86 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to the implementation of the nitrates directive, if he is satisfied that this legislation has taken into account all the advice he has received from different bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9544/06]
76 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his progress to date on the implementation of the nitrates directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9543/06]
410 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will expedite the single farm payment to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the reason the payment has not been made to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[8834/06]
357 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which a one-parent family payment recipient (details supplied) in County Cork can be deemed eligible for rent supplement in one area but deemed ineligible by a community welfare office after moving to a different area to return to full-time third level education; and if he intends to alter guidelines or introduce legislation to ensure that this discrepancy does not re-occur.
[9430/06]
356 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which, despite the issuance of departmental circulars on supplementary welfare allowances, community welfare officers in various Health Service Executive areas have reached different conclusions on the payment of rent supplement to a one-parent family payment recipient (details supplied) in County Cork; his views on the denial of rent allowance to a one-parent family payment recipient on the basis that he or she no longer qualifies for payment owing to involvement in full-time third-level education; his further views on whether this practice is in line with his Department’s policy of improving access to education and employment for lone parents; and the action he intends to take to rectify this situation.
[9429/06]
355 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, with regard to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork, he intends to issue mandatory instruction to community welfare officers regarding the awarding of rent or mortgage interest supplements to one-parent family payment recipients who become full-time students to further their education, update their qualifications or secure future full-time employment; the way in which assessment of entitlement to rent supplement by community welfare officers can result in rent supplement being awarded in some areas but not in others; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9428/06]
130 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the action he intends to take to alert people to the dangers of driving when they are excessively tired; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9141/06]
75 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Transport his views on the fact that a large number of road accidents may be attributed to drivers falling asleep while they are driving; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9142/06]
242 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of claims made by members of the Reserve Defence Forces each year since 2000 for injuries received in the course of training or duty as members of the Defence Forces; the number of these claims that were settled and the costs to the State in each respective year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8755/06]
210 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which members of the new Garda reserve force will be compensated in the event of loss of wages from their civilian employment due to injuries received in the course of carrying out duties as members of the Garda reserve force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8745/06]
238 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether the findings and recommendations in the recent report entitled Inequality and the Stereotyping of Young People, (details supplied), that the working of school councils needs to be improved and that young people should be consulted more with regard to the running of the schools they attend; her plans to follow these recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[8598/06]
44 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the recommendations of the tourism review report which have to date been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8256/06]
476 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the further plans she has to improve the circumstances of the Traveler community; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[8224/06]
309 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which both used land, in view of the change in income levels for the farming sector recently, and land that is not being farmed and therefore producing no income, are calculated as means for the purpose of non-contributory payments from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8223/06]
137 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the measures he intends to take to improve access to bank accounts for people on low incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4654/06]
67 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to prevent financial exclusion faced by people on low incomes who often face difficulties opening bank accounts; the steps he has taken in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4653/06]
185 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the further plans he has to improve circumstances of the Traveller community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7637/06]
164 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the main findings of the recently published Review of Occupational Health and Safety in the Technologies in Post-Primary Schools; the action that she has taken or intends to take as a result of the publication of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7632/06]
123 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the further plans he has to improve circumstances of the Traveller community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7636/06]
120 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Transport his plans to encourage more additional training of drivers in order to reduce the number of road accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7635/06]
109 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the further plans he has to improve circumstances of the Traveller community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7640/06]
105 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if SI 203 of 1972, Factories (Woodworking Machinery) Regulations 1972, is still in force; if the statutory instrument has been superseded or amended since 1972; his views on bringing forward a new statutory instrument to reflect the technological advances that have been made in the area of woodworking machinery since 1972; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7633/06]
95 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the further plans she has to improve circumstances of the Traveller community; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7638/06]
60 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence if and when members of the Reserve Defence Forces will be able to serve overseas; if legislation is required to enable such a provision; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7150/06]
28 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence if he has carried out, or intends to carry out, a study into the impact of sea-going time on naval personnel retention; the impact on the families of naval personnel; the amount of time spent at sea at present; his plans to reduce that amount of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7151/06]
669 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the targets he has set in regard to the number of households that will be provided under the rental accommodation scheme each year for the next ten years or for the period of time that he has set such targets; the estimated cost of the scheme to be met each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6597/06]
449 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Transport further to the Merchant Shipping Passenger Boat Manning Regulations 2005 if he has satisfied himself that the regulations and proposed certification take into account the needs of commercial/work boat operators; his plans to add to the list of appointed organisations under the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6697/06]
448 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Transport further to the Merchant Shipping Passenger Boat Manning Regulations 2005 his plans to bring forward further specified standards or syllabi; the progress in introducing a boatman’s licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6696/06]
438 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount collected under the two per cent health contribution each year from 2000 to 2005; if he can provide figures for the number of people who were eligible for a refund under the refund scheme each year from 2000 to 2005; the number of people who applied for a refund of the health contribution under the refund scheme for each year respectively; the number who were successful in their application; the amount refunded each year respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6691/06]
437 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount awarded in class D PRSI contributions each year from 2000 to 2005; the benefits and entitlements available to people contributing to class D; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6690/06]
439 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason young mothers participating in community education initiatives, in particular a community education initiative in Carlow (details supplied), which are aimed at improving the educational qualifications of young mothers and supporting them in progressing from welfare dependency to sustainable employment, are having the training allowance they receive assessed as means for the purpose of secondary benefits; the reason this move will encourage this vulnerable group, many of whom only have a primary level education and who are three times more at risk of poverty than the rest of the population to participate in the initiative; if this change in assessment is in contradiction of Statutory Instrument Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) Regulations 1995 Section 7 (ii)(III).
[6693/06]
264 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive will be requested to make speech therapy provision to a child (details supplied) in County Cork; when this service will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[6873/06]
170 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has examined the implications of intention by some oil companies to cease business here; if this is likely to have implications for oil and gas exploration; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6704/06]
127 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has had discussions with the Ryder Cup promoters-organisers, television interests or other sporting authorities or agencies with a view to meeting the expressed wishes of various interests in respect of broadcasting rights for the Ryder Cup; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6703/06]
216 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding children of people who have been granted refugee status here and who are currently residing in the country of origin, being granted permission to join their parents here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6072/06]
159 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, further to the new non-contributory pension for the over 66 year olds which is due to be introduced in September 2006, and the €100 earnings disregard he intends to allow persons who are in receipt of contributory pensions, such as in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13, whether a similar disregard will apply when assessing his spouse’s eligibility to a non-contributory pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6293/06]
158 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, further to the new non-contributory pension for the over 66 year olds which is due to be introduced in September 2006, his views on whether the recipients of this new pension will be entitled to amass capital of up to €35,000 or €70,000 in the case of married couples in addition to the €100 earnings disregard, before this will be assessed as means; when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 who is in receipt of a contributory pension from his Department and also receives a statutory contributory pension from his previous employment to which he had paid obligatory contributions throughout his working life, has the additional income from the pension from his previous employment assessed as income and used to reduce his and his spouse’s access to secondary social welfare benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6292/06]