1 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on and the actions he intends to take following the recent Society of St. Vincent de Paul statement that persons will be choosing whether to eat or heat their homes this winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37456/05]
178 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of rehabilitative training places available nationally funded by her Department in 2004 and to date in 2005 to persons with a disability; the number of hours of home and personal assistance available in 2004 and to date in 2005 to persons with physical and sensory disability; the number of persons with significant disability in inappropriate settings who will need to be given an appropriate service and the way in which these figures relate to the situation in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36718/05]
177 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of full-time residential care places nationally funded by her Department in 2005 for persons with intellectual disability; the number of persons on the waiting list for such a service; the number of day care places nationally; the number of persons on the waiting list for such services; the number of respite places nationally; the number of persons on the waiting list for such services; the number of persons deemed to be inappropriately placed and in need of appropriate service; the way in which these figures relate to the situation in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36717/05]
176 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made by her Department in putting in place protocols governing the expenditure and monitoring of the programme of investment in services for persons with disabilities which will ensure that it is spent on the targeted services as outlined in her response to Questions Nos. 135, 138 and 139 of 15 December 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36716/05]
175 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if an additional 14 beds have been provided at the Central Mental Hospital in 2005; if those beds that have been provided are fully staffed; the progress made in the development of the child and adolescent mental health treatment services; the expansion of community based adult mental health teams; the provision of additional community residential places; the opening of new mental health facilities and support for voluntary organisations outlined in her response to Questions Nos. 135, 138 and 139 of 15 December 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36715/05]
174 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of the 270 additional residential places, 90 additional respite places and 400 new day places for persons with intellectual disability and those with autism outlined in her reply to Questions Nos. 135, 138 and 139 of 15 December 2004 which are now in place; the number of the 60 new places for persons with significant disabilities who are placed in inappropriate settings; the 200,000 extra hours of home support and personal assistance for persons with disabilities, the 90 extra rehabilitative training places promised in the same reply which are now in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36714/05]
173 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the details of the 1,000 new frontline staff who were to be recruited in 2005 to provide services for persons with disabilities, as announced in her statement on the publication of Estimates in 2004; the details of the qualifications of such staff; the services they provide; the locations at which they have been assigned; when and the way in which they were recruited; the estimated cost of the provision of such new staff in 2005 and in a full year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36713/05]
154 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if contact will be made with the Health Service Executive and the management of St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, to expedite the allocation of a bed to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36467/05]
150 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the way in which the Health Service Executive facilitates the recycling of used medical aids and appliances, such as wheelchairs, crutches and so on in the various Health Service Executive areas; the value of such recycled equipment in each of the respective areas in 2004 and to date in 2005; her plans to further develop and expand the recycling of such equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36417/05]
110 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in publication of the housing needs assessment; when he expects to publish same; the number of households or individuals he expects to be in need of housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36590/05]
78 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects the publication of the report on local government finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36589/05]
1 Mr. Stanton asked the Taoiseach the way in which he will give elderly persons more access to technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30848/05]
119 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the way in which the existing core service staffing and funding deficits for voluntary organisations will be financed with regard to the enactment of the Disability Act 2005 and the implementation of the national disability strategy, which outline a structure to develop responses to people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36165/05]
69 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the way in which he envisages to deliver the Transport 21 strategy, on time and on budget, in view of the decision to cut funding to enabling transport agencies in the Estimates 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36030/05]
7 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the level of staffing he envisages for the proposed new driving standards and road safety authority; the way in which this authority will be financed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36031/05]
247 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the supports available to students with disabilities in secondary schools; the extra support available to the principals of schools who have students with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35877/05]
246 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of visiting teachers available to blind pupils in both primary and secondary schools respectively; the role and function of the visiting teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35876/05]
245 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the supports available to blind and visually impaired students at second level with regard to Braille; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35875/05]
155 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the fuel allowance to residents (details supplied) in Dublin 9 has been reduced due to the fact that residents are still making a payment for heating costs; his views on reversing this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35878/05]
99 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if safeguards will be put in place to protect the rights of fathers to have access to their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30831/05]
608 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 679 of 15 November 2005 the way in which the capital expenditure aimed at improving access to building and services is being delivered; the involvement of agencies other than his Department; the amount of capital funding granted to each respective agency under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35770/05]
607 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 679 of 15 November 2005 the amount spent and that will be spent in 2005 on staff disability awareness training; the number of staff involved in such training; the method of delivery and the persons or organisations charged with such delivery; the standards which apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35764/05]
409 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he intends to publish the most recent review of the one-parent family payment which was completed in September 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35428/05]
404 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to his response to Question No. 196 of 27 October 2005, the number of one-parent family payment recipients who are in receipt of maintenance and still qualify for the maximum rate of one-parent family payment as a result of the provision allowing one-parent family claimants to retain 50% of maintenance received; the reason these claimants still qualify for the maximum rate of one-parent family payment despite receiving maintenance directly from the liable relative; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35250/05]
403 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of one-parent family payment claimants for which no maintenance is being paid either directly to the claimant or directly to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35249/05]
151 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in 2005 on improving the inspection regimes for all residential nursing homes for the elderly in all health regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35382/05]
125 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the implementation of the Hanly report is still Government policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35381/05]
352 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her Department has been successful in protecting the interests of the sugar beet producers and the sugar beet industry here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34936/05]
351 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her Department is succeeding in protecting the interests of the Irish agri-food sector with regard to the CAP reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34935/05]
350 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which her Department supports small rural based food enterprises; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34934/05]
349 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures her Department has considered or is considering introducing, in addition to the measures introduced on 27 October 2005 as a result of the European Commission decision on avian influenza; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34932/05]
159 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which he has reviewed the various alternative energy sectors with a view to achieving less dependance on imports; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34481/05]
679 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 9 November 2005, the way in which the funding, with special reference to the extra funding, which his Department received for people with disabilities as published in the expenditure Estimates in November 2004 and subsequently on budget day 2004 has been used or will be used; the way in which this funding has been disbursed; the mechanisms in place to ensure that the funding is spent correctly; if he has satisfied himself that auditing procedures are in place and are adequate in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34458/05]
605 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 9 November 2005, the way in which the funding, with special reference to the extra funding, which her Department received for people with disabilities as published in the expenditure estimates in November 2004 and subsequently on budget day 2004 has been used or will be used; the way in which this funding has been disbursed; the mechanisms in place to ensure the funding is spent correctly; if she has satisfied herself that auditing procedures are in place and are adequate in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34461/05]
528 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 9 November 2005, the way in which the funding, with special reference to the extra funding, which his Department received for people with disabilities as published in the expenditure Estimates in November 2004 and subsequently on budget day 2004 has been used or will be used; the way in which this funding has been disbursed; the mechanisms in place to ensure the funding is spent correctly; if he is satisfied that auditing procedures are in place and are adequate in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34460/05]
496 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applicants for the Garda each year since 2000 who were refused entry into the Garda due to the fact that they did not meet the required standard in mathematics; the required standard of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34001/05]
495 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the education requirements to enter the Garda Síochána; the changes he intends to make in these requirements in order to allow foreign nationals to join the Garda; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34000/05]
358 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Question No. 165 of 9 November 2005, the way in which the funding, with special reference to the extra funding, which his Department received for people with disabilities as published in the expenditure estimates in November 2004 and subsequently on budget day 2004 has been used or will be used; the way in which this funding has been disbursed; the mechanisms in place to ensure that the funding is spent correctly; if he has satisfied himself that auditing procedures are in place and are adequate in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34462/05]
260 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 9 November 2005, the way in which the funding, with special reference to the extra funding her Department received for people with disabilities, as published in the Estimates in November 2004 and, subsequently, on budget day 2004, has been used or will be used; the way in which this funding has been disbursed; the mechanisms in place to ensure the funding is spent correctly; if she has satisfied herself that auditing procedures are in place and are adequate in each case.
[34459/05]
428 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her success in ensuring that direct payments are not further reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34933/05]
140 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food, further to the reform of the EU sugar regime and Question No. 169 of 4 October 2005, the outcome of the Council of Ministers on 24 and 25 October 2005; her progress in ensuring a more balanced agreement which takes Irish interests into account; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34205/05]
118 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food, further to the meeting of the Council of Ministers in October 2005, if she has succeeded in protecting the interests of Irish farmers and the Irish sugar beet industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34206/05]
95 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress being made with regard to accession talks between the EU and Turkey; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33272/05]
7 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of outstanding EU legislation awaiting transposition into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33301/05]
165 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the amount his Department made available in budget 2005 to address disability issues; the amount each Government Department or State agency was allocated; the services or supports that were provided as a result of these moneys allocated to the above; the tracking mechanisms that are in place to ensure these moneys are spent correctly; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33084/05]
110 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the action the Office of Public Works is going to take with regard to the Womanagh River overflowing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33083/05]
738 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, regarding social welfare recipients who are local authority tenants, his attention has been drawn to the fact that when social welfare rates of payment are increased it is possible that a part of these increases can be lost through an increase in rental payments to the local authority if the recipient’s income goes above the income threshold set by the local authority; if he intends to take steps or issue any directives to the local authorities regarding this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32742/05]
269 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to establish the national children’s office as an independent statutory body; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32743/05]
180 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the efforts she is taking to address educational disadvantage, in particular in relation to the high school drop-out rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32739/05]
128 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the OECD country background report for Ireland, Attracting, Developing and Retaining Effective Teachers, which indicates that Ireland has a problem with the training of classroom teachers and learning support assistants for the needs of pupils disabilities; her further views on whether this contributes to reluctance on the part of some schools to accept special needs students; the action she intends to take to remedy the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32738/05]