440 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to subhead A7 of his Department’s Estimates for 2005, the names of the consultancy companies his Department contracted in 2004 and 2005; the services these companies were contracted to provide; the breakdown of expenditure by his Department to these companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22063/05]
333 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the value of the benefit in kind exemption for employers providing free or subsidised child care for their employees each year since its introduction in the Finance Act 1999; the number of extra child care places available in the workplace as a result of this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22855/05]
332 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the value of the capital allowances for expenditure on the construction, refurbishment or extension of child care premises which meet the required standards of the Child Care Act 1999 each year since its introduction in the Finance Act 1999; the number of extra child care places created as a result of this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22854/05]
96 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of the progress to date of the rental accommodation scheme; if the first eligible recipients have been housed under this scheme; if not, the reason therefor; when they will be housed; if his Department will meet the target of 5,000 rent supplement recipients to be housed under this scheme by the end of 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22372/05]
67 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of the LINK system; the length of time this system has been in operation; if this system has been extended to any local authorities outside the Dublin area; if not, the reason therefor; the success of this system in improving data collection, service delivery and services for homeless persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22373/05]
247 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the report (details supplied) published by the ESRI; if the findings of the report that in education people with disabilities aged 25 to 34 are four times less likely to have a qualification beyond primary level and are half as likely to reach third level as their peers; her plans to address this situation.
[21837/05]
133 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the reform of the lone parent payment system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21839/05]
132 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has reviewed or intends to review best international practice with regard to delivery systems of the social welfare and benefits system to increase take-up rates of benefits and to improve withdrawal rates as recommended by the Combat Poverty Agency policy statement on child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21838/05]
35 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has considered or will consider improving the coverage of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme to include low income working families as well as work-poor households as recommended in the Combat Poverty Agency policy on child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21528/05]
6 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 19 May 2005, when construction will begin on a new prison complex on Spike Island to replace the existing Cork Prison; his plans to have the bridge on Spike Island constructed before work on the prison begins; if planning permission is required to construct the new prison complex; if so, when it is intended to apply for such permission; the projected cost of constructing a new prison complex on Spike Island; the estimated cost of constructing a bridge to Spike Island; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21529/05]
191 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the fact that 52.7% of lone parents are not economically active in comparison to just 28.2% of persons in a couple relationship with children (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21637/05]
190 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to extend the free travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21636/05]
189 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the fact that according to an ERSI study, Disability and Social Inclusion in Ireland, persons with disabilities are twice as likely to be at risk of poverty than the general population; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21635/05]
188 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the ERSI report, Disability and Social Inclusion in Ireland; his views on the findings of the report that between 1994 and 2001 the proportion of disabled adults at risk of poverty rose sharply from 21% to 38%; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21634/05]
140 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the membership of the National Children’s Advisory Council, NCAC, for the period from 2004 to 2007; when the first NCAC membership was dissolved; when the NCAC was reconstituted; the functions and remit of the NCAC; the directions her Department provides to the NCAC with regard to standards and the performance of its functions; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21553/05]
95 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Transport, further to Question No. 76 of 12 May 2005, if any staff of Bus Éireann have indicated that they are willing to move to Mitchelstown as part of the decentralisation programme; if there has been any suitable accommodation located in Mitchelstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21186/05]
508 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Question No. 643 of 14 June 2005, if he will allow the spouse of a person (details supplied) to join them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21304/05]
407 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has considered a tapered employment-neutral child benefit supplement as suggested by the 1996 expert working group on tax and social welfare.
[21296/05]
406 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he plans to conduct informational and awareness campaigns to promote the improved take-up of the family income supplement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21295/05]
405 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will report on the child benefit targets in Sustaining Progress; if these targets have been met; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21294/05]
404 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the fact that, according to the Combat Poverty Agency policy statement on child poverty, lone parents here have the highest replacement rates and levels of marginal taxation in Europe which is conducive to the formation of poverty traps for lone parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21292/05]
403 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the fact that Ireland has the second highest level of child poverty in Europe at 15.7% (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21291/05]
142 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of new facilities that have opened following the allocation of funding announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20923/05]
59 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Question No. 123 of 31 May 2005, if her Department has made any arrangements to assist the 75 new occupational therapy trainees in finding a work placement; if all these students who began the course in the 2003-04 academic year were successful in finding a work placement position; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20931/05]
73 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which consultancy facilities have been engaged at, by or through the digital hub project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20034/05]
30 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, further to Parliamentary Question No. 144 of 14 October 2004, if there have been further developments regarding the location of a new coastguard station at Ballycotton, County Cork; if the construction of a new station forms part of the station house building programme for 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19940/05]
755 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of third level grants paid out by the city councils, county councils and vocational education committees in 2003, 2004 and to date in 2005; the total amount paid out for such grants in each academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19619/05]
751 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has received a psychological assessment and a referral by an optometrist and a consultant optician with reference to a person (details supplied); if she will make extra resource teacher and learning support available to this person; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19547/05]
750 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will make extra resource teacher hours available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork from September 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19546/05]
667 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the differences that exist between the grading systems and presentation of results by the course providers, such as FÁS and vocational educational committees, of FETAC level two in child care; the reason these differences exist; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19343/05]
643 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his policy with reference to allowing the spouses of foreign nationals from outside the EU to join their spouses as the case may be in the State when the spouse is working here legally on a work permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19592/05]
598 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the progress of the implementation of the model framework for education training and professional development in the early childhood care and education sector since its publication in 2002; the efforts he has made or intends to make to improve professional qualifications and quality standards for the early childhood care and education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19179/05]
497 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the funding he has made available or intends to make available to enable the Midleton rail link to reopen; the total estimated cost of reopening the rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19429/05]
438 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who availed of the disablement pension for each of the past three years and in 2005 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19391/05]
437 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who availed of the constant care allowance for each of the past three years and in 2005 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19390/05]
429 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 24 May 2005 when the review within his Department of the operation of the habitual residence condition began; the person or persons carrying our the review; the terms of reference, if any; when the review will be completed; if he will publish the final review; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19148/05]
295 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the incentives in place to support the provision of child care by employers and business; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19182/05]
288 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance if he has received a request to provide funding to enable Fermoy flood plan to be undertaken; if so, the amount requested; if he will make funding available as a matter of urgency in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19085/05]
197 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made on the implementation of the national children’s strategy; the amount of the strategy that has not yet been implemented; when this will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19183/05]
192 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount made available for 2005 under the special disability multi-annual funding package; the way in which this money is to be spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19147/05]
121 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of pupils who enrolled in junior infants in ordinary classes in September 2004; the breakdown of the ages of the pupils involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19777/05]
106 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the supports or programmes her Department offers to encourage secondary school pupils in disadvantaged areas to progress to higher or further education; the success of these supports and programmes in encouraging students in these areas to progress to third level institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19778/05]
13 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the upcoming referendum on the EU constitution in Denmark.
[18580/05]
469 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to section 3 of the Local Government (No. 2) Act 2003, if he has made regulations under subsection (3) of this section relating to the members of the Houses of the Oireachtas; if the regulations apply to all local authorities in the State; the specified documentation or other specified information mentioned in sections 3(3)( b )( c )( d ) and ( e ); if he is satisfied that the regulations are being implemented in full and in a manner that keeps members of the Houses of the Oireachtas fully informed; his plans to make regulations to assist further the Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas under this section; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17829/05]
397 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will make a decision on an application for a citizenship for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if a decision will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18376/05]
123 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding the need for training and supply of occupational therapists over the next number of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17806/05]
109 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts his Department is making to address the factors underlying the gender pay gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18061/05]
54 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his Department’s plans to provide assistance to migrant workers from the accession states and other countries seeking gainful employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18062/05]
142 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the extra assistance or allowances that will be made in the case of children that are dyslexic in carrying out tests pertaining to end of year tests such as the SIGMA-T and others, which is commonly administered in primary schools; the directions she has given or intends to give to primary schools on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17684/05]
34 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence if the current strength of the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17523/05]