357 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of local food co-operatives in operation here; the measures her Department intends to take to encourage the establishment of more local food co-operatives to facilitate access to food in disadvantaged areas and to address the issue of food poverty and the lack of affordable food for those on low incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14558/05]
356 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures her Department has implemented since 2004 or intends to implement in 2005 to address the issue of food poverty and the lack of affordable food for those on low incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14557/05]
292 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the consultations which have occurred with other Government Departments and other State agencies on the types of usage that might be appropriate for the existing social service cards or equivalent cards, in each of the years 1992 to date.
[13978/05]
291 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the types of function for which the existing social service cards are currently used or have been used in earlier years, either for his Department purposes, for the purposes of payment of benefit by An Post or for any other purpose formally supported by State agencies and organisations such as voting; and if he will give an indication of the levels of each type of usage in each year since they were first issued.
[13977/05]
290 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of the existing social service cards which were issued in each of the years 1992 to date; and when the decision to issue such cards was first proposed and agreed with the Department of Finance.
[13976/05]
289 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the Reach agency has considered the question of cards for social welfare and related purposes; if so, the recommendations or proposals which were made in this matter; and when these recommendations were first made.
[13975/05]
288 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of employers who have been compelled to repay benefits, pensions, allowances, assistance or supplements, in accordance with section 219 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, fraudulently obtained as a result of an employer’s failure to maintain records as required by the Act, each year since the provision was enacted; and the amount repaid in each year.
[13969/05]
287 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the new or additional legislative provisions which have been adopted in the past ten years to assist in preventing and deterring fraud; and the incidence of cases identified to which any such new provisions relate.
[13968/05]
286 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the consultancy projects which have been undertaken in the past 20 years to assist his Department estimate the scale and nature of losses that might be occurring due to fraud and errors made by claimants and employers in so far as the collection of PRSI and the payment of benefit and allowances is concerned; when consultants issued their findings on each such project; the follow up actions which were taken by his officials or by Government to counteract any risks identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13967/05]
146 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of steering groups and advisory groups in each of the Health Service Executive areas; the function and membership of each of these groups; the cost of each group in a full year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13934/05]
145 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of patients categorised as chronic young sick currently placed in nursing homes and community hospitals that are, in the main, designed and set up to care for elderly patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13933/05]
115 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of food banks in operation in the country; the success of these food banks in combating food poverty; the measures her Department intends to take to encourage the expansion of the role of food banks (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14232/05]
87 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers markets in operation in the country; the action or supports her Department has taken or made available, or intends to take or make available, to encourage the development of farmers markets; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14233/05]
174 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of funding applications submitted for socially monitored alarms between the years 2000 and 2004 and to date in 2005 with regard to the community support for older people scheme; the number of these applications which were approved for funding in each of these years; the number of older persons who received socially monitored alarms under this scheme in each of the years; the amount expended by his Department on funding for socially monitored alarms under this scheme in each of the years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13833/05]
160 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amounts expended in each of the past ten years on software packages, consultancy services and hardware, including maintenance charges, to manage the accounts of his Department; the number of officials engaged in preparing, managing and analysing the accounts centrally; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13766/05]
162 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amounts under each subhead in his Department’s Vote for 2005, together with the amounts expended under each such subhead to 31 March 2005 or such other date as he can conveniently provide; the amounts his Department had estimated at the beginning of 2005 would have been spent to such date under each subhead; the reason for the variances under each subhead; his forecast of whether, for each subhead, the amounts estimated are likely to be exceeded or underspent for the full 2005 year in view of the experience gained in the year to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13768/05]
161 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amounts under each benefits heading in the appendix in his Department’s Vote for 2005 (details supplied), together with the amounts expended under each such heading to 31 March 2005 or such other date as he can conveniently provide; the amounts his Department had estimated at the beginning of 2005 which have been spent to such date under each benefits heading; the reason for the variances under each heading; his forecast of whether, for each benefit heading, the amounts estimated are likely to be exceeded or underspent for the full 2005 year in view of the experience gained in the year to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13767/05]
159 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the nature of the standard or routine reports relating to the expenditure on benefits that are produced by the accounting systems of his Department each month; the reports produced by or derived from these systems which are brought to his attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13765/05]
38 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of projects which have been allocated funding under the Communicating Europe initiative in 2004 and 2005; the amount allocated to each of these programmes in 2004 and 2005; the number of these projects which are aimed at increasing understanding and awareness of the European constitution; the success of these projects in raising public awareness of the European constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13686/05]
58 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the current situation inEcuador; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13687/05]
236 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for the future of Spike Island prison in Cork Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13712/05]
235 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the mechanism used to allow foreign spouses of Irish nationals who enter Ireland under visitor’s visas, having been married in a foreign country, to remain here once a visitor’s visa has expired; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13711/05]
102 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance if there has been an increase in the rate of payment into SSIAs such as to cause him to revise his estimate of the cumulative cost to the Exchequer of the concession; the extent of the increase; and his latest estimate of the cumulative cost and cumulative pay out at maturity.
[13298/05]
76 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the progress that has been made in the decentralisation of State agencies to Youghal; the number of posts to be decentralised to this location; the number of personnel identified and willing to move to Youghal; if he has secured suitable accommodation in this location for decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13423/05]
78 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of children who have participated in the Early Start programme in each year since its inception; the cost of this project for each of those years; the success of this project in combating educational disadvantage; the success of this project in involving parents and the community in the programme; the success of this project in developing methods of best practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13127/05]
57 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools participating in each of the school completion programmes and the Giving Children an Even Break initiative; the number of schools participating in each of these programmes which offer school meals projects; the number of pupils who receive school meals as part of these projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13126/05]
95 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the meetings his Minister for State has had regarding flooding in east Cork caused by the Womanagh river bursting its banks and tidal flooding; the decisions taken as a result of these meetings; the further action he intends to take in order to support landowners and householders in the Ballymacoda-Killeagh and Inch area of east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12588/05]
78 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the planned use for the Erinville Hospital building in Cork and the building housing the maternity unit in St. Finbarr’s after the transfer of maternity services to a new unit in Cork University Hospital; when this transfer is to take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12644/05]
41 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence his plans to allow the Reserve Defence Force to serve overseas; the legislative changes which need to be made to facilitate such overseas services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12386/05]
9 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel currently enlisted in the Reserve Defence Force; the progress which has been made to date on the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force; the new structures of the Reserve Defence Force as a result of this reorganisation; when this reorganisation will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12385/05]
225 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Question No. 135 of 16 December 2004, the number of participants and the number of businesses participating in training initiatives operated by the South Cork Enterprise Board in Youghal and Cobh over the past two years; the success of these initiatives in creating new jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12404/05]
224 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Question No. 135 of 16 December 2004, if IDA Ireland has any specific programme in place to promote Youghal and Cobh to potential investors; if any negotiations are under way; if not , if IDA Ireland has any plan to put such a programme in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12403/05]
223 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Question No. 135 of 16 December 2004, the number of the 140 Enterprise Ireland supported companies in County Cork which are based in Youghal; the number based in Cobh; the amount of funding allocated to the companies; the number of persons they employ; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12402/05]
222 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Question No. 270 of 22 March 2005, the way inwhich the Government supports and encourages existing small and medium indigenous Irish businesses which do not form part of the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12401/05]
139 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons employed in community employment schemes; his plans to extend and improve the schemes to increase participation; the other programmes and services, if any, in addition to the community employment schemes, his Department operates to help the long-term unemployed to improve their skills and rejoin the workforce; the success of these programmes, including the community employment schemes, in returning the long-term unemployed to the open labour market for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12166/05]
89 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has completed its socio-economic strategy for Mitchelstown; if so, the findings of the strategy; the actions and policies which have been formulated in view of the strategy findings; if not, when he expects it to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12165/05]
168 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to her reply to the Adjournment matter raised by this Deputy on 14 April 2005 on the subject of vaccine trials, the procedures that are required and that are being put in place to revoke S.I. 280 of 2001, Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000 (Additional Functions) Order 2001, resulting from the findings of the High Court which found that the order was ultra vires ; if these procedures will be laid before Dáil Éireann; the other parties with whom discussions regarding this matter have taken place; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12408/05]
328 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if reimbursements from the State, to be received by persons as a result of moneys or charges that were taken illegally from them, will be disregarded from assessments for social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12128/05]
94 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to introduce the sickness allowance as legislated for in the Social Welfare Act 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11902/05]
89 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the estimate provided in 2004 for the school meals community programme; the amount expended in 2004; the number of schools and pupils involved; the number of primary and second level schools, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11738/05]
75 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which his Department calculates child maintenance payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12130/05]
72 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount his Department has saved by increasing the qualifying period from six to 12 months for the back to education allowance; if he plans to reduce the qualifying period to nine months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12129/05]
40 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the range of youth projects funded under the community based youth initiative strand of the local development social inclusion programme; the number of such projects funded in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11466/05]
13 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of projects which received funding under the young people’s facilities and services fund in 2002, 2003 and 2004; the number of young persons who benefited from activities funded in these years; the success of this fund in diverting at risk young persons away from substance misuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11465/05]
246 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools that have received notification from her Department indicating that schools are over staffed as a result of the impact of the new circular for special needs, DES Circular SP.ED. 01/05; the impact this circular will have on small schools in particular; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[11319/05]
141 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will establish a national recycling market centre to expand and develop more secure long-term markets for recyclables; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11048/05]
120 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding that has been made available to enable a northern bypass non-national road to be constructed in Midleton; the further funding required to complete the bypass; his plans to make other such funding available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9539/05]
1120 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 532 of 30 November 2004, if he has made an announcement in 2005 of the projects to be included for funding in the public library capital expenditure programme 2005-07; if so, the details of the announcement; if a new branch library in Youghal, County Cork, is included in this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11157/05]
1025 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if under the new circular for special needs (details supplied) specific learning disability, borderline mild general learning disability and mild general learning disability are no longer to be included as categories of disability qualifying for resource teacher hours; if this is a change that has resulted from this new circular and amendments named therein; the way in which she proposes to provide support and assistance to these students in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[11244/05]
1024 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has received an application from a school (details supplied) in County Cork regarding the need to retain the existing quota of classroom teachers in the school and the appointment of an extra class teacher to the school from 1 September 2005; the present enrolment of the school and the corresponding pupil-teacher ratio; the projected enrolment for September 2005 and the expected pupil-teacher ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[11243/05]