23 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider following the practice of the Department of Education in the United Kingdom by introducing a national school books service to reduce the increasing cost that burdens parents every year because of the changing curriculum and changing reading lists; if he will consider establishing a review body to report back to him within weeks to advise on the way the cost of books can be reduced; if he will ask the review body to consider the benefits of a graded reader scheme versus text books which can often go out of date; his views that the benefits in significant savings for a family along with the individual benefit to the student using a graded reader scheme will have a significant impact in our education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19031/11]
11 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills the controls that will be implemented to assist families who are expected to make a voluntary registration fee at the start of every year for primary and secondary school students, who are also expected to pay €40 to €80 for photocopying services for the year as well as anything from €100 to €300 for extra curriculum such as sport, drama, music; if he will implement regulations to assist families who do not qualify for the back to school grant and who are not in a position to meet these extra payments; his views that the term free education is now redundant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19026/11]
142 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost to her Department for the school completion programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19196/11]
105 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the school lunch programme to which every child here is entitled; if she will consider allowing each school to make its own arrangements for the management and purchase of school lunches; her views that there could be considerable savings to the State and less waste in the schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19197/11]
96 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional places for mature students and post-leaving certificate students that are being made available for this coming academic year in the vocational education committee colleges; if he will list the colleges in tabular form; if he will indicate the courses that will have extra places; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19194/11]
34 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the sports capital programme will be announced; his policy on the way that this will be managed compared to the manner in which it was managed by the previous Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18862/11]
28 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date on which the tender for the National Car Testing Service is due for review; if he is satisfied with the level of the service the current company provides; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18863/11]
656 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the Luas service ceased to operate on 19 June 2011 when 80,000 persons attended an event in Croke Park and when the event was over 10,000 people lined the Luas line from Middle Abbey Street to Capel Street for longer than 40 minutes only then to be told by loudspeaker that the Luas service had ceased; his views that this is an unacceptable practice of a public utility; if he will have investigations made into the persons responsible for this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18668/11]
655 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport one month on from the RTE television exposé on the National Car Testing Service, the progress that has been made in the investigations of standards operated by the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18946/11]
648 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons who currently hold a provisional driving licence for more than one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18777/11]
106 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of new passports that are applied for per month; the number of renewal passports; the current waiting time from the date of application to the date of receipt by the applicant in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18778/11]
77 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the powers of the Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17164/11]
74 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Finance the percentage of judges who have voluntarily agreed to a contribution equivalent to the pension levy in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act of 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16622/11]
63 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the salaries that are paid to chief executive officers of all hospitals, both voluntary and those funded by the Health Service Executive; the annual leave, expenses and other conditions of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17854/11]
12 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if there are any chief executive officers of hospitals, health facilities or organisations funded by the State who are paid bonuses on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17855/11]
110 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider giving priority to the application for summer work on a school (details supplied) in County Dublin.
[17750/11]
2 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Taoiseach his view on the benefits, both economically and politically, of the State visit to this country of Queen Elizabeth II; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17163/11]
1 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Taoiseach his views on the benefit, both economically and politically, of the recent visit by the President of the United States of America to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17162/11]
565 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17557/11]
549 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will give consideration to hosting a State reception for Rory McIlroy and his family on his return from the United States to mark the tremendous success that he has brought to this country with his sporting achievements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17170/11]
534 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting placement to a young chronic sick unit patients under 60 years here; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a fully furnished and ideal facility for such a service is available (details supplied) and the steps he will take with the Health Service Executive to utilise this unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17573/11]
530 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the protocol that is currently practised regarding the ambulance service both fire brigade and Health Service Executive who provide an excellent service in Lucan, Clondalkin and Palmerstown area of Dublin in view of the fact that this protocol instructs ambulance drivers to take all patients to Blanchardstown Hospital accident and emergency when many of them already have a medical relationship with St James’s Hospital and Tallaght Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17554/11]
529 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the salaries that are paid to chief executive officers of all hospitals both voluntary and those funded by the Health Service Executive; the annual leave, expenses or other conditions of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17553/11]
460 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the progress made in establishing a new Department for Children; if a secretary general has been appointed; when will the Minister assume full responsibility for child protection, child welfare and the development of youth services nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17161/11]
444 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made in establishing her new Department; if a Secretary General has been appointed; when she will assume full responsibility for child protection, child welfare and the development of youth services nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17171/11]
387 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to establish a Garda sub station in Palmerstown Dublin 20; his plans to provide the Palmerstown community with an enhanced policing service in view of the increase in crime in the local area and the significant increase in reported break ins and anti-social behaviour in local fields and open spaces and the fact that Palmerstown is serviced by two Garda stations, Lucan and Ballyfermot, depending on manpower and events that may be taking place in Dublin which can often withdraw members on duty to cover such events; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17559/11]
386 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of judges who have been appointed to regions of more that 20 kilometres from their home; the cost of their travel and subsistence; their allowance and expenses in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17551/11]
385 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the annual leave that the various grades of judges receive per year; the allowance that judges are paid per year; the travel and subsistence rates that judges are paid per year and the staff that each of the grades of judges have working for them in tabular form.
[17550/11]
275 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons collecting social welfare payments from the post office in Lucan village and the post office in Dodsboro, County Dublin, who reside in the following estates (details supplied) and if she is satisfied that these post offices adequately service such a large number of persons, many of whom have to walk for up to two miles.
[17509/11]
252 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost per annum of one person without dependants who is in receipt of an invalidity pension including the cost of all entitlements and administration; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17173/11]
206 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider directing that all schools funded by the State where practicable make the school premises and halls available to local communities in the evening time and at weekends and during the long holiday periods; if he will address the difficulties to be overcome relating to insurance and that a caretaker has to be present at all times as surely these matters can be addressed and a valuable community resource can be made available to local residents, organisations and youth groups as is the practice in other European countries; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17556/11]
42 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the announcement of the Garda recruitment moratorium for 2011 and 2012, if he will consider a media and press promotion of the neighbourhood watch system to promote greater awareness by communities of their responsibility in supporting the Garda for minor and major crimes and to improve community safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16621/11]
189 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will consider introducing a programme of information and advice to address the growing problem of child obesity; if she has any responsibility in this area of child welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16758/11]
165 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her policy on mandatory reporting of child abuse, wilful neglect and physical or emotional abuse; her plans to introduce legislation for mandatory reporting of suspected abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16757/11]
73 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to ensure that a child with special needs in an area (details supplied) will not lose a place in the local school due to the lack of special needs assistant posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16756/11]
396 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the terms of reference and membership of the special action group on obesity; when he expects it to report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16576/11]
296 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the announcement of the Garda recruitment moratorium for 2011 and 2012, if he will consider a media and press promotion of the neighbourhood watch system to promote greater awareness by communities of their responsibility in supporting the Garda for minor and major crimes and to improve community safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16265/11]
295 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the announcement that no Garda recruitment will take place for the coming years of 2011 and 2012, if he will consider increasing the Garda Reserve Force substantially to assist with traffic, crowd control and other functions of a less statutory nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16264/11]
293 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the initiatives he will take to end sex trafficking of men, women and children and prostitution in Ireland; his plans to introduce new legislation or regulation; the number of prosecutions that have taken place in the past three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16262/11]
75 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Finance the percentage of judges who have voluntarily agreed to a contribution equivalent to the pension levy in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16263/11]
77 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in approval for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; the progress of the proposed extension; and the likely timeframe for it to be completed.
[14833/11]
24 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills, in view of the recent circular 30/2011 to schools in the Lucan area of County Dublin, the impact this will have on a school (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that since 2008 this school, like others in the area, has increased its pupil numbers by more than 300% in three years; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that more than 30 different languages other than English and Irish are the first languages of children attending; if he will review his plan of appointments of learning support resource teachers posts and work with schools in dealing with the impact of circular 30/2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14369/11]
130 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the recent circular 30/2011 to schools in the Lucan area of County Dublin and the impact that this will have on a school (details supplied), if his attention has been drawn to the fact that since 2008 this school, like others in the area, has increased its pupil population by more than 300% in three years; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that more than 30 different languages other than English and Irish is the first language of children attending; if he will review this plan of appointments of learning support resource teacher posts and work with schools in dealing with the impact of circular 30/2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13315/11]