208 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance the total amount paid in terms of fees or expenses for the appointment of press or public relations consultants from outside his Department for each year since 2002; the firms appointed and the specific project or responsibility for which they were engaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26968/06]
168 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the total amount spent by her Department in terms of advertising in newspapers, magazines and electronic media in respect of each year since 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27027/06]
167 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of staff broken down by grade employed within her private office and her constituency office; the number of such staff who are permanent civil servants; the number who are political appointees; the annual cost of each such office in terms of salary, overtime and expenses; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27012/06]
166 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of staff broken down by grade employed within the private office and the constituency office; the number of such staff who are permanent civil servants; the number who are political appointees; the annual cost of each such office in terms of salary, overtime and expenses in respect of each Minister of State allocated to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26997/06]
165 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of political appointees and non established civil servants appointed to her Department since June 2002; the nature of the post to which each such person is appointed; the annual cost in terms of salaries or expenses in respect of each such post for each year since 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26982/06]
164 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the total amount paid in terms of fees or expenses for the appointment of press or public relations consultants from outside her Department for each year since 2002; the firms appointed and the specific project or responsibility for which they were engaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26967/06]
131 Mr. Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the total amount spent by his Department in terms of advertising in newspapers, magazines and electronic media in respect of each year since 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27026/06]
130 Mr. Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the number of staff broken down by grade employed within his private office and his constituency office; the number of such staff who are permanent civil servants; the number who are political appointees; the annual cost of each such office in terms of salary, overtime and expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27011/06]
129 Mr. Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the number of staff broken down by grade employed within the private office and the constituency office; the number of such staff who are permanent civil servants; the number who are political appointees; the annual cost of each such office in terms of salary, overtime and expenses in respect of each Minister of State allocated to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26996/06]
128 Mr. Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the number of political appointees and non established civil servants appointed to his Department since June 2002; the nature of the post to which each such person is appointed; the annual cost in terms of salaries or expenses in respect of each such post for each year since 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26981/06]
127 Mr. Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the total amount paid in terms of fees or expenses for the appointment of press or public relations consultants from outside his Department for each year since 2002; the firms appointed and the specific project or responsibility for which they were engaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26966/06]
76 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the percentage of the European catch, Ireland’s TAC for demersal, pelagic and shellfish represent for each of the years 2001 to 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26631/06]
75 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the sea fisheries output including the tonnage and the main species caught for each of the years 2001 to 2005 for the five national harbours Killybegs, Castletownbere, Howth, Ros a' Mhíl, Dunmore East and for Dingle, Clogherhead, Greencastle, Kilmore Quay, Union Hall and for the fifteen or so smaller fishery harbours; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26630/06]
857 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the conclusions on waste regulations (details supplied) which were adopted at the EU Environment Council on 27 June 2006; and the meaning of these conclusions in the Irish context.
[26232/06]
831 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to set down higher limits for the income test for those who wish to buy in areas such as Dublin and its surrounds under the affordable housing schemes.
[25719/06]
830 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to review earnings limits for eligibility under affordable housing schemes in view of the continuing escalation of house prices.
[25718/06]
829 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to review the way in which the income test for the affordable housing schemes is calculated for two-income households.
[25717/06]
828 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many couples who cannot afford to buy a home on the open market are deemed as being ineligible for affordable housing schemes due to the way the income test is calculated for dual-income families; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this is creating a particular group of people with incomes that fall between being eligible for affordable housing and earning enough to get a mortgage which will allow them to buy on the open market.
[25716/06]
826 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of funding allocated in 2006 to each community and voluntary forum broken down by each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25700/06]
450 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport the amount allocated in 2006 to each county under the rural transport initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25701/06]
77 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has issued guidelines to schools on including children with disabilities in all school activities including graduation, concerts, special ceremonies and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25910/06]
66 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Joint Committee on Education and Science was told recently that approximately 50% of the students who drop out of higher education courses do so because they find the course they are in does not suit them; her plans to improve the guidance available in schools in order that young people will make appropriate choices; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25911/06]
254 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of third party planning submissions or observations made in each planning authority for each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25406/06]
52 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the Government has rejected the advice of the Irish Commissioner for Human Rights in relation to inspection of such flights at Shannon Airport as are necessary for full positive compliance with internationally ratified human rights obligations.
[25253/06]
65 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress which has been made following the conclusion of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union Meeting in Luxembourg on 3 November 2005 in relation to settlement expansion by Israel, and the Council’s call on Israel to stop settlement expansion and to remove unauthorised outposts.
[25254/06]
99 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the work of the Decentralisation Implementation Group; when they last met with his Minister of State; when they last reported on their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24948/06]
97 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the planned sale of State property announced by the Minister of State; the property sold to date and the amount raised; the way in which the money used has been raised; the properties planned to sell during 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24961/06]
124 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action she is taking to implement the Prospectus Report on Dairy Farming; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24622/06]
53 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on the food forum in the north east which took place on 12 June 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24590/06]
193 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made regarding the proposed new building for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; when it is intended to apply for planning permission; and the estimated date for completion of the new school building.
[24224/06]
192 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans for educational buildings at a site (details supplied) in County Dublin.
[24223/06]
157 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport the number of transport officers in his Department who have responsibility for the enforcement of tachograph regulations; the number of on-road inspections which have been carried out by the officers in each of the part five years; the number of prosecutions for breaches of tachograph regulations which have been taken by transport officers of his Department in each of the past five years; and the outcome of such prosecutions.
[24233/06]
107 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance his plans to increase the limit, under section 19(1) of the Building Societies Act 1989, which applies to the amount of funds that the personal representative of a deceased shareholder or depositor may be paid without representation within the meaning of the Succession Act 1965; when this limit was last reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24237/06]
73 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the changes he is making to the Defence Acts to authorise Defence Forces participation in overseas missions; the reason these changes are required; when it came to his attention that these changes were required; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23786/06]
64 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the legal status of Defence Forces overseas missions under the Defence Acts; if there is a need for an avoidance of doubt measure to clarify their status under the law; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23787/06]
234 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if further to his comments during replies to Parliamentary Question Nos. 53 and 55 of 13 June 2006 in the Houses of the Oireachtas, he will identify five developments in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford where affordable houses below the figure of €200,000 are currently available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24001/06]
49 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in view of the recent agreements in relation to the proposed decentralisation of FÁS to Birr, he will introduce similar protocols for those employees of Enterprise Ireland who do not wish to transfer to Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23499/06]
42 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his Department’s view on the recent increases in the NCB purchasing managers index, which rose to 66.2% in May 2006, and the consequent pressures that are being put on small enterprises due to rising costs; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that costs for small businesses in the service sector are rising at their fastest rate since 2002; the action he intends to take to bring costs under control; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23488/06]
74 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by the Comptroller and Auditor General regarding the rapid rise in the cost of rent supplement; his views on the replacement of the rent supplement with a new housing benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22981/06]
241 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of plastic bags liable for the 15 cent plastic bag levy which were bought in each of the years 2003, 2004, 2005 and to date in 2006; his views on whether a trend is emerging whereby the numbers of these bags in circulation is rising; if the Government is considering increasing the 15 cent levy to encourage further curbing the use of these bags by the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22880/06]
50
D'fhiafraigh Mr. Gilmore den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an raibh agallamh aige leis an Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta ó 16/5/2006 faoi Aonad Náisiúnta Oideachais Gaeilge a bhunú i mBaile Bhúirne; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina leith.
[22760/06]
101 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the effectiveness of the new limits on greenhouse gas production will be in helping to meet Ireland’s Kyoto targets; his views on whether the new limits are stringent enough to act as an incentive to business to reduce emissions; and if his Department or any other State body carried out research to ascertain the expected effectiveness of the new limits in encouraging businesses to reduce emissions.
[22472/06]
142 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the rise in house prices here is contributing to a new type of poverty whereby those struggling to accumulate a deposit for a home often find that they are unable to furnish it; his views on the recent findings of the Permanent TSB House Price Index that house prices have risen faster since the beginning of 2006 than at any other time since 2000; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that such a rise was happening; the steps he intends to take in light of the continuing surge in house prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22471/06]
53 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the publication of the affordability index for house prices by EBS Building Society and DKM economic consultants; his views on the index and its findings and in particular on the conclusion that first-time buyers are spending an average of 27.25% of their net income on mortgage repayments which is 4.25% higher than in 2000; his further views on the Dublin figures which show that first-time buyers in Dublin are spending an average of 32% of net income on servicing their mortgages; the measures the Government are contemplating to address continuing house price rises in view of increasing interest rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22628/06]
43 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the term of office of the Inspector of Prisons expires; if it is intended to reappoint the person; if he has plans to abolish the post of Inspector of Prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22128/06]
39 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the recent comments by the Inspector of Prisons, in which they described the prison service as a failure; his plans to deal with the problems in the prison service identified in the various reports submitted by the Inspector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22127/06]
93 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport his policy in relation to the lowering of the blood alcohol concentration limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21957/06]
64 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport his preparations for a follow-up strategy to the current road safety strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21958/06]
Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the report from Council of Europe rapporteur, Senator Dick Marty, regarding extraordinary rendition reports in Council of Europe member states; his further views on the findings on Ireland contained in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
68 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she intends to take to combat the excessively high bed occupancy rates in some hospitals that reach 100 per cent and over despite internationally agreed best practice of occupancy at 85 per cent; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21319/06]