86 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children if direct contact has been made with the Vietnamese authorities since the draft new bilateral agreement on adoption was forwarded to them; and if there has been progress in allowing the current agreement to continue without interruption pending the full sign off of the new agreement.
[14106/09]
13 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason for the delay in paying redundancy rebate to a company (details supplied).
[14105/09]
43 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Transport the status of the planning and tendering processes for metro north; the amount of public and private funding which will be spent on metro north in 2009 and in each year to 2015 and from 2015 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13682/09]
25 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Transport when he last met all of the stakeholders involved in the preparation works for the big dig and the upcoming major infrastructural works in Dublin for metro north, the Luas link-up and the Dublin rail interconnector; when the public information campaign on the big dig will begin; the date for the launch of the proposed bus gate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13683/09]
41 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of labour inspectors employed by the National Employment Rights Authority; the number of labour inspectors available for assignment on normal duties; the number of labour inspectors in training following recruitment; the status of the recruitment campaign to increase the labour inspectorate to 90 inspectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13363/09]
40 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of EU directives for which her Department has responsibility remaining to be implemented; the directives that are overdue; the number of reasoned opinions received from the EU Commission since 2002 regarding delays or non-implementation of such directives; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13362/09]
263 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Transport the roads projects that are subject to Department of Finance approval before the National Roads Authority can proceed with the projects; the expected delay in each case that will arise from this new procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13421/09]
208 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in issuing an over 70s medical card to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare.
[12994/09]
95 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress being made to reduce the waiting lists for patients waiting to access dermatology services; the number currently waiting; the time period involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13090/09]
71 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients currently receiving IVF treatment through the Health Service Executive; the average cost involved per patient; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13091/09]
57 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Finance the forecast Exchequer borrowing requirement for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; the position regarding discussions he or his Department officials have had with the EU institutions with regard to the deficit procedure to which Ireland is subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12322/09]
53 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Finance the net present value of the Exchequer’s commitment in respect of the retirement package, including payments already made as part of this package when relevant to the current governor of the Central Bank, the acting chief executive of the Financial Regulator and the previous chief executive of the Financial Regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12321/09]
882 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of funding sought in 2008 by each local authority under the mobility, housing adaption and housing aid for the elderly scheme; and the amount allocated.
[11809/09]
810 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the strain being placed on community welfare officers in Kildare in view of the fact that their workload has doubled in the past 12 months; and if she will provide additional resources to the CWO to ensure members of the public are dealt with as quickly as possible.
[11810/09]
493 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children when occupational therapy will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare.
[12285/09]
464 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in providing speech therapy for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[11811/09]
447 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that adequate funding is allocated to enable day placement to commence for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[11648/09]
258 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of tenders received for the construction of the new national school for Kill, County Kildare by the closing date of 9 March 2009; the estimated time for the evaluation of the tenders; and when the contract will be awarded.
[10744/09]
202 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 26 February 2009, when he stated that total estimate demand by local authorities for the operation of the housing adaptation grant scheme for older people and people with a disability in 2009 is approximately €147 million; the grants sought by each local authority in 2009; and the estimated value of grant requests on hand at present in each local authority area.
[10745/09]
199 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the pension levy deductions are being applied to public servants who are not members of a public service scheme on analogous arrangements (details supplied); and if he will clarify the matter in regard to this issue.
[10743/09]
66 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has plans for extra provision of storage facilities similar to those at Turlough Hill, County Wicklow; his views on whether additional storage would permit far higher levels of generation from renewable sources; if he will commission a study that considers increased storage as a mechanism for facilitating greater generation from renewable sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10504/09]
55 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the concerns over the speeds offered as part of the national broadband scheme; his views on whether the speeds offered will be a competitive disadvantage for rural businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10515/09]
198 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the possibility of the promised diaspora channel going ahead in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10503/09]
90 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, on foot of the recommendations of the Ombudsman, he will introduce a national waiver scheme for the payment of domestic refuse charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10026/09]
579 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the accommodation problem at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in view of the fact that it will not be possible to accommodate all junior infants from the catchment area in September 2009; and if he will sanction the provision of additional accommodation.
[10138/09]
425 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has directed RTÉ to proceed with broadcasting in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9840/09]
328 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason self-employed people must cease trading before they can sign on for jobseeker’s allowance in view of the fact that debts due to them would be uncollectable if they cease trading.
[9704/09]
40 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to change the rules of the back to work allowance scheme, or to otherwise introduce a scheme that would allow jobseeker’s retain welfare while in employment.
[9278/09]
10 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is satisfied with the integration of local social welfare offices, local partnership areas and local employment services in meeting the needs of recently unemployed people.
[9279/09]
161 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason transport costs for pupils in Ticknevin, Carbury, County Kildare, attending a school (details supplied) in County Offaly have risen from €33 per annum in 2006, to €126 per annum in 2007, to €168 per annum in 2008 and to more than €300 per annum in 2009; and if he will reduce the transport chargers being imposed.
[9024/09]
42 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the grants made to a group (details supplied) during 2008 and to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8974/09]
432 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the closing date for the receipt of tenders for the construction of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the number of tenders received; and when the contract will be awarded to the successful tender.
[8363/09]
68 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has been lobbied with regard to the increase in betting tax from 1% to 2%; the recommendations he gave to the Department of Finance on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8532/09]
210 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some county councils are paying higher education grants in respect of Erasmus year whilst others are not (details supplied); and if he will issue a direction to all county councils to approve such grants.
[8150/09]
175 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if local authorities have been notified of their allocation from his Department for the mobility grant, housing adaption grants and housing aid for older persons grants for 2009; if not, when this will be done; and if so, the amount in each category allocated to each local authority in 2008 and in 2009.
[8149/09]
100 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the delays in assessing people for supplementary welfare allowance, rent subsidy and mortgage interest relief at the community welfare office at St. Mary’s, Castlebar, County Mayo; and if she will appoint the additional staff to assist the community welfare officers in processing applications.
[8148/09]
43 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the duties and responsibilities assigned to resource staff employed by Youthreach; the pay scales used to pay such staff; the way their duties and responsibilities are different from those of ordinary teachers; his views on whether, in many cases, resource staff do similar jobs to teachers and often have their performances measured alongside teachers yet are on different pay scales; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7936/09]
30 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on allowing boards of management to re-direct funding from his Department which is used for renting prefabs to secure a mortgage in order to build permanent classrooms; his views on whether this would ultimately be a better use of taxpayers money and create employment at a time of deepening economic recession; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7935/09]
66 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of members of the Garda Reserve recruited to date; the stations to which they have been allocated; the number of applicants for the Reserve in training; if he is satisfied with the rate of recruitment; when he expects that the full complement of 1,500 will be in place; if restrictions have been placed on recruitment to the Reserve arising from budgetary restrictions; his views on the suggestion made by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors that the Reserve should be scrapped; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7609/09]
43 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons, broken down between children and adults, given anti-social behaviour warnings since the new system came into operation; the number of anti-social behaviour orders sought, in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7610/09]
217 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in renewing the bilateral agreement with Vietnam for the adoption of Vietnamese children by Irish couples; and if she will ensure that a new agreement is in place by the end of April 2009.
[7301/09]
104 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of labour inspectors currently employed by the National Employment Rights Authority; the number of labour inspectors currently available for assignment on normal duties; the number currently in training following recruitment; the status of the recruitment campaign to increase the labour inspectorate to 90 inspectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7279/09]
76 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workplace inspections carried out by the labour inspectorate in 2008; the way this compares with the same period in 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7280/09]
216 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that as a result of a lack of funding provided by him, Naas Town Council, County Kildare is not in a position to build an extension to one of its houses in which there is overcrowding (details supplied); and if he will investigate this matter.
[6934/09]
13 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the six year waiting times for rheumatology services in some parts of the country; if her attention has been drawn to a recommendation in a report compiled for the Health Service Executive that the number of rheumatologists should be more than doubled; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[6557/09]
89 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Finance the recent discussions, negotiations or other activities undertaken by him or his officials regarding the recapitalisation of Irish Nationwide, Irish Life & Permanent and EBS respectively; if he will provide an estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of such recapitalisations; if it is his intention to fund such recapitalisation by utilising assets held in the National Pension Reserve Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6358/09]
79 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the impact of the proposed public sector pension levy is equitable on those on middle incomes in particular, with those on middle incomes expected to lose a higher proportion of their take-home pay due to the impact of tax relief on pension contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6357/09]
111 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Transport when he will publish the new guidelines for the setting of speed limits by local authorities which was a key action under the Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012; the reason the deadline for this action which should have been published by the third quarter of 2008 was missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5825/09]
60 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Transport when he will introduce legislation to ensure the mandatory testing of all drivers involved in serious road collisions; the reason there has been such a delay in introducing this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5826/09]
45 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make available those reports which have been prepared by agencies for presentation to the interdepartmental committee on development.
[5216/09]