268 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason he stated in reply to Question No. 224 of 1 February 2005 that the community workers co-operative does not meet the Government funding criterion of concentrating available resources on support for communities experiencing disadvantage, exclusion and isolation when this network represents the views of both paid and unpaid community workers and hundreds of local organisations with an anti-poverty and equality focus throughout the country.
[6898/05]
267 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will re-instate funding to the community workers co-operative.
[6897/05]
215 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that residents of Clonsilla, Dublin 15, still cannot gain access to broadband on their Eircom telephone lines; and the immediate steps his Department will take to improve the provision of broadband in all parts of the country.
[6901/05]
7 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach his Department’s legislative programme for the current session of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1458/05]
152 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the terms of any concessions made by his predecessor or Department to any of a number of companies (details supplied) with regard to taxation; and his estimate of the cost of these concessions up to December 2004.
[6280/05]
9 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the number of files withheld by his Department from the National Archives in respect of 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2797/05]
466 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has received correspondence from the Union of Students in Ireland calling for the suspension of a course (details supplied) in order that a comprehensive debate regarding teacher training, involving student teachers, teachers unions and the general public can take place; and her views on same.
[4644/05]
316 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he has received a report outlining the viability of a rail line from Dublin to Dunboyne; and if he will provide investment for this urgently needed public transport infrastructure.
[4833/05]
307 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the terms of any concessions made by his Department to any one of a group of companies (details supplied) with regard to the obligation to pay tax and social insurance in respect of employees; and his estimate of the cost of these concessions up to December 2004.
[5017/05]
27 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the matters discussed and conclusions reached at his recent meeting with the British Prime Minister in Brussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2798/05]
18 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach when he next expects to meet with the British Prime Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1455/05]
167 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Israeli State is threatening to deport a person (details supplied); and if he will request that no such deportation take place before this person’s appeal is heard.
[4465/05]
7 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent contacts with the social partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1469/05]
124 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on contact between his Department and the board of a company (details supplied) before the announcement of the decision to close the research centre in the digital hub.
[1461/05]
7 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the bilateral meetings he attended on the margins of the December 2004 meeting of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2796/05]
6 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the matters discussed and conclusions reached at the December 2004 meeting of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2795/05]
93 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his meeting with aid agencies to discuss the spending of the Government’s donation to the Asian tsunami disaster relief efforts.
[1468/05]
22 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to the President of the United States, Mr. George W. Bush, since his recent inauguration; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1462/05]
21 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach when he next expects to meet with the President of the United States of America, Mr. George W. Bush; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1454/05]
15 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the role he envisions the National Forum on Europe playing in regard to the proposed new EU constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1472/05]
14 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the official visits abroad he plans to make during the current session of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1467/05]
12 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he has received an agenda for the spring 2005 European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1464/05]
11 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the matters discussed and conclusions reached at his meeting with the Chinese Prime Minister, Mr. Wen Jiabao.
[1451/05]
342 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will revoke the licence granted by his predecessor to the Ward Union stag hunt against the advice of senior officials in the Parks and Wildlife Service (details supplied).
[2677/05]
224 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in view of the crucial role that a group (details supplied) has played in supporting local and national groups combating poverty and inequality to collectively analyse and express their experience of Government policies, he will immediately reverse his decision to withdraw funding from this group.
[2666/05]
185 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the part-time work related training which is offered by FÁS to lone parents under the age of 25; and if there are plans to develop a training intervention to meet the needs of this disadvantaged group.
[2422/05]
2 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the most recent review carried out by his Department on the Government’s information society policy.
[2799/05]
1130 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will fund the essential resources for teaching practice needed by student teachers.
[1484/05]
1129 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if consideration will be given to suspending the on-line H.Dip course for primary teachers run by a company (details supplied) in order that a comprehensive debate regarding teacher training involving student teachers, teacher’s unions and the general public can take place.
[1483/05]
376 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if, due to the difficulties encountered by blind and visually impaired persons living in rural Ireland in accessing the free public transport to which they are entitled, he will consider funding the extension of the refund of VAT and other taxes on a new car, and on all petrol used on running that car to the households of blind and visually impaired persons in cases in which the car is solely for the family’s personal use.
[1590/05]
9 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the studies being carried out by the National Economic and Social Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1471/05]
154 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether the CDP represents good value for money and is a programme that supports active and equal citizenship with a social justice and equality ethos; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33981/04]
153 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in view of research carried out by a company (details supplied) and the results of the community development programme’s own evaluation system, known as SPEAK, the CDP has been effective as a locally owned and managed programme in developing practical and principled programmes to combat poverty and injustice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33980/04]
152 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he is committed to maintaining the community development programme as an independent programme outside of the control of the partnerships or local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33979/04]
145 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if the status of the driving instructors registered with the Driving Register of Ireland will be recognised by the new driver testing and standards authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33982/04]
116 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the new target date by which Ireland will reach the UN target of 0.7% of GDP and a multi-annual plan to reach this target in view of the fact that budget 2005 made no mention of a new date for meeting the UN target for overseas aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33926/04]
108 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if spouses in receipt of maintenance payments should be entitled to money gained from tax relief in respect of maintenance payments.
[33946/04]
180 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the amount paid by Government to the aviation authority in respect of US military aircraft over-flying Irish airspace for each year from 2000 to 2004; and the proportion of these funds which related to US military planes travelling to and from Iraq.
[33672/04]