303 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that the present rates of subvention payable are under review; if she will address the issue of varying rates of subvention being made payable in different Health Service Executive areas and confirm that a house valued at less than €300,000, rural and outside Dublin, is exempt when assessment is being carried out of a applicant’s means in respect of subvention qualification.
[36406/06]
191 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify the situation in relation to the wearing of helmets by cyclists; if same is compulsory or voluntary; if he will make it legally binding for children, in the interests of safety and in the interests of stopping bullying and name calling, which is currently directed at children who use helmets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35964/06]
123 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Finance the reason a disabled passenger can claim more remission than a disabled driver under the present disabled drivers and passengers tax incentive scheme; and his plans to address this issue to ensure equality for both drivers and passengers under this scheme.
[35874/06]
278 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Transport if it remains within the remit of a local authority to increase speed limits on regional roads from 80 km/h to 100 km/h where this is deemed appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33743/06]
173 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason physiotherapy is not being provided for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick in the mid western Health Service Executive area; the further reason a wheelchair could not be provided for this person in the southern HSE region; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33742/06]
301 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason residents in a home (details supplied) in County Limerick do not appear to qualify for repayment of nursing home fees, as per recent legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32630/06]
457 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Transport the reasons articulated trucks are not permitted to use the outside lane of a motorway for the purpose of overtaking, or for the purpose of allowing additional traffic to join a motorway from a slip road; the proposals he has to change these present regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31903/06]
67 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for Irish citizenship will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick in view of the delay already experienced by this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31381/06]
1152 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the offset of money against other payments due to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28169/06]
729 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the progress of the proposed provision of a special dementia unit and hospice beds at St. Ita’s Hospital, Newcastle West, County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29263/06]
567 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay of up to nine months, in issuing death certificates to bereaved families in the Limerick region; if measures are being taken to ensure that death certificates are being issued to families within a reasonable timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29842/06]
692 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation in relation to pensions for caretakers in primary schools particularly with regard to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if pensions exist for some caretakers or other non-teaching staff; if such a scheme is being worked on; the target date for commencement; if it will apply to staff who have recently retired or to all existing retired staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27628/06]
691 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science the registered number of pupils and staffing level in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9; if the school has received additional teachers in the past five years; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that several classes have up to 35 pupils; the maximum number of pupils allowed per class; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27627/06]
259 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Finance the situation in relation to start up and annual taxes, stamp duty on credit and debit cards; when these charges commenced; the number of cards which exist and annual revenue from same; the reason tax charge was raised in the first case; if such charges are made by other governments in the EU; if many complaints are received in relation to the charging system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27718/06]
525 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science the pupil numbers and staffing compliment in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; the number of and the location where there are classes over 30 in size; the average number per class nationally; the average number per class in this school; if she will clarify the position in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27222/06]
524 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science the levels of capitation fees paid to primary or national schools; the movement of rates over the past 10 years; the commitments made for future movements; if she will increase capitation fees; if payments to primary schools are currently the same whether the school is primary, voluntary, gaelscoil or educate together; and if rates will be outlined and consideration given to possible increases in 2007.
[27171/06]
336 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress on an application for the respite care allowance for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if the processing of such applications is up to date; the percentage of applications which have been dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27232/06]
313 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the annual financial resources given to the film industry here; if his Department has input into the way staff are recruited for film work; his views on claims in relation to same (details supplied); if he will investigate same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27170/06]
220 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Finance if he will examine the situation in relation to tax relief for medical bills, rent payments, service charge payments and so on for pensioners who are below the tax exemption limits which have increased in recent years; if a system to allow relief against such costs will be arranged as is the case whereby such pensioners reclaim DIRT tax deductions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27224/06]
218 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the disabled drivers scheme; the number of approvals which were given for new cars for drivers in the most recent year for which figures are available; the number of approvals for passengers that are accompanied; the estimated cost of the scheme; if the scheme has been or is under review; and the status of such a review.
[27177/06]
217 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Finance the tax take from DIRT tax in 2004 and 2005; if there is an analysis of the size of accounts or age of account holders; if tax take from accounts under €100,000 is known or can be estimated; if tax take from accounts under €100,000 held by pensioners can be estimated; and if DIRT can be abolished in total or part as it is adding to the disincentive to save due to the fact that interest rates are below the rate of inflation.
[27176/06]
216 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Finance the rates of stamp duty on private dwellings; the various thresholds; the amount it would cost if the €318,000 exemption level was given as an exemption against all sales, to all first time buyers and all buyers up to €500,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27175/06]
181 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will clarify the situation regarding a person in receipt of an over 70 medical card, who is being charged for a BI2 injection which they received free of charge until recently; the reason for same; if the medical card does not cover such charges; if general practitioners are allowed to make such charges; and the other issues which are not covered by medical cards.
[27180/06]
180 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the waiting times for a standard x-ray from the main Dublin hospitals (details supplied); and the reason general practitioners are not asked to refer people elsewhere when the situation is known and not changing significantly.
[27179/06]
179 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if breakdown data for the medical or physical condition of successful applicants to the disabled drivers scheme is available.
[27178/06]
178 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding entitlements to the primary school dental service; if entitlement extends to children attending a private or fee-paying school; the reason for refusals and the legislative base for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27173/06]
212 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if changes have been made in relation to the seven year timeframe governing a missing person, where an inquest cannot be held, and the ability for their families to avail of their entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23149/06]
158 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the child dependant allowances which apply to various social welfare schemes for example widows, invalidity, disability benefit, unemployment benefit and so on; when these were last adjusted; the reason they stopped increasing; if a study has taken place in relation to the effects of this policy on poverty, as child benefit or children’s allowance, which has been the chosen vehicle in recent years, is paid to rich and poor; if he will reconsider his present policy and start child dependent increase in the next budget; the social welfare rates when they were last increased; the current rates; the percentage increase since then; the percentage increase in inflation since then; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22933/06]
134 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Finance the present categories and thresholds for inheritance tax; when they were last adjusted; if they are adjusted annually for inflation increases; if the general inflation figure or that for property is used; if a person without children can nominate someone else for example a niece to receive the first category relief in a case where the niece was their carer for years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22929/06]
321 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a special pension from An Garda Síochána will be made payable to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22332/06]
280 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to amend the present guidelines governing the issuing of disabled drivers’ car permits, to include people with other severe disabilities of the upper limbs and body; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22331/06]
227 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science the numbers of national school teachers nationally for each of the past 10 years; they way in which the numbers of teachers compare with earlier decades; the way in which the extra teachers have been used; the number who are used as special needs or resource teachers; the improvements in class sizes over recent years; and if she will make a statement on extra teaching resources to schools in disadvantaged areas.
[22085/06]
152 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding persons who have a full driving licence from the USA; the reason they need to re-sit their driving tests here; if there are bilateral or international agreements on such issues; if Ireland or the EU are a signatory to such agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22267/06]
119 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Finance the law for persons who change credit card companies; if he will confirm that only one annual charge for stamp duty should be paid in the year when the account changed; the evidence which is necessary to satisfy the original company of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22088/06]
111 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the situation in relation to Hume Street Hospital, Dublin; her future plans in relation to same; the reason hospital facilities and services are being run down; her plans for alternative services; the persons who requested same; the highest number of beds which existed in the hospital; the number of beds in recent years; the annual investment by the State in the hospital; and the person who owns the building and who would benefit from proceeds of the sale of the property.
[22266/06]
151 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when payment of a grant under the 2006 conservation grants scheme will be made to a group (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21268/06]
322 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress which has been made in relation to the Patrickswell sewerage scheme in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20074/06]
104 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a further payment is to be made from her Department to a group (details supplied) in County Limerick in addition to the €60,000 which was received by the group from her Department in January 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20079/06]
528 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to his recent public comments, when inspectors may be appointed to carry out energy ratings on homes here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19472/06]
164 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has a policy for the introduction of newborn hearing screening here; if her Department has included funding for newborn hearing screening in the budget for the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20080/06]
323 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for naturalisation will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; the number of applicants who might travel to Britain and Europe with their spouses on holiday or to visit relatives, while this application is being processed by his Department, in view of the timeframe involved.
[17035/06]
267 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Transport if it is his Department’s intention to recruit inspectors to work with both the Road Safety Authority and the Taxi Regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17031/06]
545 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on progress regarding the latest scientific advice received by his Department on the implementation of the Nitrates Directive.
[16309/06]
313 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Finance the progress being made on the decentralisation of 50 Revenue Commissioners staff to Newcastle West, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15069/06]
544 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress being made on the Shanagolden-Foynes sewerage scheme, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11936/06]
748 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science if all arrears due have been paid to a fully qualified regular part-time resource teacher (details supplied) in County Limerick; and the breakdown of same.
[10279/06]
667 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made regarding a naturalisation application for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick that was lodged some time back; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10691/06]
274 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the Health Service Executive will be issuing written contracts to home helps based on their hours worked as agreed in April 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10898/06]
229 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to give protection by way of regulation or legislation to sub-contractors who, in some instances, are not paid by the main contractor, despite the fact that the main contractor has been paid public moneys by local authorities for public contracts, such as road building, sewerage schemes etc.; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9800/06]
563 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science when the Traveller education strategy will be published; and her views on the perceived lack of Traveller representation on the education disadvantage committee.
[9565/06]