471 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that additional gardaí will be posted to Newcastle West Garda station, County Limerick; when same will happen, in view of the fact that the present number attached to this section is 25, despite the fact that the population has doubled from ten years ago, when the number of gardaí attached to the station was 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9215/06]
420 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will introduce a new farm retirement scheme; and if so, the date for commencement.
[9216/06]
257 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation regarding extra energy costs on pensioners; his views on the way in which this concern will be addressed; if an estimate of increased VAT per annum on energy can be given on full population and pensioners for home heating or energy; if it is understood that pensioners need more heat due to health grounds or being in the house all day; and if the number of free units to elderly can be increased.
[7287/06]
256 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation in relation to rent allowance regulations; if he will provide details of phased or reduced rent allowance which remains due to persons when they take up and return to employment; if similar concessions are available to persons in part-time or full-time work but under pressure from rent charges; and if such persons qualify for rent allowance.
[7270/06]
252 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the situation in relation to a qualified construction worker who finds it difficult to get work due to practices or agreements in the industry; if a report on brick and block laying sectors has been published or is nearing completion; if he can clarify the situation regarding a trade union (details supplied) that prevent him from getting employment; the status or legality of an agreement between the unions and the ten largest contractors; what this person can do to get work since the union will not let him in and employers and contractors will not sign him in; the reason workers can join the union and they cannot.
[7286/06]
172 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Transport his views on increasing the present axle weight restriction governing the movement of cranes from one local authority area to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6266/06]
154 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a new Garda station will be provided for Kilfinane, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3632/06]
133 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Transport the progress that has been made to date in 2006 with regard to decentralisation for Mitchelstown, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3638/06]
508 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science the training which is given to drivers of school buses employed by the vocational educational committee and other schools privately in health and safety and first aid; and the term and conditions of employment of such drivers.
[2795/06]
303 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position for spouses of Irish citizens married for a number of years and living outside the State who wish to become Irish citizens; if a spouse of an Irish citizen born in England, married and living there for the past 20 years can apply for post nuptial citizenship or naturalisation; and if they can obtain an Irish passport due to the fact that they were married to an Irish citizen for a number of years.
[39957/05]
208 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has data available regarding the economic situation in Northern Ireland, particularly regarding unemployment levels in two communities; the numbers unemployed; the percentage of the workforce unemployed; the numbers unemployed five and ten years ago; and the breakdown between the two communities.
[39937/05]
200 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Finance the threshold for inheritance tax between brothers and sisters; if same is different if persons live together; when these thresholds were last adjusted; and if improvement is under construction.
[39924/05]
195 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Finance the reason a claim for a refund of DIRT was refused to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; his views on the matter; and if arrangements will be made to have the amount due awarded.
[39919/05]
376 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which a person (details supplied) whose work authorisation documentation was removed from him by GNIB, can go about regularising his status here; the way in which he can obtain renewal or replacement of his full work authorisation permit or other in order that he may remain in employment here.
[36811/05]
262 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which a person (details supplied) whose work authorisation documentation was removed from him by GNIB, can go about regularising his status here; the way in which he can obtain renewal or replacement of his full work authorisation permit, or other, in order that he may remain in employment here.
[36813/05]
206 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which a person (details supplied) can apply for citizenship and the length of time it would take to process this application.
[36119/05]
177 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if some type of compensation will be made available by her Department to farmers who joined the early retirement scheme and subsequently sold quota in 2001, resulting in a loss of entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36076/05]
362 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to develop a pier at Parkmore, Kinvara, County Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Parkmore pier is deteriorating at an alarming rate and that a breakwater is required on the south side with a slipway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35336/05]
246 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, further to her announcement of capital funding for the provision of an Alzheimer’s unit for St. Ita’s Hospital, Newcastle West, County Limerick she can confirm when tenders will be invited by the Health Service Executive for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35335/05]
421 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science when talks will take place between officials from her Department and the union representing bus escorts to discuss terms and conditions of employment (details supplied).
[34968/05]
435 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress to date in 2005 on an application by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick under the installation aid scheme.
[33904/05]
247 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the holder of a medical card can have his or her card re-issued on an annual basis without furnishing all documentation to the Health Service Executive (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34264/05]
634 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science the facilities, services and special centres of education which are available to children with dyslexia; her views on the institution in Belfast (details supplied); if there is a similar body here or if pupils can be referred to or linked into services it provides; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33087/05]
486 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for citizenship for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30327/05]
464 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for citizenship (details supplied) will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30053/05]
215 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation on the closure of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if arrangements for closure, transfer of children, final closure date and so on have been agreed with her Department; and if there is sufficient school capacity in the area in view of the building of new housing schemes.
[27182/05]
180 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation in relation to a person (details supplied); the actual and percentage increase in adult dependant allowances in the past five years and ten years; the increase in threshold for claiming adult dependant allowance in relation to spouses in part-time work and still qualifying for adult dependant allowance; and if it has kept pace with rise in minimum wage rates; if a part-time working spouse works less hours than those worked ten years ago in order to qualify for the adult dependant allowances; and the old age entitlements for a person when they are 65 or 66 years of age.
[27176/05]
176 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the situation in relation to the metrology unit in Enterprise Ireland; the reason it has lost interest in the metrology unit; the person who recommended that the unit transfer to NSAI; if there is not an inherent conflict in a national organisation attempting to offer both calibration and certification services to the same customers; if EU partners have not arrived at the same conclusion; the reason the metrology unit cannot stay where it is and where it works; if a move will take place; if it will not be logical to bring metrology and legal metrology together in a new body; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27194/05]
128 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position on arrangements that holiday makers should make to protect themselves against medical expenses in the island of Jersey; if the normal E111 form suffices; if there is some other arrangement; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27168/05]
1399 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress which has been made in relation to the Athea, Askeaton, Foynes and Shanagolden sewerage schemes, following on the meeting which took place between Limerick County Council and officials on 20 September 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25374/05]
1398 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress which has been made with regard to the Kilmallock and Dromcollogher sewerage schemes in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25373/05]
345 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a third geriatrician will be appointed to the mid west region of the HSE, catering for the Limerick city and county area; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24947/05]
399 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she plans to implement the findings of the recent report on orthodontics of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25372/05]
620 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of medical students per year admitted to universities or institutions here; the breakdown between Irish and European Union nationals and non-EU nationals; if, in view of the shortage of Irish doctors, the numbers will be increased; and if she will report on the matter.
[24004/05]
601 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation in relation to the basis of calculation of eligibility for third level maintenance grants; if income is that recorded on the P60 form; if allowance is made for outgoings, for example, mortgage payments; if not, the reason therefor; if she will consider a change or alteration in the basis by basing eligibility on net rather than gross payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[23926/05]
531 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the €58 million provided in the national development plan for the connect project in the probation and prison area; the details of funding spent to date; the progress made; if the programme is on schedule; if it is being favourably viewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23943/05]
530 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the situation regarding Irish citizens who legally marry abroad and apply to bring their spouse here but encounter long delays with his Department; the length of time approval should take; the number of such applications made or approved in the past 12 months; if extra staff is required in the section; the number of cases refused in the past five years; the number which continue to be refused after appeal; the way in which such refusals are justified; and the way in which his Department seems justified in saving people from themselves.
[23942/05]
529 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding a householder who has lost house deeds; the agency under his Department which will provide a new set; and the way in which a person should process his or her requirements.
[23941/05]
427 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Transport the checks or requirements regarding the drivers and vehicles of full size private hire buses; the organisation which checks on the roadworthiness of such vehicles; if they are subject to annual NCT tests or the equivalent; if such evidence should be available to clients hiring a bus; and the person who checks on concerns or reports of clients after use.
[24000/05]
426 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Transport if the deficiency in the Aer Lingus pension fund for existing pensioners, who received annual increases far below the equivalent of other semi-State employees, will be corrected with a substantial transfer of financial resources into the pension fund from the proposed future partial privatisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23998/05]
405 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation with regard to policy and commitment to women over 65 years who have no payment or recognition for their years of work in the home; and if he will report on the system of credit stamps currently given to women taking time off from work to rear families; when this system was introduced; the system which can be introduced for women who provided such service prior to that; the number of spouses in receipt of the dependent adult allowance who receive the contributory old age pension; and the cost to give these spouses the full non-contributory pension.
[24176/05]
404 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation with regard to the granting of supplementary benefits by community welfare officers to immigrants and others in need; his views on the stories of persons obtaining grants towards purchasing cars and so on due to racist taunts on public transport; the number of times such grants were given; the number of times grants of over €1,000 were given for the purchase of cars or other transport means; the reason such perceptions still exist if they are not based on fact; and if special grants for immigrants on any social or cultural grounds are given.
[24175/05]
402 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position for persons on social welfare payments who change the payment system from book to bank account and who feel they lose a week’s payment in the process; if he will report on the system; if a week’s loss will be avoided; and if the system will be changed to avoid the perception of loss.
[24172/05]
382 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the living alone allowance was first introduced; the rate of same when introduced; when it was last increased; the level to which it was increased; if he will consider an increase in the allowance; and if it will be increased to all persons over 66 years living alone whether receiving a social welfare pension or not.
[23990/05]
337 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the national conference centre; the target dates for progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23742/05]
286 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on ongoing staff negotiations at An Post; the reason matters are being allowed to drift on; if he is directly involved; if they are being left to management; the details of increases in payment to the board and the chair; and the reason for same.
[23751/05]
267 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Finance when the tax age allowance was first introduced; the rate of same when introduced; when it was last increased; the level to which it was increased; and if he will consider an increase in the allowance in budget 2006.
[23987/05]