65 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the provision of a new school in respect of a school (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the most recent reading of lead contamination in the water is 409 and that it should read 25 and that the local authority has stated that it is not responsible for the pipes from the meter from the school; the steps he will take to address this situation; his views on whether a new building is the best solution for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23161/09]
64 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason, in view of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, an institution (details supplied) in County Wicklow was not deemed a named institution under the redress board despite complaints that were made regarding abuse in this State-run institution; the steps he will take to ensure that those who suffered abuse in this institution are compensated by the State; the measures he will take to address this omission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23160/09]
10 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the bilateral adoption agreement between Ireland and Vietnam; if she will renew the bilateral adoption agreement between Ireland and Vietnam before the Adoption Bill 2009 is passed; the position regarding inter-country adoption, in particular such adoptions between Ireland and Vietnam; the status of the agreement between the two countries; the status of persons who had been on the list of adoption before the initial agreement was terminated; the position in this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[23159/09]
9 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the status regarding the bilateral agreement relating to inter-country adoption between Ireland and Russia; if a copy of the agreement will be provided to parents in order that all parties are fully aware of their rights and duties under this agreement; the nature and legal status of the agreement between the Health Service Executive, the Russian Embassy and the Adoption Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[23158/09]
649 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received correspondence from persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22351/09]
655 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the condition of a school (details supplied); if, in view of the poor condition of this school, a new building is now an urgent matter; the action he will take to help this school; if at this stage remedial work to improve the building is too costly and if a new building would make more financial sense; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22401/09]
173 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in publishing a draft national landscape strategy for public consultation; the person in his Department who is preparing the NLS; the qualifications these staff have in landscape architecture, landscape management and landscape planning; the timetable he is working to, in preparing the NLS; when he will publish the final document; the further reason Ireland has not been represented consistently at the Council of Europe’s series of conferences, workshops and seminars on the European Landscape Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21971/09]
73 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the research that has been initiated or completed under Irish Aid’s programme for strategic co-operation with higher education and research institutions launched in December 2006.
[21834/09]
96 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases of murder in which firearms were used in respect of each year from 1998 to date in 2009; the number of such cases in which prosecutions for murder were initiated; the number of such cases in which convictions were secured; if he is satisfied with the level of detection and conviction in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21482/09]
345 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his position on the upcoming climate talks in Copenhagen; if he will confirm the persons who will be attending these talks; if he has pushed for higher EU targets in the run-up to Copenhagen; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21046/09]
105 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change met in April 2009 as planned; the timeframe for the next meeting; and the schedule for meetings in 2009.
[21046/09]
68 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Transport when he will introduce legislation to revise the 1932 bus licensing legislation; the proposed measures the new legislation will contain to reform the system of bus licensing; the reason for the delay in introducing this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21260/09]
82 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Transport when the new Dublin Transport Authority will be established and fully operational; the process being run to appoint a chief executive officer for the DTA; if this is a national or internationally based process; when legislation will be published to transform the DTA into the National Transport Regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21261/09]
54 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding that will be spent in 2009 to implement A Vision for Change; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20469/09]
30 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the widespread concern at the closure of wards in various hospitals around the country; the impact this will have on waiting times for elective procedures and accident and emergency departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20468/09]
122 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farm inspections that will take place in 2009 by scheme; the cost of these inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20175/09]
56 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is in a position to regulate retailers in order that market share wars do not end up costing farmers their livelihoods and jobs in the food processing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20176/09]
343 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the level of compliance for building energy ratings for commercial buildings; the requirements for BER certificates on non-dwellings; his views on the requirements for new and existing commercial buildings as set out in the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20008/09]
98 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the contacts she has with the industrial development agencies with a view to securing alternative employment for the 1,800 workers who, it was announced in January 2009, are to lose their jobs at a plant (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19833/09]
71 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the introduction of a social economy or job initiative schemes to help deal with the unemployment situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19834/09]
33 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science the name of all members and their respective organisations which are represented on both the technical group and the steering group of the commission in respect to the Commission on School Accommodation reporting to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19246/09]
8 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science if he had been planning to introduce a junior certificate version of the leaving certificate vocational programme or leaving certificate applied syllabus; if this programme had been due to launch in 30 schools in disadvantaged areas; the status with regard to the introduction of the new courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19247/09]
143 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Finance if he has received correspondence from public representatives and county council members from County Wicklow in relation to the retention of staff at a centre (details supplied); his view on this correspondence in view of the need to retain these staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19203/09]
109 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recent year end results published by a bank (details supplied); his further views, in particular, on the payment of €27.6 million to a person in respect of their pension entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18956/09]
62 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Finance his proposals to help persons on high fixed rate mortgages and who may be having difficulties meeting loan repayments and who cannot afford the large lump sum charge to exit the fixed rate mortgage to avail of a lower variable rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18957/09]
259 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Transport his views on the fact that people are experiencing difficulties in getting through to the national car test centre in order to book an appointment; his further views on a case in which a NCT certificate is due to run out on 1 June 2009 but has had difficulty in getting through to the test centre to book an appointment, either by phone or through the website; the number of staff in the NCT centres; the waiting time for appointments; the reason for the difficulties in arranging appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18924/09]
239 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the proposed closure of St. Brigid’s Ward, St. Colmcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown, Dublin; the position for existing patients of that ward; the effects into the future of the closure of this ward; the position with regard to the accident and emergency department in this hospital; if she will ensure that there will be no reduction in accident and emergency services at this hospital, in particular between the hours of 8 p.m. to 8 am; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[18923/09]
87 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on submissions made recently to his Department on nationalising a company (details supplied); his further views on whether the company is crucial to plans to improve broadband access; the action he will take to secure that future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18684/09]
78 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the recent set back for digital terrestrial television here; the action he will take to move DTT forward; his views on whether it is commercially viable; if the target for analogue switch off by 2012 is possible; the way he will deal with the impact of the Wales switch over for viewers on the east coast; the number of European countries which have switched over to DTT to date; the implications if we are unable to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18683/09]
61 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he will meet his commitment to be on target to launch digital terrestrial television services to 85% of the population, including the south east, by autumn 2009 in view of the collapse of the deal (details supplied) for DTT; his plans to respond to the analogue switch off in Wales 2009 which will impact immediately on viewers in the south east of the country who currently receive overspill British television channels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18994/09]
350 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the attendance of the Legal Aid Board at a conference in New Zealand; the person who paid for the various travel expenses for this trip; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17563/09]
349 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a bonus was paid to management in the Legal Aid Board; the amount of bonus given per manager; the total amount given; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17562/09]
271 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will renew the bilateral adoption agreement between Ireland and Vietnam before the Adoption Bill 2009 is passed; the position regarding inter-country adoption, in particular such adoptions between Ireland and Vietnam; the status of the agreement between the two countries; the status of persons who had been on the list of adoption before the initial agreement was terminated; the position in this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[18033/09]
222 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will change the home energy saving scheme so that a building energy rating is mandatory; the reason a BER is not currently required; his views on ensuring local authority building control officers enforce the legislation covering BERs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17156/09]
197 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will ensure the Private Residential Tenancies Board amends its registration forms to include the building energy rating certificate number; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17157/09]
38 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is satisfied that there are sufficient resources with the habitual residence condition unit in her Department to allow for the speedy processing of jobseeker claims.
[16994/09]
12 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the discussions she has had with social welfare branch managers about their needs in order to speed up the processing of jobseeker claims.
[16995/09]
435 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science the arrangements made for local employment provision in the building contracts in regard to four vocational education committee schools to be constructed in County Offaly; the monitoring which has been taken out to ensure that any provision is complied with; the number of local employees working on each site; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16396/09]
401 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that registered contractors within the home energy saving scheme have been given advice through Sustainable Energy Ireland to purchase heating boilers at a reduced price in Northern Ireland; his views on whether this is appropriate advice for a Government scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16695/09]
391 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding onshore wind projects which are currently outside the gate three process; his views on whether onshore wind projects with a potential of 30 MW which have all the required planning will be given grid connection in the future; the criteria for inclusion in the consultation process for grid application; his position on onshore wind projects outside the gate three process; the number of applications awaiting grid connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16253/09]
387 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the proliferation of standard form restrictions that prohibit apartment residents, whether owners or tenants, from hanging their washing out to dry on their apartment balconies; his further views on whether purported aesthetic or property value considerations could or should outweigh the importance of promoting energy conservation and the avoidance of excessive and unnecessary domestic electricity consumption by drying machines, etc.; his plans to have consultations with representatives of landlords and property managers regarding abolishing the rule; if that proves ineffective, if he proposes appropriate legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16218/09]
608 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position for those who have invested in onshore wind farms but who are outside the gate three process; the position for a 30MW onshore wind farm that is not in the gate three process; if any future grid application system will favour a 30MW wind farm such as this over a smaller wind farm; the options available for these type of grid applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15246/09]
135 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the view expressed by the Garda Commissioner in an interview (details supplied) that Ireland is becoming a more violent place; the steps he plans to take to counter this trend; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14256/09]
74 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way, in respect of the announcement of 3 February 2009, he intends to achieve the general administrative reductions in regard to his Department; the amount expected to be saved in his Department’s budget as a result of this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14255/09]
124 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding offshore wind projects which are currently outside the gate three process; his views on whether offshore wind projects with a potential of 1GW would make a significant impact on the 2020 target; the criteria for inclusion in the consultation process for grid application; his position on offshore wind projects; the number of applications awaiting grid connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14906/09]
123 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason there is no retrospective payments of grants for micro-wind turbines; his views on whether this is unfair on persons who have recently invested in this initiative prior to the introduction of this grant scheme; the reason he is incentivising the erection of additional micro-wind turbines for research purposes and excluding the research possibilities from the existing turbines; the estimated cost of this grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14896/09]
122 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on directing State agencies and Departments to use both a lo-call number and local number for members of the public to phone in view of the fact that many people have free national calls which would be more cost efficient than calling the lo-call number; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14895/09]
121 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the exclusion of persons on low incomes from the home energy saving scheme; the reason there is a minimum requirement that the grant amount in the first application must be €500 or greater; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this excludes those who only require a cavity wall insulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14894/09]
313 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he envisages that broadband will be available in Kilmacanogue, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14228/09]