21 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason there has been a reduction in the Estimates in the social insurance fund from £12 million to £6.3 million; and if he will make a statement on this reduction.
[20796/97]
19 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, in his Department to ensure that means testing of social welfare payments poses as little disincentive as possible; if so, if these plans include the co-ordination of means testing with the Department of Health and Children and health boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20608/97]
12 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the recent contacts, if any, he had with the Nigerian authorities and his attempts to convey to them Irish concerns about human rights abuses in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18106/97]
4 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the findings of the INOU research document entitled Welfare to Work - the Financial Benefits of Taking up Employment, which research was carried out in response to reports that people were better off on benefits; his views on whether the pathway from benefits can be very complex; the plans, if any, he has to reduce the problems of transfer and the number of agencies involved and to help with the reintroduction to work in particular for the long-term unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16560/97]
9 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the fees paid per person to solicitors and barristers in respect of women who qualified for equality payments; the level of payment made to solicitors and barristers in respect of women who were deemed ineligible for equality payments; the total amount paid in legal fees to date; the approximate estimated final figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1726/96]
10 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment the direction, if any, his Department has given to local authorities regarding the criteria to be adopted in the allocation of housing which has been built by voluntary organisations in conjunction with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15865/95]
5 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the average age for officers, NCOs and men over the past 10 years; the percentage of non-operational troops each year over the same period; the number recruited and promoted to each rank each year over the same period.[3903/94]
16 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach when he will publish the report of the review of the Defence Forces commissioned by him through the Efficiency Audit Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1531/94]
14 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has to appoint an ombudsman for the Defence Forces in view of the fact that the long established grievance proceedings in the Permanent Defence Force via the redress of wrongs has proven to be antiquated and inefficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
22 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction leave of absence with pay to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this has been recommended by the County Louth Vocational Education Committee.
15 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the number by unit, corps or command of recruits who were successful in the current recruiting campaign who were members of the FCA; if the results are disappointing to members of An Fórsa who have given long and loyal service to the Defence Forces and who carry out security duties and compliment efforts of the PDF; if, in any future recruiting, he will lay down at least a minimum percentage of places for serving members of An Fórsa who should be granted entry to the PDF; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
14 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health the level of hip operations over the last five years on a waiting list in each health board area in the country; the cost of these operations in each health board area; if he will give a comparison as to the estimated cost if he utilised the services outside of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
57 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of cattle exported on the hoof in each of the past five years; the increase and decrease for each year; the categories being exported; the ports from which the exports are taking place; the plans, if any, he has to have this matter changed to a more productive use with a view to creating more employment in meat processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
57 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of cattle exported on the hoof in each of the past five years; the increase and decrease for each year; the categories being exported; the ports from which the exports are taking place; the plans, if any, he has to have this matter changed to a more productive use with a view to creating more employment in meat processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
130 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment if the election of members to Drogheda Corporation will go ahead next year in conjunction with the European elections.
129 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment if the election of members to Dundalk UDC will go ahead next year in conjunction with the European elections.
128 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment if the election of members to the Ardee Town Commission will go ahead next year in conjunction with the European elections.
130 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment if the election of members to Drogheda Corporation will go ahead next year in conjunction with the European elections.
129 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment if the election of members to Dundalk UDC will go ahead next year in conjunction with the European elections.
128 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment if the election of members to the Ardee Town Commission will go ahead next year in conjunction with the European elections.
82 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to transfer the Louth/Meath divisional headquarters to Drogheda, County Louth; and when this will take place.
68 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice if the decision to transfer the Garda Divisional Headquarters from Drogheda, County Louth, was part of an agreement at the Anglo-Irish Conference and at the request of the RUC and the British Government; if this was a two-way agreement that they would equally transfer and create a similar arrangement on the Border which they never implemented; if, in view of the fact that the arrangement made by her predecessor has proven to be a dismal failure, she will reverse the original decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
82 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to transfer the Louth/Meath divisional headquarters to Drogheda, County Louth; and when this will take place.
68 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice if the decision to transfer the Garda Divisional Headquarters from Drogheda, County Louth, was part of an agreement at the Anglo-Irish Conference and at the request of the RUC and the British Government; if this was a two-way agreement that they would equally transfer and create a similar arrangement on the Border which they never implemented; if, in view of the fact that the arrangement made by her predecessor has proven to be a dismal failure, she will reverse the original decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
7 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the increase in crime in the Drogheda area of County Louth which is a direct result of the transfer of the Louth/Meath divisional headquarters from Drogheda and the reduction in staffing at the Garda Barracks; the plans, if any, she has to redress this serious situation; if her attention has been further drawn to the opinion of the public and the gardaí that the division could best be served from a more central position and that a separate unit should operate in Border areas to combat cross-Border serious crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
24 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the delay in implementing the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, is reasonable considering the fact that 20,000 elderly are currently in residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
24 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the delay in implementing the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, is reasonable considering the fact that 20,000 elderly are currently in residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
26 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there was no prior no consultation with the Councils of the Regional Tourism Organisations regarding the announcement by her of the setting up of the new Enterprise Partnership Boards; her views on whether wasteful duplication must be avoided and the wide experience and expertise of regional tourism organisations must be used to the maximum; if tourism is to be more effective at local level and play its rightful role in job creation the steps, if any, she proposes to take to rectify this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
15 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been drawn to the efforts made by the parents' council of St. Oliver Community College, Drogheda, County Louth, to provide the finance for the extra classrooms required by Drogheda Vocational Education Committee; if the promised finance for this much-needed project will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
10 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans he has regarding the issuing of electronic plastic identity cards and the purposes for which the card can be used in (1) the short term and (2) the long term; whether PRSI data will be used for means testing and the payment of benefits; if so, if he will give details of the subjects which will be means tested and the benefits which will be so paid; if legislation will be introduced to ensure that cardholders are safeguarded by a confidential control mechanism; if so, if he will outline the system which will be used for such control; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
26 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the social employment scheme is no longer eligible for support from the European Social Fund; if it is intended to (a) recommend at ECOFIN changes in the application of the ESF or (b) have a training component attached to the SES so as to enable it to continue to qualify for ESF funding and support; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
26 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the social employment scheme is no longer eligible for support from the European Social Fund; if it is intended to (a) recommend at ECOFIN changes in the application of the ESF or (b) have a training component attached to the SES so as to enable it to continue to qualify for ESF funding and support; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
19 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline (a) the average hours worked on duty of officers, NCOs and privates in Border-based units, (b) the average hourly rate of pay for such duty and (c) the average weekly pay including allowances; if he will accept that troops on Border duty work longer hours and receive lower pay per hour and per week, even with Border allowances, than operation troops engaged elsewhere; and if he will give details of his plans to redress this situation.
17 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the number of beds being closed in hospitals for the summer season in each health board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
7 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to deal with the substantial appeals on disability benefit resulting from the postal dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
2 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends, as a matter of urgency, to change the legislation which prevents widows whose deceased husbands obtained foreign divorces and re-married, from qualifying for widow's pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
14 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Finance if, having regard to his press release of 11 March 1992 relating to guidelines for semi-State bodies, and having regard to the fact that the Official Secrets Act applies to all citizens of the State, he will outline whether there is in existence codes of conduct or legislative provisions in relation to the activities of civil servants; if he will further outline the essential matters contained therein and the responsibilities of civil servants acting on boards, authorities or companies established under statute or the Companies Acts; the date they were last updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
67 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the sections of the Gleeson report which have been applied in full, in part, or have not been applied; the reason for the non-application of any such sections; if he will further outline the plans he has to complete the remaining unapplied recommendations of the report, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
67 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the sections of the Gleeson report which have been applied in full, in part, or have not been applied; the reason for the non-application of any such sections; if he will further outline the plans he has to complete the remaining unapplied recommendations of the report, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
48 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment when the Bill on the subcounty structure of local government will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
87 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the nine weeks penalty envisaged in the Social Welfare Act, 1992 will be applied to workers in the public services who opt for the Government's own voluntary retirement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of young single men and women who have been refused unemployment assistance for each of the past five years due to the fact that their parents were working and thereby were refused benefit on a means test basis; the numbers for the same period who were granted reduced benefit; if he has any plans to review this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
87 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the nine weeks penalty envisaged in the Social Welfare Act, 1992 will be applied to workers in the public services who opt for the Government's own voluntary retirement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
5 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he intends to introduce regulations to withdraw social welfare benefit for nine weeks to workers who are declared redundant; if the nine weeks penalty will apply to both unemployment and disability benefit; the level of redundancy payments which will invoke the nine weeks penalty; whether women due maternity benefits, and who go redundant before they go on benefit will be included in the nine weeks penalty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline the plans, if any, his Department have to deal with the continuing increase in the level of crime, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
16 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if, arising from the reduction in the financial allocation to the Defence Forces, he will outline, (1) the areas where he expects savings to be made and (2) the effect it will have on, (a) PDF, (b) FCA, (c) Civil Defence, (d) Army, (e) Navy and (f) Air Corps; if recruitment to the PDF will be reduced or deferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence whether, in view of the transfer of functions from the civilian side to the military authorities, he intends to introduce legislation to amend the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924, and the Defence Act, 1954; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
57 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education his views on the current FÁS proposal to run apprenticeship pilot programmes in FÁS centres thereby excluding the input of vocational education committee colleges, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
57 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education his views on the current FÁS proposal to run apprenticeship pilot programmes in FÁS centres thereby excluding the input of vocational education committee colleges, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that for the past three years the Dundalk swimming pool fundraising committee have been actively raising funds for the provision of a much needed swimming pool in the town of Dundalk; if he will accept that, with a population of 25,000 people and a hinterland of 60,000 people Dundalk has an outstanding claim for this long-awaited facility; if he will outline the plans his Department have to grant aid the project directly or through the national lottery; and if he will make a statement on the matter.