181 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans in place to deploy manpower to ensure that no rural area suffers a downgrade in coverage as a result of the Wicklow-Wexford Garda division being split into two separate divisions particularly in areas like Askamore currently policed from Carnew-Bunclody and currently within the Gorey area coverage, Coolgreany and Inch which are looked after by the Arklow Garda Division and the Ballythomas area which is currently policed by the Tinahely Garda Station; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20606/08]
157 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people from ethnic minorities who have been recruited to the Garda Síochána; the number of people from ethnic minorities who have been recruited to the Garda reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20605/08]
479 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on introducing a grant scheme for wood log gasifiers, in view of the fact that there are over 14,000 farm foresters here and such a scheme would incentivise the use of this highly efficient technology for burning wood given that wood log gasifiers comply with the European standard EN303-5 and therefore should be eligible for grant aid under the greener homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21030/08]
340 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the status of an application for grant aid by a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and when the applicant can expect a decision.
[20969/08]
95 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has been in contact with the Health Service Executive or the Department of Health and Children regarding the funding for staff to operate homeless shelters that were constructed with funding from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20840/08]
366 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when applications for the Farm Improvement Scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be processed and dealt with, which were received from 21 October to 31 October 2007; if it is proposed to fund them from the main FIS funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19690/08]
541 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost of the change advertising and information campaign from instigation to the end of its five year duration, including the cost of television and billboard advertising, set up and maintenance of its website, consultants costs and all other associated expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18630/08]
482 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Defence the cost of establishing and equipping the National Emergency Co-ordination Centre in Kildare Street, Dublin, including staffing levels and costs, maintenance costs and ancillary costs such as its website; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18628/08]
476 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Education and Science the time schedule for the proposed review of Section 9 of the Universities Act 1997 as it pertains to the application by Waterford Institute of Technology to be upgraded to university status; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18629/08]
505 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the age limit applied to jury service which disbars those over the age of 70 from serving is ageist; if he has plans to change it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17267/08]
544 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the matter (details supplied) he will confirm affirmatively or in the negative whether any such agreement was entered into by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17879/08]
504 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of a matter (details supplied) he will respond in full and confirm affirmatively or in the negative whether any such agreement was entered into by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17266/08]
392 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Education and Science if plans for two new eight classroom primary schools for Gorey are going ahead in view of the fact that no mention was made of them in a newspaper report recently which listed 22 new primary schools due to open in September 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17209/08]
314 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason there is a backlog of applications for family income supplement with her Department only dealing with applications from September 2007 at this time, resulting in new applicants being told they will have to wait months for their claims to be processed; the action she will take to shift the backlog in order that those in need of this income support are not left waiting for months; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17268/08]
89 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of a matter (details supplied) he will respond in full and confirm affirmatively or in the negative whether any such agreement was entered into by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17265/08]
20 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Transport if he has had discussions with the Office of Public Works or the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to discuss the provision of public service car park spaces in Dublin; if he has plans to promote a sustainable transport policy for Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17482/08]
9 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any Government Member will attend the official opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympics in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16628/08]
174 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason Sustainable Energy Ireland is not renewing its contract with a partnership (details supplied) particularly as officers in SEI recognised the achievements of the project involved and recommended its application for renewal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16821/08]
393 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Defence the amount it cost to have the emergency booklets recently sent out to all households here published; the amount it cost to distribute them; the amount spent and that will be spent on media advertising; the total cost involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16445/08]
162 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will consider back-dating the domiciliary care allowance granted to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
[15104/08]
82 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects to review planning Part V legislation to stop the practice of some local authorities taking mostly cash payments instead of finished housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14340/08]
621 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the expected time schedule for his Department to commission the extension to Gorey waste water treatment plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14841/08]
14 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if in view of the Government’s efforts to eradicate discrimination, he has plans to remove the age bar or to give persons aged over 70 the option to put themselves forward for selection for Jury service if called to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14153/08]
256 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when funding will be transferred to Wexford County Council to allow it to disburse moneys for the mobility aids housing grant scheme, the housing aid for older people and the housing adaptation grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12590/08]
978 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the introduction of water charges will improve the financing of local government and improve its local democracy.
[11904/08]
963 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Environmental Protection Agency keeps his Department appraised of the number of waste water treatment plants nationally not working to a satisfactory level; and the number of these units that have polluted watercourses and streams.
[11658/08]
902 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 552 of 12 February 2008 and in view of his responsibility for the effective corporate governance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, the reason he does not involve himself in matters relating to the filling of vacancies relating to the GSOC in view of the gravity of the situation at the GSOC whereby, by its own admission publicly, it is severely backlogged with complaints which is damaging public confidence in the complaints procedures and noting the indications he has given in media comments that he will introduce legislative changes to relieve the burden on the GSOC; his views on whether the situation would be greatly improved, including staff morale, if the GSOC acted to fill its full complement of sanctioned posts including that of head of corporate affairs responsible, inter alia , for human resources recruitment and oversight of the complaints casework unit which has remained vacant since the post was sanctioned in July 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12067/08]
901 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he supports Government decentralisation policy in all its aspects including the Dublin central applications facility arrangements agreed centrally with the unions; his views on the view expressed by the Department of Finance by letter dated 20 October 2007 to the director of administration at the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission that the GSOC does not have a veto on appointments under the Dublin CAF arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12066/08]
900 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, having regard to his statutory responsibilities, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, and with particular regard to his response to Parliamentary Question No. 552 of 12 February 2008, he will respond in full to the question and confirm whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a pivotal post sanctioned in July 2006, at principal officer level, as head of corporate affairs at the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission under the Dublin central application facility has been suppressed as per a communication dated 22 August 2007 from the GSOC directly with the officer concerned who was offered and accepted assignment to the post under the Dublin CAF; if he was notified of such a decision in advance or subsequently; the reason for the decision in the context of amending the related Department of Finance sanction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12065/08]
899 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to, or if he has been notified by, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission of a review being undertaken of the staffing requirements with regard to decentralisation of part of its staffing complement to Roscrea and Longford; the reason for such a review; when such a review was initiated; when it was concluded or is expected to be concluded; if in the spirit of partnership all the staff or their representatives at GSOC headquarters have been fully involved and consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12063/08]
898 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects staff at the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission will be decentralised to Roscrea and Longford; if any of the existing complement of staff at the GSOC in Dublin are obliged by virtue of their employment contract or status as civil servants to relocate to those offices as part of the decentralisation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12062/08]
897 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to, or if he has been notified by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission of a review being undertaken of the staffing requirements with regard to decentralisation of part of its staffing complement to Roscrea and Longford; when such a review was initiated; when it was concluded or is expected to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12061/08]
857 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if policing levels are being re-evaluated in Wexford in view of recent Department figures which showed the county to have the third highest level of gun crime in the country, after Limerick and Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11630/08]
806 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Education and Science if plans for the new secondary school for Gorey have been prepared; if so, when it is expected they will be lodged with Wexford County Council; the number of patrons who have expressed interest in becoming patrons of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12232/08]
786 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Education and Science the position of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Wexford to the Teaching Council for their degree qualification to be recognised by the VEC for a particular post leaving certificate course taught; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[11994/08]
607 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the rural development programme will commence; if there are issues which are hindering the tendering process in rolling out the new rural development programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11903/08]
606 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there will be additional places on the rural social scheme provided in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11902/08]
511 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Industrial Development Authority initiated visits of potential investors or companies to Gorey over each of the past four years in an effort to bring jobs to the town in view of the fact that it has seen no job creation other than in the retail/service sector and the huge increase in population whereby it is acknowledged that Gorey is the fastest growing town in County Wexford; the dates of such visits; the results of discussions which have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11657/08]
467 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Transport when he asked officials in his Department to consider the study on park and ride facilities completed in 2002; if it still holds true at this stage; and when he expects to have a response from them.
[11622/08]
428 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; when the required bed will become available; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12230/08]
400 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the dealing of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford by the Health Service Executive health repayment scheme was appropriate.
[12012/08]
337 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason blood collection bags for haemochromatosis patients are not covered by medical cards and such patients have to buy these themselves; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[11748/08]
196 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if a practice to interview Public Appointments Service applicants or assignees under the Dublin central applications facility arrangements for positions in the GSOC was the subject of agreement with his Department; if his Department has made it clear to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission that it does not have a veto on appointments under the Dublin CAF arrangements; his views on whether any office, including the GSOC, should comply in full with the procedures laid down by the Dublin CAF arrangements as agreed centrally with the unions and not seek to frustrate Government policy on decentralisation on spurious grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12068/08]
195 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views, having regard to the centrally agreed arrangements for the Dublin Central Applications Facility and specifically the transfer schedule for assignment of volunteers which obliged personnel officers to work to ensure that transfers take place within four weeks of the officer being informed by the Public Appointments Service that the transfer is to take place and the exceptional further extension for a maximum of another four weeks by agreement, on whether these arrangements should be complied with in full and in a timely manner to progress Government decentralisation policy and in the event of non-compliance specifically in the case of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission relating to the position of head of corporate affairs, the action he will to take to ensure full compliance and accountability; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12060/08]
194 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views on whether, conditions imposed by his Department in sanctions approving the recruitment of officers for statutory agencies or commissions operating under the aegis of other Departments should be rigidly adhered to and particularly so as the sanctions underpin the statutory Ministerial consent; if his attention has been drawn to the breach of such sanction in the case of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission notified to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform recently following a response to a Freedom of Information request; the action he proposes to take to make the GSOC accountable for its actions and to comply with sanction approvals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12058/08]
170 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he or his Department met to discuss the pension entitlements of staff at RTÉ; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that RTÉ management has informed the RTÉ trade union group that it is not possible to introduce a model Public Service defined benefit pension scheme due to restrictions imposed by his Department; if his Department has imposed such restrictions; if RTÉ is the only body in the Public Service sphere so excluded; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that there are three types of pension scheme operated by RTÉ; if he is satisfied that appropriate approval has been given for the establishment of all three schemes, including the special scheme set up for a limited number of undefined employees; the criteria for membership of the special pension scheme established by RTÉ for certain employees; and the precise membership of the scheme.
[11212/08]
10 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the new board of the National Archives Advisory Council will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10938/08]
252 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department received correspondence in relation to a promotion to the High Court (details supplied); if his Department’s attention has been drawn to such correspondence or if his Department is investigating where such correspondence could now be.
[10801/08]
114 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the diplomatic ties Ireland has with Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10344/08]