939 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the action she will take to assist the needs of individual students who have special needs, with specific reference to the pressing need to effect changes to their school system and to reduce the average number of children per class; and if she will comment on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
[15163/07]
162 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the work of the interim national property services regulatory authority and of its director, appointed in June 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14696/07]
79 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the organisations that have been allocated funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund since the start of 2007; the amount allocated on each occasion; the name and location of each organisation; the purpose of the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15002/07]
596 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans his Department holds for the necessary cleansing of the south park area in Galway; the funding that will be made available to the local authority to assist in this matter; the additional funding that has been sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14073/07]
595 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals for upgrading the sewage systems in County Galway.
[14054/07]
594 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the instructions as have been given by his Department for the implementation of European directives in relation to waste water and clean drinking water; and the measures he has taken with Galway City Council and Galway County Council in this regard.
[14053/07]
504 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the timescale for the provision of sites, repairs and extensions and if projects are included in the capital programme in such a way as to improve the conditions for pupils, parents and teachers of a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14070/07]
503 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the timescale for the provision of sites, repairs and extensions and if projects are included in the capital programme in such a way as to improve the conditions for pupils, parents and teachers of a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14069/07]
502 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the timescale for the provision of sites, repairs and extensions and if projects are included in the capital programme in such a way as to improve the conditions for pupils, parents and teachers of a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14068/07]
501 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science further to previous parliamentary questions, the work which has been initiated with regard to the necessary upgrading, specifically extension, of a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the work which has been carried out at this school and the work that remains; when this work will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14067/07]
500 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she proposes to change the Education Act 1998 in such a way as will establish conformity with European and international equality norms in relation to the hiring, promotion, and working conditions of teachers.
[14055/07]
499 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the continued underfund in the areas of student supports and the infrastructure of colleges and the fact that Ireland invests less public money in undergraduate education compared to other leading European economies; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14051/07]
305 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if information is available to him concerning the circumstances that led to the detention of 15 naval personnel in waters between Iran and Iraq; the territorial waters in which the incident took place and the purposes of the exercises involved; and such other factors as led him to adopt the position stated on behalf of the General Council of the European Union.
[14052/07]
299 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the sum allocated, the sum drawn down and the related works completed to combat coastal erosion each year for the past ten years.
[14058/07]
298 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the steps that are being taken to put in place a legislative and management structure for the extended shelf off the western and southern land mass.
[14057/07]
297 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the Government’s action programme for the Millennium 1999 Commitment in relation to legislation for a comprehensive integrated management of the coastal zone remains Government policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14056/07]
282 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the proposals brought to Government in relation to replacement or amendment to the Foreshore Act 1933.
[14063/07]
281 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the sum spent on coastal erosion in the past five years for each local authority area; the sum allocated in the same year; and the sum sought by the local authorities.
[14061/07]
275 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans held by her Department with regard to reports of the imposition of private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals in Galway City and County; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14071/07]
162 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the case of a person (details supplied) who had applied for asylum in 2006 and was rejected by his Department on the basis that they could have sought medical treatment in their country of origin rather than here; if he will re-examine the case in view of the fact that the application was not made on health grounds but on a humanitarian basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14066/07]
161 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the fact that Gardaí who retired prior to 1992 do not qualify for four types of allowances for time spent working unsocial hours, namely bank holidays, Sunday and Saturday hours, and night time hours, although those who retired later do; the reason for this anomaly; the progress being made in his Department to redress this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14064/07]
283 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the frequency, dates, results and responses to such information as was provided to his Department by Galway City Council and Galway County Council in view of the fact that it is a legal requirement that water be regularly tested; the dates and the section of his Department to which this information was transmitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13243/07]
284 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will, as an emergency measure, sanction additional sources as are necessary, together with the release of funds as may alleviate the crisis in relation to its water supply facing Galway city and county, facilitate short-term measures and enable the major capital works to be fast tracked; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13244/07]
282 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when his Department informed Galway City Council of the availability of €21.5 million to upgrade the Terryland filtration system; if his Department initiated inspections of the filtration systems of water treatment plants; if it sought to put pressure on local authorities to use the funding made available to them; the most recent review that exists in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13242/07]
281 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the report on Guidelines for Local Authorities on Minimising the Risk of Cryptosporidium in Water Supplies dating from 1998 is generally available; if it has been updated; if it is based on current standard European Union standards; if reports on its implementation have been regularly transmitted to his Department from local authorities; and if, in view of the situation which Galway faces he will provide an urgent reply.
[13241/07]
70 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if in view of the serious public concern regarding the imposition of a three-year suspended jail sentence in a rape case, he has plans for the introduction of sentencing guidelines for persons convicted of such serious crimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12911/07]
42 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received the report he sought from the Garda authorities into the handling of a case (details supplied); the terms of reference of the inquiry he has asked to be carried out; when he expects to receive this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12909/07]
632 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will further comment on Parliamentary Question No. 235 of 8 February 2007 regarding the number of language resource teachers in Galway; the reason the additional teaching posts have not been finalised; and when these schools can expect the required additional teaching posts to be filled.
[12900/07]
557 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the arrangements in place to ensure the discharge by universities of their statutory obligation, under section 12 ( e ) of the Universities Act 1997, to promote both of the official languages of the State with special regard to the preservation, promotion and use of the Irish language and the preservation and promotion of the distinctive cultures of Ireland; if she monitors the courses of study and research promoted by the various universities to facilitate this objective; if she was consulted on or gave a view on the abandonment by University College Dublin of its course in old Irish; her views on whether that course of action is compatible with UCD’s statutory obligations and its distinctive record as one of the premier universities in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12409/07]
412 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason a request by way of a Freedom of Information request from a centre (details supplied) to the Arts Council with regard to a refused application for an arts application not been given a reply; the reason for this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12901/07]
320 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the reasons that the National Recreation Policy has been continually pushed back to later dates; when the Government plans to launch this instrument; if she is in receipt of correspondence from a centre (details supplied) in County Galway; if her attention has been drawn to this centre’s calls for a café and drop-in centre; her views on this request; if such a request will be granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12550/07]
311 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on an amendment to Statutory Instrument No. 276 of 2005 and Section 53(2) A of the Health Act 1970, as amended by the Health (Amendment) Act 2005, in order to ensure that back payments will not be sought for a nursing contribution from those parents, such as the parents of autistic children, in long stay institutions, and other institutions.
[12523/07]
186 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department will assist a person (details supplied) who has lived here since 2001 but was refused asylum in 2005; if his Department will give leave to remain in Ireland in view of the fact that the person came here as a separated child and has no support systems outside of Ireland; the present circumstances of this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12571/07]
139 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the proposed timescale for the reopening of each of the sections of the Western Rail Corridor.
[12662/07]
122 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the reason he has not transposed Directive 2003/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2003 on occurrence reporting in civil aviation.
[12661/07]
196 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on, and such action as his Department will take to address, the situation whereby women who in the past were forced to retire from public jobs upon their marriage are now refused State pensions due to the fact that they have not worked sufficient weeks to qualify for such a pension, in particular the way this ruling affects a person (details supplied).
[12202/07]
123 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on a case in which a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has been refused either an English version, or a copy translated from the Irish, of their naturalisation certificate of Irish citizenship.
[12200/07]
89 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the views on the roll out of cervical cancer screening; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12081/07]
Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to outline the steps he is proposing to take to deal with the continuing and escalating threat to public health in Galway arising from contamination of the public water supply by the cryptosporidiosis parasite; the further steps he is taking to ensure that the people of the Galway area will have access to clean and safe drinking water; if he will release the necessary funding to allow for the remedial work required to ensure the safety of the system; if he will allow such human resources as are necessary to be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
6 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the position on the roll-out of BreastCheck nationwide, per centre; the latest cost estimates of each centre; if she expects the roll-out will be on time and within 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12065/07]
245 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in order to ensure the delivery of the most appropriate teaching skills in the teaching of English as a second language, she will ensure the religious ethos exemption will not be used in such a way as to impede the recruitment, establishment or promotion of those with exceptional skills who have come into the area of teaching, and whose contribution is both necessary and invaluable; if she has satisfied herself that to invoke the religious exemption in order to adversely affect the employment prospects of an applicant to a teaching position would breach the spirit and letter of Irish, European and international equality legislation.
[11926/07]
86 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to recent comments from the president of the GAA that the association is disappointed and unhappy at the Government’s refusal to allow gaelic games to be played in the proposed sports stadium in Tallaght; his views on these comments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11730/07]
559 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the work that has been initiated with regard to the necessary upgrading, specifically extension, of a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the work which has been carried out at this school and the work that remains; when this work will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[11308/07]
126 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the Broadcasting Bill which emerged from the recent widespread e-consultation process will be published before the general election; if he will issue a directive to the BCI to ensure that general campaigning advertising such as the recent Trócaire campaign will not be subjected to censorship; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11366/07]
110 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will direct ComReg to ensure that the universal service obligation for telecoms services is fully upheld and that no residential public service telephone network provision requests is not granted within a maximum three month time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11362/07]
98 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers who graduated from all colleges of education including on-line courses and postgraduate courses in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10713/07]
58 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has entered into consultation with the colleges of education in order to increase the number of teachers who will be available to address the projected increase in primary school population over the next ten years and also to reduce class sizes to European norms; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10714/07]
238 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position which Ireland will take on the US-India agreement at the next meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10625/07]
127 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the most up to date position in Darfur, and in particular the ongoing difficulties being experienced with regard to a joint African Union/United Nations force being sent into the region; the position of Ireland on the matter; the assistance Ireland may be able to provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10501/07]