334 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if any of the additional Garda recruits will be trained in an alternative location to the Garda Training College in Templemore; the number expected to be trained elsewhere; the location at which they will be trained; and the expected loss of business to the entire economy of Templemore.
[33420/04]
333 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of new recruits currently in training at the Garda college in Templemore; the number of other attendees participating in other courses at the college; and the number of courses offered at the college.
[33419/04]
332 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he is putting in place to ensure adequate space for the current and additional recruits at the Garda training college in Templemore, in view of the extra Garda recruitment.
[33418/04]
295 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the fact that EU consumers are voting with their feet by not purchasing food products associated in any way with genetically modified crops; if Irish food products are in danger of losing competitive advantage in a highly competitive EU and worldwide market due to the potential impact which genetically modified crops would have on Ireland’s reputation of high quality food; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33409/04]
294 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on whether it is in Ireland’s best interest to establish Ireland as a genetically modified free zone in order to maintain competitive advantage and the reputation built up over many years by Bord Bia, in view of her views on Ireland’s clean green image; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33408/04]
225 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if a delegation from his Department has travelled or is planning to travel to the United States to commence discussions on the Irish-US bilateral agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33417/04]
224 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport the mandate he has given his officials travelling to the US for discussions on the US-Irish bilateral agreement; if the mandate he has given them includes safeguarding Shannon Airport and the economies of the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33416/04]
223 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if a timeframe has been established for the EU-US open skies negotiations to begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33415/04]
222 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 186 of 2 December 2004, if he will provide a substantial increase in funding to the RTI in north Tipperary; if he will visit the RTI in question to view first hand the valuable service provided in an isolated and remote part of north Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33411/04]
181 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the plight of a person (details supplied) imprisoned in the UK; if he will raise the matter with the British Prime Minister; his strategy to ensure the release of the person involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33414/04]
133 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a feasibility study or market analysis has ever been conducted on consumers’ view of genetically modified food either here or in the European Union; her views on whether such a study will greatly enhance the debate on the real need of genetically modified products due to the conclusion of many experts that consumers do not want genetically modified products; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33407/04]
126 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if persons over 70 years still automatically qualify for a medical card; her views on the medical card provision for the elderly; if it is her intention to remove this automatic qualification in early 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32867/04]
426 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date on the Terryglass sewerage scheme, Terryglass, County Tipperary; if the necessary resources have been committed to bring this essential project to fruition; when it will be sanctioned and go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32090/04]
300 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science when she will review the state one report submitted by a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary to her Department in June 2001 with a view to making a serious investment in the school to allow staff and students work in modern conditions worthy of the school; if she will consider visiting the school to see the conditions for herself; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32102/04]
231 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will consider launching an initiative to target problems facing rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32088/04]
230 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will consider areas (details supplied) for funding under the CLÁR programme or a similar initiative; if, in the case of areas already funded, he will provide additional funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32087/04]
229 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will consider expanding the CLÁR programme to include addition rurally disadvantaged areas, particularly those identified as socioeconomically disadvantaged or suffering from rural population decline; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32086/04]
228 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he plans to continue to expand the CLÁR programme; if he intends to launch a similar programme targeted at areas of rural population decline and socio-economic disadvantage; if so, the details of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32085/04]
179 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress that has been made to date on the proposed arts centre for Thurles, County Tipperary; if the necessary resources have been committed to this project; when the project will be sanctioned to go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32091/04]
178 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress to date on the proposed swimming pool for Thurles; if the necessary resources have been committed to this worthwhile project; when the project will be sanctioned and will go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32089/04]
223 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the poor state of a post primary school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if this school will be included in the capital works programme for 2005 on the basis of serious health and safety concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[31926/04]
222 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of educational psychologists which should be employed in the mid-west region; the number currently employed; when the empty posts will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[31925/04]
221 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the psychological assessment crisis facing north Tipperary due to the lack of psychologists in the area; her strategy to attract urgently needed educational and child psychologists to work in north Tipperary and the mid west region; her views on providing some form of master’s degree course in psychology in a third level college in the region to attract badly needed psychologists to the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[31924/04]
200 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the fact that abroad there is a clean green image for Irish products; her views on genetically modified food; her plans to preserve Ireland’s clean green image of food production; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[31929/04]
187 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on his recent meeting with the Mid-Western Regional Authority regarding open skies; if he has given a commitment to the authority to allow it to undertake a regional economic impact study of the open skies; if he has not approved this vital research, when he will give approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31932/04]
186 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied); if satisfactory funds will be provided for an adequate transport scheme; the funds which have been allocated to the rural transport initiatives in north Tipperary in 2003 and 2004; the funds which have been sanctioned for each RTI in north Tipperary for 2005; if he will reconsider the Estimates 2005 to find a way to significantly increase funding to such a valuable service for rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31931/04]
535 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the Office of Public Works plans for a development (details supplied) in north Tipperary; the amount of funding in place for this project; when work will commence on this project; the reason for the delay in this project; if he will meet with the local group involved in promoting the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31330/04]
311 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason the cost to have a taximeter calibrated has risen by 134% over the past two years; the expected revenue generation from this increase; if he will abolish this stealth tax immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31332/04]
188 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when funding for the Community Hospital of the Assumption in Thurles, County Tipperary, was sanctioned; the reason a modern ambulance base was not included in the plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[31042/04]
195 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons who have applied to be decentralised to Roscrea, County Tipperary; if Roscrea will be included in the first round of decentralisation; the estimated time elapsed for completion of the programme to Roscrea; if a location has been found and approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30718/04]
194 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons who have applied to be decentralised to Thurles, County Tipperary; if Thurles will be included in the first round of decentralisation; the estimated time elapsed for completion of the programme to Thurles; if a location has been found and approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30717/04]
175 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport the current state of railway stations here; the number of railway stations that have wheelchair access to all platforms; the number of railway stations that provide for wheelchair access to cross platforms; the plans and funds that he has in place to have fully accessible railway stations; the number of stations in north Tipperary that have wheelchair access; and the number that have wheelchair access to cross the platforms.
[30719/04]
169 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, further to Parliamentary Question No. 339 of 17 November 2004, if he will approve the Mid Western Regional Authority to conduct a regional economic impact study on the impact of the open skies and changes to the bilateral agreement; if he will approve of the study, the reason therefor; if he will meet representatives of the MWRA as a matter of urgency on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30615/04]
168 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, further to Parliamentary Question No. 339 of 17 November 2004, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the EU Commission will allow conditions favourable to the west of Ireland and to Shannon Airport included in any open skies policy and to the bilateral agreement, if requested to do so by the Government; the way in which he intends to capitalise on this opportunity to secure the economy of the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30614/04]
480 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to a letter (details supplied) sent to her office on 31 October 2004; the way in which she intends to assist primary and post-primary teachers who are faced with students at risk of potential suicide; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30216/04]
479 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether there is a need for behavioural therapists to support primary and post-primary schools in tackling issues of behaviour, youth suicide, discipline and other related issues; the cost to her Department to provide one behavioural therapist to every two primary and post primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30215/04]
478 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the crisis facing teachers in primary and post-primary schools relating to the issue of youth suicide; her views on the fact that a co-ordinated effort based on the principle of early intervention involving her Department, youth affairs, the Department of Health and Children and the National Children’s Office is needed to tackle this huge and sensitive issue facing young people; her proposals for dealing with the crisis of youth suicide that faces parents and young people today; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30214/04]
477 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to a letter (details supplied) regarding the issue of the new weighted system for assessment of special needs teacher requirements in primary schools; if she will reconsider the special needs requirement in the school outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30213/04]
318 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport the number of road fatalities recorded from 1997 to 2004; the number of road fatalities recorded in north Tipperary in each year from 1997 to 2004; the number of these fatalities which were pedestrian fatalities; and if he will start an initiative, particularly among school children, to encourage the use of high visibility jackets by pedestrians and others at night in order to reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities annually.
[30232/04]
281 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether there is an employment crisis in the mid-west region and in north County Tipperary in particular; his proposals for dealing with this crisis and for encouraging foreign and indigenous investment to promote job creation in north Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30217/04]
200 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to a letter (details supplied) sent to her office on 31 October 2004; if her attention has further been drawn to the crisis of youth suicide that is facing the country; her views on the fact that a co-ordinated effort based on the principle of early intervention involving her Department, the National Children’s Office and the Department of Education and Science is needed to tackle this huge and sensitive issue facing young people; her proposals for dealing with the crisis of youth suicide that faces parents and young people today; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30222/04]
199 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the vital work being done by organisations such as Living Links; the financial support or otherwise provided to the organisation over the past five years either nationally or to any north Tipperary branch of the organisation; the funding that has been provided to similar suicide bereavement and counselling organisations servicing north Tipperary; and if she will provide additional financial and other resources to the work of Living Links in valuable bereavement support that it provides across the country.
[30221/04]
663 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need to replace the bridge linking Killaloe, County Clare with Ballina, County Tipperary; if the necessary resources have been committed to building a new bridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29052/04]
662 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to discuss changes to the system of vehicle registration tax with the Minister for Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29051/04]
339 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he will allow the Mid-West Regional Authority the time and opportunity to conduct a regional economic impact study on the impact that open skies and the ending of changes to the current bilateral agreement would have on the economies of the mid-west; his views on and approach to the open skies negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29135/04]
230 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether the 1 November start date for Christmas advertising for children is too early, as set out in the children’s advertising code issued by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland; if, in view of the extreme financial pressures faced by parents at Christmas, he will review the code with a view to asking the BCI to amend the earliest possible advertising start date to 1 December; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29104/04]
183 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the work done by the SIMI in regard to the overall net effect of a VRT reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29051/04]
162 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the current state of waiting lists and the uptake of the national treatment purchase fund including detailed levels of usage; the number of persons that have been treated in north Tipperary; the number in north Tipperary that are still on waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29080/04]
161 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average cost of patient treatment under the national treatment purchase fund; the way in which this compares with patient care administered in the normal manner; the average cost of treatment and the total cost of treatment received to date by residents of north Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29079/04]
251 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied); if the project will proceed to design stage shortly; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28248/04]