249 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the advertising campaign regarding the payment of second home tax currently taking place; the cost of same; if he will outline the other measures being taken to collect the taxes due; his further views on the fact that local authorities have not sent reminders for 2010 to those who paid in 2009, and if a more payment friendly policy will be introduced and forms and payment facilities introduced for those who do not want to do business on-line; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29070/10]
248 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will refer to the special central heating grant scheme which was operated via Dublin City Council and approved by the housing section of his Department a few years ago; if he will confirm if the evaluation of the previous scheme has been completed; if it proved cost effective and met the target group of the elderly; the current position with this scheme; and if further pilots or a national scheme will be introduced.
[29069/10]
247 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will list the local authorities or summarise the percentage of local authorities which include family income supplement payments in their rent assessment scheme; if he can bring standardisation to this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29067/10]
246 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will outline the action residents can take regarding neighbours with barking dogs; if he will specify special provisions for District Court actions; if local authorities can take additional action against tenants whose dogs create complaints; and if it is a standard condition of tenancy not to have barking dogs.
[29063/10]
240 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Defence the amount of funding received from the national lottery in each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009; if he will give details of the programmes, services and capital developments for which this funding was used, quoting the amount so used in each case and whether the lottery funding fully or partially funded the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29112/10]
231 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of funding received from the national lottery in each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009; if he will give details of the programmes, services and capital developments for which this funding was used, quoting the amount so used in each case and whether the lottery funding fully or partially funded the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29120/10]
207 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of funding received from the national lottery in each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009; if he will give details of the programmes, services and capital developments for which this funding was used, quoting the amount so used in each case and whether the lottery funding fully or partially funded the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29111/10]
192 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the amount of funding received from the national lottery in each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009; if she will give details of the programmes, services and capital developments for which this funding was used, quoting the amount so used in each case and whether the lottery funding fully or partially funded the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29109/10]
187 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of funding received from the national lottery in each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009; if he will give details of the programmes, services and capital developments for which this funding was used, quoting the amount so used in each case and whether the lottery funding fully or partially funded the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29117/10]
180 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the amount of funding received from the national lottery in each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009; if he will give details of the programmes, services and capital developments for which this funding was used, quoting the amount so used in each case and whether the lottery funding fully or partially funded the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29119/10]
178 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if he will clarify the issue of national identity cards; if, since 1973, EU nationals are free to travel here on their national identity card; if Switzerland and other countries also have this facility; his plans to have a national identity card, including the examination of this issue that has been made and the reason Ireland has not proceeded with the implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29064/10]
146 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding received from the national lottery in each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009; if he will give details of the programmes, services and capital developments for which this funding was used, quoting the amount so used in each case and whether the lottery funding fully or partially funded the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29121/10]
128 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding received from the national lottery in each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009; if she will give details of the programmes, services and capital developments for which this funding was used, quoting the amount so used in each case and whether the lottery funding fully or partially funded the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29118/10]
125 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will examine and report on the situation of the backlog that exists in the appeals offices for medical cards and other services in the Health Service Executive offices in Walkinstown, Dublin and Kells County Meath; the actions that will be taken to bring matters up to date in view of the fact that there are persons waiting nine months for appeals to be heard and letters are not being dealt with due to illness, vacancies and so on; if this matter can be dealt with; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29072/10]
124 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will refer to the Saving Childhood Ryan campaign and if she will indicate the progress that has been made in the commitments as laid down in the Ryan report implementation plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29061/10]
123 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will refer to previous communication in relation to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who has been in hospital for months but needs high category long term nursing home care; and if she can make a direction on this case in view of the fact that the Health Service Executive, fair deal section and disability services seem unable to make a decision on this case.
[29056/10]
74 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the amount of funding received from the national lottery in each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009; if he will give details of the programmes, services and capital developments for which this funding was used, quoting the amount so used in each case and whether the lottery funding fully or partially funded the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29116/10]
64 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the amount of funding received from the national lottery in each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009; if he will give details of the programmes, services and capital developments for which this funding was used, quoting the amount so used in each case and whether the lottery funding fully or partially funded the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29114/10]
62 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation further to his recent announcement regarding an organisation (details supplied) and the creation of 71 jobs in Dublin, if he will provide contact details for this organisation in view of the fact that persons who were made redundant (details supplied) have been unable to make contact.
[29060/10]
593 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the publication of the Ryan Report for a person who previously received compensation from the Residential Institutions Redress Board; if persons will receive additional compensations; if this has been decided; the action they need to take to claim same; the way the extra resources handed over by religious orders in the past years will be spent; if an update will be given; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28104/10]
592 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify the policy on transition years; if she will provide statistics of the number and percentages of schools and pupils who now avail of transition year; if she will provide a breakdown between schools who opt for an optional or compulsory year; if a quality check is carried out by her Department’s inspectors on the content and operation of the year as provided; if any quantitative analysis has taken place regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28099/10]
525 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding plans for a liquid petroleum gas plant at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; if planning and other approvals have been granted; if the foreshore licence problems are resolved; if approximate target dates for different stages can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28096/10]
524 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the most recent data on broadband penetration nationally; the percentage held by different companies or methods; if his Department is involved in this initiative and their reaction to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28091/10]
500 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding private residential property tax; if there is an exemption in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28105/10]
445 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection the schemes and programmes available to a person (details supplied) with a disability; if any special schemes, options or retraining are available to them; if so, if she will outline same.
[28097/10]
401 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding an application for leave to remain in the State in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 5; if their children can obtain Irish passports without taking out Irish citizenship; if such provision exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28090/10]
369 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the position regarding an application for leave to remain in the State in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 5; if their children can obtain Irish passports without taking out Irish citizenship; if such provision exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28089/10]
253 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the scheme of refund of pension or payments made to clients of families of persons in long term nursing home type accommodation with the State; if she will provide a summary of work done; the number of cases dealt with; the number of cases with payments made and so on; the number of cases still to be handled or concluded; the number of cases under appeal; the number of staff in the Health Service Executive or outsources still dealing with cases or appeals; when work will be concluded and the scheme closed down; the costs awarded to date; and the estimate of costs to come; the estimated cost of administration including appeals.
[28106/10]
129 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the workers in the public service who are employed on an annual contract basis; if such workers should pay the civil service pension levy in view of the fact that they are not permanent pensionable workers; if they are entitled to a refund of contributions paid in view of the fact that contracts are being terminated due to the terms of staff embargo and provisions of fixed term employment contracts.
[28102/10]
128 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the various tax relief schemes currently in operation, be they property related, business, film or other; the estimate of the relief claimed in 2009; the estimate for 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28101/10]
127 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding property tax reliefs; if they can be listed individually; the total tax relief claimed under each of any recent tax year; if there is a time limit under which a property tax relief can be claimed or if it is open ended; if, in view of the fact that the relief being claimed is available, if he will outline the potential for what can be claimed in terms of IOU’s available or potentials; the number of individual property tax reliefs claimed per year; and if an owner of second hand properties with a tax relief status can continue the claim potential on them.
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126 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance further to the almost €70 million distributed to a company’s (details supplied) employees share ownership plan in the past year, the reason same has been allowed tax free; the legislation under which this will take place; and if such provisions can be altered.
[28092/10]
103 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the position regarding the operation of fixed term employment legislation which was introduced to protect employees being employed on annual contracts; the number of staff who are likely to lose their jobs in 2010; if it is a correct interpretation of the Act; if the relevant section can be set aside by order for the duration of the moratorium; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28103/10]
102 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if he or any agency under his remit have plans to commemorate the anniversary of the 1913 lockout; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28095/10]
258 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on a dispute between her Department, a school and a contractor (details supplied); the reason there is an 18 month delay in paying this small contractor; the amount that was approved for the project; has the full amount been drawn down and if she will have the matter resolved to the satisfaction of all as soon as possible.
[27404/10]
235 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if family income supplement payments are liable to rent for local authority tenants; the reason improvement in FIS payments results in rent increases; the legislative power under which FIS payments are included; if this is standard practice among local authorities on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27353/10]
210 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify the position regarding family income supplement payments to local authority tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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104 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the work carried out under the H1N1 vaccination programme; the number of complaints that were received regarding children and adults receiving overdoses; the information available here or internationally in respect of side-effects for children who received a double dosage of Pandemrix; the protocols for communication with parents and handling cases of such overdoses; the basis of assurances given by staff; if it is based on international experience or other; if the parents of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will be invited to discuss this matter with officials of her Department and Health Service Executive officials.
[27364/10]
102 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding funding provided to a nursery (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if the matter can be examined urgently, the dispute sorted, group communicated with and future operation and viability of nursery clarified.
[27356/10]
52 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the details of the resources provided to him under receipts by the national lottery for each of the past three years; if he will provide a breakdown of the way funding is distributed; if he will outline the programmes so funded on an ongoing basis under each Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27363/10]
207 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if any review has been made of the tax on second homes; and if consideration has been given to introducing a graduate rate on the basis of owners age, if they are an old age pensioner, income or second property size; if a statement can be made on the matter specifically in relation to complaints from elderly pensioners who own barely habitable country cottages which have been willed to them from within families and are being retained as holiday homes for sentimental reasons and for siblings living abroad who like to stay in the home place on occasional visits here.
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206 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will clarify the situation regarding the second home tax; if there is an exemption from the tax in a case in which a house occupied by a childless elderly couple has been transferred or sold to other siblings but when the new owner does not have effective ownership in view of the fact that both the elderly couple have a right to occupation in the house for life.
[26217/10]
198 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons (details supplied) who fled their private home due to domestic violence are entitled to rent allowance; if it is correct that they were refused rent allowance because they are not on a local authority housing list and the local authority will not accept them in view of the fact that they are still legally part owner of the original family home; and the assistance that can be given.
[26226/10]
197 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify the position regarding the payment of jobseeker’s allowance or supplementary benefit to homeless persons; if he will further clarify that homeless persons do qualify for payment; the way in which they get over the problem of not having an abode in view of the fact that they frequently attract sympathy that they do not qualify for State payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26220/10]
186 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the work of the Garda control vetting unit and confirm that there is currently an average 72-day delay for form processing; if this is the worst it has ever been; his plans to bring this service up to date; the reasons for the delay; his plans to correct the situation; and the emergency plans he has for people who want urgent vetting documentation when they have job offers and so on.
[26224/10]
154 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if there is any legislation which protects pedestrians from being splashed by vehicles during wet weather; if there is any requirement on motorists to slow down and avoid splashing pedestrians; if he will introduce such a requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26221/10]
151 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will clarify the position regarding persons (details supplied) who fled the private home due to domestic violence and state the housing support available to them; if they are entitled to rent allowance; if it is correct that they were refused rent allowance because they are not on a local authority housing list and the local authority will not accept them in view of the fact that they are still legally part owner of the original family home; and the assistance that can be given.
[26225/10]
150 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will clarify the position with regard to appeal cases to the Health Service Executive for medical card cases in Dublin’s northside; the reason applicants were told to send appeals to Walkinstown, Dublin, when it appears that Kells, County Meath is the correct venue; the location at which the Walkinstown appeals now stand; if she will have them sent to Kells; if the appeals can now be sent to Kells; if files in PCRS that are required to hear appeal cases can now be sent to Kells; when the appeal cases in Kells will be dealt with; the reason they must be ignored because of a vacancy; and if North Dublin appeal cases can now be dealt with.
[26215/10]
147 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will outline the details of the recent cutbacks in dental services to medical card holders; the advice that should be given to constituents in urgent need of treatment for gum disease and so on who are refused free treatment and unable to pay the relevant fees; if alternative help or service is available from community welfare officers, Health Service Executive Dental Service, Dublin Dental Hospital or elsewhere; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26210/10]
146 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will outline the details of the Health Service Executive dental service to include the annual cost of same; the staff levels of dentists, nurses and other staff involved; the level and numbers of patients treated; the average daily number of patients treated per dentist; the average cost taking into account all overheads and so on of each treatment visit; if any analysis of the system has been completed and cost comparison carried out with the private dentist system; if details of comparison can be outlined; the reductions in cost that have been budgeted for in 2010 with the HSE service; and the reason the more efficient private dentist scheme has been forced to produce the savings.
[26209/10]