754 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the 2010 budget reduction of 4% to social welfare is deducted on a “gross” or “net” basis, in view of the fact that in some situations (details supplied) the 4% reduction can in effect translate to more than an 8% reduction proportionally for those recipients who receive only a reduced weekly social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1213/10]
744 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many welfare recipients were surprised to find that they were not due their weekly welfare benefit during Christmas week in 2009 in view of the fact that the previous week’s double pay could easily have been misconstrued as the Christmas bonus; if her further attention has been drawn to the resulting hardship caused by this misunderstanding; if she will communicate this scenario better in future years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1076/10]
539 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the inconsistency across Garda administrative units in the issuing of firearms licences for sporting purposes; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that international competitors and instructors (details supplied) are being refused licenses for pistols needed for competition while others not involved in international competition are being granted licenses for similar firearms; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[48361/09]
98 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the additional supports given to job facilitators to deal with the increased demand for access to support; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1726/10]
14 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans for the proposed national sports campus; the progress made to date in terms of planning and design; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[47547/09]
4 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the future viability of the restaurant sector; the discussions he has had regarding the competitiveness issues affecting the industry in view of the importance of gastronomy to the tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[47911/09]
3 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the report by Dr. Peter Bacon on the unsustainability of many hotels here; his views on the implications of this report for future tourism infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[47910/09]
1 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the action he has taken to implement the survival actions outlined by the tourism renewal group to ensure the endurance of the tourism industry in the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[47909/09]
34 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has received representations regarding the impact the introduction of a carbon tax will have on rural Ireland; if he has discussed with officials from the Department of Finance possible exemptions from the tax for rural persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[47088/09]
27 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the latest developments regarding the proposed decentralisation of his Department to County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[47120/09]
378 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if a direction was given to local authorities regarding fee scholarships as income, which has rendered many PhD students ineligible for the local authority grant; if he will review this in the case of students who have already started their degree in view of the fact that the subsequent hardship may force them to drop out of their courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46638/09]
336 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when it is planned to commence the roll-out of domestic water meters; the funding that has been made available to local authorities; the anticipated average cost per house; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46975/09]
325 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the role he will have in publishing final sale price statistics of residential property; the contact he has had with representatives of the residential property industry to overcome impediments; his views on the issue of over valued property; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46673/09]
309 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the impediments to publishing final sale price statistics of residential property; the contact he has had with representatives of the residential property industry to overcome impediments in addition to a proposed legislative solution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46672/09]
308 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action taken since the agreement of the revised programme for Government to amend the Data Protection Act to allow for a database of house sales prices; the Departments and agencies involved; when heads of a Bill will be agreed; when legislation is expected to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46671/09]
132 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the impact of the second home tax on businesses operating holiday cottages; if his further attention has been drawn to a statement (details supplied) that this tax would be deductible as a normal business expense and this now appears not to be the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46966/09]
112 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the extent of challenges by US Internal Revenue to pricing arrangements between Irish based affiliates of US corporations and related corporations based in the US; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that successful challenges to pricing arrangements in these circumstances can result in a refund or downward adjustment having to be made by the Revenue Commissioners of corporation tax already paid on profits reported under Article 9 of the taxation treaty between the two countries; the number of such pricing challenges made by US Internal Revenue for the years 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; the number of cases finalised to date in 2009; the yearly amounts of tax repaid or agreed to be repaid for each year or where applicable, downward adjustments of Irish tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46210/09]
376 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the recent occasions when two apartment blocks had their roofs blown off, he will instruct the Health and Safety Authority to conduct a full safety audit of all high rise buildings in the south County Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45851/09]
350 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that he indicated in a Dáil debate (details supplied) that this tax would be deductible as a normal business expense and that this now appears not to be the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45414/09]
289 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the impact of the second home tax on businesses operating holiday cottages; the implications for tourism and jobs in this sector; if his further attention has been drawn to comments (details supplied) that this tax would be deductible as a normal business expense and that this now appears not to be the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45416/09]
343 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the temporary accommodation arrangements for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16, including the number of prefabs rented or purchased for the school; the length of time such accommodation has been in place; the purchase cost or annual rental of such accommodation; the position of this school on the school building list; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[44114/09]
341 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a funding application for the replacement school building by a school (details supplied) in Dublin 18; when a decision will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[44052/09]
169 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Dublin is not entitled to compensation resulting from the prohibition on them to pay any superannuation during their employment period from September 1954 to January 1960 and January 1971 to September 1991; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[44392/09]
12 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the initiatives he will introduce to tackle the problem of bovine viral diarrhoea in cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43618/09]
62 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason he will not accept the joint committee on climate change legislative headings to be used in a climate change Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42851/09]
315 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if the postgraduate diploma in primary school teaching will proceed in February 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42099/09]
72 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the negotiations for Ireland to secure a commissionership in an area of national importance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41962/09]
456 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in awarding permission for the refurbishment of the school hall in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41295/09]
455 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if the legal issues which needed to be addressed regarding the granting of permission to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 14 to engage in a public private partnership in conjunction with the local running club to provide a running track for the school and local community have been resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41294/09]
392 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Bill, to provide adequate regulation of dog breeding establishments, will come before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41531/09]
253 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the numbers of jobs being lost here as a result of the burden of 4% of value which is placed on travel agents here; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that outward travel from Ireland is bound up with inward tourism in that planes and boats must travel in both directions; if he will review this matter before all jobs in this sector are lost; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41826/09]
222 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide a safe residential setting for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16 whose condition renders them a danger to themselves and others; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[41778/09]
168 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the cost of tax relief under the artists exemption scheme in 2008; the cost for those with incomes under €50,000; between €50,000 and €100,000; between €100,000 and €200,000 and above €200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41537/09]
142 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the valuation process which values hotel rooms per square foot rather than by an assessment of associated income; if he will communicate the concerns of the hotel industry to the Valuation Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41296/09]
36 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her intention to appoint an advisory council of business leaders as outlined in her smart economy document; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[40951/09]
262 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in granting permission for the refurbishment of the school hall at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40812/09]
206 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the status of the application for funding from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for the swimming pool refurbishment at Glenalbyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40984/09]
200 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the naturalisation process for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 18 has been with his Department for more than 28 months; if he will ensure an early decision in view of the fact that the average waiting period advertised by his Department is 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40854/09]
120 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the facilities she plans to put in place to assist community welfare officers to deal with the extra workload from applications from people in hardship in winter 2009 if the Christmas bonus is not awarded to social welfare recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[40646/09]
109 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the measures to fast-track jobseekers’ applications will be rolled out nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[40645/09]
457 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of officials at principal officer level or higher working in his Department on 1 May 2009.
[40211/09]
419 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of officials at principal officer level or higher working in his Department on 1 May 2009.
[40206/09]
396 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of officials at principal officer level or higher working in his Department on 1 May 2009.
[40208/09]
362 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of officials at principal officer level or higher working in his Department on 1 May 2009.
[40213/09]
361 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will meet a residents’ group in the South Dublin County Council area regarding their concerns for local protected structures in view of the recent fire in a house (details supplied).
[40133/09]
350 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Defence the number of officials at principal officer level or higher working in his Department on 1 May 2009.
[40210/09]
337 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of officials at principal officer level or higher working in her Department on 1 May 2009.
[40218/09]
323 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of officials at principal officer level or higher working in his Department on 1 May 2009.
[40209/09]
319 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of officials at principal officer level or higher working in his Department on 1 May 2009.
[40207/09]