215 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Garda will operate an occasional bus patrol in Dublin similar to the one it operates on LUAS to protect passengers, particularly at night, and to increase the sense of security for users of public services.
[30486/06]
211 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of motor accidents, involving the Gardaí, which are currently being dealt with by the State Claims Agency; the numbers which were dealt with by the Agency in 2004 and 2005 respectively; the number of these which are being investigated which involved members of the Force driving under the permission of the Garda Commission in 2004, 2005 and to date in 2006 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30459/06]
210 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will release a copy of a report entitled The Risk Management Review of Road Traffic Accidents involving An Garda Síochána compiled by the State Claims Agency into the cost of settling claims arising from crashes involving the Gardaí, particularly in view of its relevance to other emergency service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30458/06]
190 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Gardaí have been in touch with their counterparts in the UK and Northern Ireland in relation to the introduction of a reciprocal system of recognising penalty points awarded to motorists between the Republic and Northern Ireland in 2007; the way in which this system will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30593/06]
166 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on making the traffic corps a dedicated force whose duties are strictly in relation to traffic law enforcement; if so, when same will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30594/06]
84 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport following his letter to the local authorities about speed limits, if all special speed limits introduced prior to and post metrification have been made in accordance with the relevant by-laws.
[29684/06]
65 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if, following his letter to the local authorities requesting a review of existing speed limits, he is now satisfied that all local authorities have carried out this review and if he can confirm that appropriate by-laws are, or have been, put in place on foot of that review.
[29685/06]
4 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport when a decision on future port capacity will be made, as this is a critical national issue.
[30174/06]
1 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport when he will make a decision on the Dublin Bus submission following its review of bus services.
[30175/06]
1341 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the OECD report which shows Ireland’s percentage of GDP spent on secondary level education to be higher only than the Slovak Republic.
[29391/06]
1243 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the action she will take in relation to the concerns expressed by PAMBO that the level of remuneration to private school bus contractors is not consistent with the level of safety required; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28503/06]
1087 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the date for signing the railway order for the Luas red line Point Depot extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28735/06]
1086 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the steps he has taken to request EU permission to proceed with the more liberal Irish/US bilateral negotiated in the expectation of open skies, but now vital to Aer Lingus prospects; the response he has received from the EU; and if no response has been received, if the urgency of a decision has been communicated to them.
[28734/06]
1084 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the status of the proposed change of high grade dual carriageways to motorway designation; if this has now been agreed; the kilometres of road that will be impacted; the date for the change over; and the cost of necessary signage changes.
[28695/06]
1082 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the status of the integrated ticketing project; the projected future budget and expenditure to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28553/06]
1081 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure that a clearer differentiation between the A and A1 classification for motorcycle driving licences is put in place in view of the fact that the labelling system in use is causing confusion among applicants and existing motorcyclists who want to upgrade from an A1 licence to an A licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28509/06]
1077 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the amount of the contract awarded to allow for the outsourcing of driving tests to a private operator; the locations where such tests will be conducted from; when these tests will commence; the duration of the outsourced contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28313/06]
639 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the action she will take regarding accessing appropriate care for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6W; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28506/06]
557 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the implications for the new Central Mental Hospital of the requirement to obtain planning permission for it on the Thornton Hall prison site; if this will mean a postponement of its construction; and if not, when is it envisaged that a planning application will be lodged.
[28717/06]
489 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will bring forward immediate legislative proposals to protect heritage sites and the users of these sites in view of the difficulties which he has highlighted in enforcing the control of dog legislation at these sites including the inability to pass by-laws to govern such sites.
[28729/06]
460 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance his plans to improve the length of waiting time for assessment of an appeal for certification for the purpose of the Finance Act 1989 and the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994, in view of the fact that the waiting time is seven months.
[28557/06]
270 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the guidelines issued to the Gardaí in relation to the operation of mandatory alcohol testing.
[28716/06]
269 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will take immediate steps to ensure adequate manning of an adequate number of immigration booths at Dublin Airport to prevent the queues which have now become commonplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28715/06]
246 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on applications for citizenship for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28358/06]
241 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on a visa application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28333/06]
200 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the Health Service Executive practice of not routinely replacing a number of health professional grade staff who are on maternity leave or parental leave; if she feels that this practice compromises patient care and leads to added pressure on the health professional on their return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29588/06]
638 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding she will allocate to the Irish Osteoporosis Society for the year 2006-2007 in view of the fact that one in five men and one in three women during their lifetime will suffer from osteoporosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28505/06]
154 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children when she expects the Service Level Agreement with the Irish Osteoporosis Society; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29571/06]
737 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding allocated to the low cost safety improvement works scheme of grants for non-national roads for each year from 2000 to date in 2006; the number of locations which benefitted from this funding in each of the stated years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27352/06]
474 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount allocated in CLÁR areas for the provision of flashing amber safety lights outside of schools each year to date, since the introduction of this scheme; the reason this scheme is not available nationwide; his views on extending the scheme to all areas of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27485/06]
36 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will appoint a successor body to the Tourism Action Plan Implementation Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26669/06]
29 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the measures that he intends to put in place to address the growing imbalance in regional distribution of tourism demand which has resulted in west coast regions having 3,298,000 fewer holiday makers, bed nights in 2004 compared with 1999 and attracting 50 per cent of all overseas holiday maker bed nights in 2005 compared to 75 per cent in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26668/06]
350 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the details of the average waiting times experienced by motorists who have been awarded penalty points, between the date they pay the fine and the date they receive notification that the points will be endorsed on their licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27204/06]
349 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if the offence is endorsed on a driver licence and becomes operative when the driver pays the fine or when the driver receives official notification in relation to the endorsement of penalty point offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27203/06]
340 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if there is a mandatory period set out in EU law in relation to the frequency of road worthiness tests; if so, the frequency of such tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26819/06]
73 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the discussions he has had with the various interested parties in the context of a review of broadcasting legislation with particular reference to the public and independent sector, local and national, radio and television; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26538/06]
104 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has had recent consultations with, the Department of Agriculture and Food, with a view to the utilisation of farm land previously used for beet growing for bio-fuel production; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26539/06]
827 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the additional resources which are being given to local authorities to ensure the electoral registers are up to date, in view of the increase in population in building and in mobility generally; when the promised work to improve the quality of the register will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25703/06]
572 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Gardaí are aware of the number of penalty points held by each motorist; if so, the means by which the Gardaí are aware of this information; the way in which this system operates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25788/06]
571 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is a two way exchange of information between the National Driver File and the Gardaí’s PULSE system; if so, the way in which this transfer of information operates; if it is an automatic exchange; the information which is available to the Gardaí from the National Driver File; the way in which Gardaí gain access to such information; if such access operates on a 24 hour seven day basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25786/06]
548 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of penalty point offences committed in the first three months of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25695/06]
474 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport when an application in respect of the provision of a high frequency commuter service serving the Donacarney, Laytown and Bettystown area of east Meath by a company (details supplied) will be fully processed and decided upon by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26268/06]
473 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the powers enjoyed by him under Section 25(1) and (2) of the Transport Act 1958; the number of times this provision has been exercised by him for each of the past five years and to date in 2006; the names and routes of operators to which it was applied and which were awarded licences under the provision; the criteria and procedures applied by him in respect of a decision by him to utilise Section 25(1) and (2) of the 1958 Act in respect of the licensing of bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26267/06]
468 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the average subvention per journey for each DART passenger in the year 2004 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26217/06]
456 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the local authorities which have conducted speed reviews since the introduction of metrification; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25784/06]
453 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if, as indicated by him at the time of the change over to the metric system, it is Government policy that all local authorities should undertake a review of existing speed limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25722/06]
452 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he will instruct all local authorities to undertake a review of the speed limits operating on all non-national roads in view of the increase in the number of penalty points and the consequent importance of clarity in the application of speed limits and the implications for road safety of the many inappropriate speed limits operating throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25721/06]
451 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether, following a lapse of 14 years since the last publication of the rules of the road, it is appropriate to give 28 days for public submissions; if he will extend the deadline to facilitate organisations wishing to make comprehensive submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25705/06]
449 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the progress made on establishing a reciprocal arrangement with Northern Ireland for the awarding of penalty points; when a workable regime is expected to be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25694/06]
448 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he has reached a decision on the maximum height of trucks permitted on roads here; when same will be announced; if this will impact on Dublin City Council policy in respect of the Dublin Port Tunnel and the management of traffic in Dublin City; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25693/06]