777 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if, during the review of the traffic management grants scheme proposed for late 2005, there will be a rigorous assessment of the demand for bus lanes and cycle lanes before public money is expended; and if buses will be available in order to ensure that anticipated demand can be met on any new bus lanes.
[24588/05]
776 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he has received all the reports into the recent school bus tragedy in Navan; the main findings of such reports and the recommendations contained within these reports; when these reports will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24562/05]
778 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he will streamline the permit system in operation for the movement of large construction equipment through local authority areas and obviate the need for the multiple applications to local authorities operating differing rules and regulations.
[24653/05]
773 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date in appointing private sector driving testers; when they will begin work; the number of tests per week that it is anticipated that they will carry out; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24544/05]
766 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the number of new and additional buses promised to Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann under the national development plan; the number of each delivered and operational on the ground; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24337/05]
501 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the large number of planning applications for urban renewal schemes which received permission in late 2004 due to various delays in the planning system, he will give consideration to the extension of the 2006 deadline in order to ensure that these projects qualify for the tax incentives as intended.
[24976/05]
462 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance his proposals to mitigate the impact of rising petrol and diesel prices on the distribution sector and the many other businesses dependent on road transport in order to prevent fuel induced generalised inflation.
[24978/05]
321 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the source of the legionnaires’ disease which killed a patient recently in Stewart’s Hospital has been identified; and the protocols which have been put in place to ensure there is no reoccurrence.
[24851/05]
320 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason staff in Stewart’s Hospital were not notified immediately following discovery of two patients suffering from legionnaires’ disease.
[24850/05]
160 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he intends to take to remedy Ireland’s weakness in the area of competition policy as identified by the National Competitive Council’s annual competitiveness report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25037/05]
46 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the efforts his Department makes to encourage and assist persons with disabilities and long-term illnesses to identify and take up available employment, training and educational and other self development opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22915/05]
19 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans for older persons as announced on 15 June 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22916/05]
698 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will consider providing the funding for the Form and Fusion Design Awards Competition previously provided by a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22164/05]
633 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if circular 12/96 to allow pupils attending private schools to obtain a Department exemption in Irish will be operational before the start of the academic year 2005-2006.
[21877/05]
632 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if tenders have been sought for additions to the school bus fleet since the Meath bus crash; if so, the number of buses for which tenders have been sought; when the tenders were advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22124/05]
631 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of buses, destined specifically for the school bus fleet, which it is intended to order in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22123/05]
461 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he has received reports of any of the three investigations undertaken following the tragic Meath school bus accident; if, in the public interest, he will make those reports public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22122/05]
456 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Minister of State at his Department with special responsibility for Dublin traffic has requested the NRA to carry out traffic modelling to examine the impact of the Dublin Port tunnel on the M50 and M1; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21931/05]
474 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a breakdown of the passenger road licences to private bus operators for service in the greater Dublin area and for service outside the greater Dublin area in 2004 and to date in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22829/05]
447 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there are plans to increase the non-contributory pension in view of the absence of a national waste charges waiver for the elderly.
[22171/05]
355 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the new target date by which Ireland will reach 0.7% of GDP in respect of overseas development aid; if he will set out a multi-annual plan to reach this target and enshrine Ireland’s commitment to the 0.7% target in legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22028/05]
93 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will publish his draft development management guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22309/05]
144 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the individual contracts awarded to airline companies to provide scheduled air services on the six public service obligation regional air routes; the level of subsidy per passenger which applies to each of these six air routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21706/05]
143 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the amount spent on creating cycling lanes since 1997; the number of kilometres converted to cycle lanes since 1997; the number of cyclists in the Dublin region who cycle to work or school; if he will consider a re-evaluation of the cycle lane building programme; his views on the fact that the programme represents value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21705/05]
142 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport his views toward the policy of bus lane construction; his concerns regarding bus lanes which are currently unutilised or under utilised; if he remains committed to the development of bus lanes; if the bus lane projects will be developed in 2005; the location and cost of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21704/05]
39 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Questions Nos. 166 and 167 of 13 October 2004, if the promised legislation (details supplied) will be in place before 31 October 2005.
[21326/05]
219 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he has requested the Dublin Airport Authority to increase freight handling capacity at Dublin Airport; if he is satisfied that either existing or planned capacity can handle anticipated growth rates in cargo carrying, in particular the anticipated growth in trade with Asia.
[21539/05]
86 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the quality bus corridors which will be developed in 2005; the location of and investment envisaged in each; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21160/05]
193 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport when his ten-year transport infrastructure plan will be announced; the reason for the undue delay in its publication; the criteria being used by him and his officials to determine the specific projects to proceed with under this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21509/05]
109 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the decision of Aer Lingus to end its service to Orlando; if Aer Lingus’s service to Los Angeles is secure in the longer term; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21161/05]
25 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the number and details of private operator bus passenger licences for new routes awarded by his Department’s licensing unit each year from 2002 to date; the number of such requests awaiting a decision; his Department’s policy toward the role of private bus operators in providing commuter services in major urban centres; the number and location of new routes commenced by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann each year from 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21508/05]
22 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered allowing private sector operators to tender for container rail freight services; if so, the actions which have been taken to facilitate this; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21507/05]
477 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department will urgently return passports to persons (details supplied).
[20723/05]
476 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will reconsider the issuing of deportation papers for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16.
[20722/05]
97 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of the 1,370 additional assessment and rehabilitation beds which have been delivered, as promised in the national health strategy 2001; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20879/05]
62 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the person who is responsible for the cleanliness, hygiene and infection control in each acute hospital; the name and position of these persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20907/05]
113 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the percentage of the national roads programme under the NDP which will be completed by the programme’s end in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20425/05]
36 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will announce a new location for the Abbey Theatre in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20201/05]
292 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of drink driving breath checks carried out in 2004 fell by 10% compared with the figure for 2003; if he has been informed of the reason for this reduction; if he is considering introducing measures to reverse this reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20148/05]
89 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason Irish mobile phone costs are among the most expensive in Europe; the action he proposes to take regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19998/05]
14 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his policy in respect of fuel use and production with a view to achieving targets entered into under the Kyoto Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20039/05]
860 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the number of planning applications being declared invalid based on the Planning and Development Regulations 2001; the cost of these rejections to the ordinary householder; the representations made to his office by the RIAI and the CIF on this matter; and if he will make further regulations regarding the implementation of the existing regulations.
[19180/05]
604 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will expedite the hearing of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19237/05]
490 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he will negotiate a phased withdrawal of the Shannon stopover under the bilateral agreements; and if Ireland has to await a new EU wide agreement with the US in order to gain greater access to American cities and vice versa .
[19257/05]
489 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if, in view of the constraints placed on Ireland as a result of the proposed EU-US bilateral agreement on aviation, he will commit to opening talks with Canada in order to achieve a more liberal regime prior to any EU move in this regard.
[19256/05]
488 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered a challenge to aviation Regulation 847/04 in view of the fact that its effect is to reinforce competitive disadvantage and could be considered contrary to EU law.
[19255/05]
486 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if it is envisaged that a move to barrier free tolling will also involve a change in the tolling locations from the bridge to entry slip roads in order to facilitate the traffic management recommended at the public inquiry into the M50 upgrade.
[19216/05]
484 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if one public consultation in respect of the review of the national car test held at the Red Cow roundabout is not sufficient; if he will hold further meetings; if further advertising of the review will be undertaken; if he will allow persons to make representations to a company (details supplied) on-line or by letter as the meeting scheduled to meet the needs of the entire Dublin area was highly unsatisfactory.
[19181/05]
487 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport his views on the possible buy-out of the West Link toll bridge; and if any early discussions with NTR have taken place on this matter.
[19217/05]
477 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the instructions he or any member of the Government have given to the NRA to renegotiate the NTR tolling contract on the West Link toll bridge; the assessment that has been made of the cost till 2020 of the buy-out of the bridge; the anticipated extend of the buy-out penalty over and above lost revenue; if an alternative Government toll will replace any negotiation; and if such a toll will not be such that it is designed to divert traffic from the M50 to local roads.
[19062/05]