341 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of personal digital assistants provided to staff in her Department; the cost of same; the cost of the most expensive personal digital assistant purchased to date; the grades to which these devices are issued; if personal digital assistants are issued as a matter of course or are subject to preparation of a business case which is subsequently scrutinised; if so, by whom the final decision on allocation of personal digital assistants is made; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29411/05]
340 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount spent by her Department on briefcases; the amount refunded to staff in her Department in respect of purchases of briefcases; the number of staff who have received briefcases; the number of staff who have received refunds for briefcases they purchased; the largest single amount paid or refunded in respect of one briefcase; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29396/05]
339 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the proportion of her Department’s training budget that is spent on refunds to staff in respect of night-time or weekend study courses; the list of all courses funded by her Department in the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29381/05]
338 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of staff who applied for a refund of course fees in respect of courses undertaken at night or evenings; the value of refunds expected to be made by her Department in 2005; the number of staff to whom approval to attend a course was granted in the last academic year but did not subsequently apply for the refund; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29366/05]
337 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of staff in her Department to whom leave of absence, or any other absence from normal duties or place of work, in excess of two months was granted for educational purposes in any year since 2002; the nature of the educational course undertaken in each case; if there are terms or conditions relating to academic achievement attached to the granting of such leave; if personnel who were granted such leave failed to complete their courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29351/05]
336 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the personnel files of staff in her Department have been copied or given to external parties; if so, the safeguards which have been put in place to ensure that no personal data of any member of staff in her Department will be released to third parties; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29336/05]
335 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of compensatory leave granted or due to be granted to staff in her Department; the individuals to whom they were granted in respect of additional attendance at work before or after normal hours of attendance; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29321/05]
334 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amounts of ex gratia payments made to staff in her Department’s press office in respect of persons being on call and their additional attendance at work before or after normal hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29306/05]
333 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the rates of overtime or additional allowances payable to staff who work in her Department’s press office in respect of persons being on call and their additional attendance at work before or after normal hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29291/05]
315 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the location of each palliative care unit funded by her Department; the year each of these was established; the funding provided to each of these in each of the past five years and the staff numbers in each of these units.
[29158/05]
314 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the funding available from her Department for the Irish Hospice Foundation for each of the past five years; and the staff numbers to which these funds relate for each of those years.
[29157/05]
313 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the core funding supplied by her for hospice care support in each health region in each of the past five years; and the reason there is a discrepancy in funding between those regions.
[29156/05]
312 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the regional health areas where there is a consultant with responsibility for palliative care; when each of those consultants were appointed; and the reason one area does not have such an appointment.
[29155/05]
227 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Taoiseach the number of staff in each general service and department grade in his Department who have been exempt for a period in excess of six months from attending meetings, dealing with correspondence, dealing with telephone queries, home or foreign travel, using computers or other duties by virtue of a medical certificate; if such long-term exemptions from normal duties are fair to other staff who must pick up the extra work; if they provide the taxpayer with good value for money; if such exemptions or certificates have been reviewed by the chief medical officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29425/05]
226 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Taoiseach the number of personal digital assistants provided to staff in his Department; the cost of same; the cost of the most expensive personal digital assistant purchased to date; the grades to which these devices are issued; if personal digital assistants are issued as a matter of course or are subject to preparation of a business case which is subsequently scrutinised; if so, by whom the final decision on allocation of personal digital assistants is made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29410/05]
225 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Taoiseach the amount spent by his Department on briefcases; the amount refunded to staff in his Department in respect of purchases of briefcases; the number of staff who have received briefcases; the number of staff who have received refunds for briefcases they purchased; the largest single amount paid or refunded in respect of one briefcase; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29395/05]
224 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Taoiseach the proportion of his Department’s training budget that is spent on refunds to staff in respect of night-time or weekend study courses; the list of all courses funded by his Department in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29380/05]
223 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Taoiseach the number of staff who applied for a refund of course fees in respect of courses undertaken at night or evenings; the value of refunds expected to be made by his Department in 2005; the number of staff to whom approval to attend a course was granted in the last academic year but did not subsequently apply for the refund; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29365/05]
222 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Taoiseach the number of staff in his Department to whom leave of absence, or any other absence from normal duties or place of work in excess of two months, was granted for educational purposes in any year since 2002; the nature of the educational course undertaken in each case; if there are terms or conditions relating to academic achievement attached to the granting of such leave; if personnel who were granted such leave failed to complete their courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29350/05]
221 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Taoiseach if the personnel files of staff in his Department have been copied or given to external parties; if so, the safeguards which have been put in place to ensure that no personal data of any member of staff in his Department will be released to third parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29335/05]
220 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Taoiseach the amount of compensatory leave granted or due to be granted to staff in his Department; the individuals to whom it was granted in respect of additional attendance at work before or after normal hours of attendance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29320/05]
219 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Taoiseach the amounts of ex gratia payments made to staff in his Department's press office in respect of persons being on call and their additional attendance at work before or after normal hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29305/05]
218 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Taoiseach the rates of overtime or additional allowances payable to staff who work in his Department’s press office in respect of persons being on call and their additional attendance at work before or after normal hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29290/05]
118 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will release the proposals from the Health Service Executive to the Joint Committee on Health and Children to establish four hospital networks; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28928/05]
111 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has received a proposal from the Health Service Executive to establish four hospital networks; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28927/05]
159 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the provision of core State funding for Educate Together; if the funding is adequate for the organisation to continue its valuable work; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28458/05]
158 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the provision of a sports hall for the students at a college (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28457/05]
392 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the provision of core State funding for a group (details supplied); her views on whether the level of funding is inadequate for the organisation to continue their valuable work; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28263/05]
391 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the provision of a sports hall for students at a college (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28262/05]
218 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the annual cost to the State of providing tax free lump sums over the past ten years to all pension scheme members; the number of members who benefited and the amount of benefit enjoyed by the top ten members for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28251/05]
217 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the cost per annum, to the State, of providing tax free lump sums, over the past ten years to private sector occupational pension scheme members per year; the number of members who benefit and the amount of benefit enjoyed by the top ten members for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28250/05]
209 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a review of the annual running costs of phase 2b of Mullingar General Hospital will be complete; the timeframe for the completion of this review; the benchmarking of other hospitals which will be taken on board in reviewing costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28378/05]
208 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the facilities and Departments which are being left out of the first stage of development in view of the planned fit out of shelled out area of phase 2b of Mullingar General Hospital; the timescale for the completion of this design process; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28377/05]
207 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the additional accommodation which will be provided in view of the planned fit out of the ward accommodation in the shelled out area of phase 2b of Mullingar General Hospital; the nature of the additional beds; and the other facilities which will be provided in this fit out.
[28376/05]
144 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which mobile telephone costs have been reduced; the consequent benefit to the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28069/05]
107 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if Ireland is still at the top of the European league regarding costs in respect of mobile telephone services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28031/05]
530 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of social housing starts approved for each local authority for each of the past five years; and the number of completions for each of the local authorities for each of the past five years.
[27500/05]
529 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of new house starts approved for each local authority in each of the past five years; and the corresponding number of house completions for each of the local authorities for each of the past five years.
[27499/05]
519 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the requirements which are imposed on the producers of electronic goods to comply with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.
[27354/05]
518 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the requirements which are imposed on retailers to comply with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.
[27353/05]
517 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the costs which are being imposed on consumers per electrical item in relation to the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive; the funds which will be generated by this directive; the way in which these funds will be collected; if there will be an audit each year of funds collected; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27352/05]
514 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the authority which is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of Clogrennane Castle, a historical monument located between Carlow town and Graiguecullen, alongside the River Barrow; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27597/05]
417 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the stage the plans for a dedicated applied behaviour analysis unit at Rathfarnham and Bohernabreena, Dublin; the expected date of delivery for this long awaited service; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27598/05]
335 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for residency and naturalisation will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27346/05]
271 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who returned home to care for her mother, should not be turned down on her application for the carer’s allowance on the grounds of non-compliance with the habitual residency clause.
[27328/05]
270 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons not in receipt of the carer’s allowance or the carer’s benefit who were successful and unsuccessful in qualifying for the respite care grant in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27327/05]
194 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the average mid-ranking civil servants, that is, principal officer’s annual salary for every fifth year since 1960; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27596/05]
120 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the funds which are collected annually through the 50 cent additional tax imposed on a box of cigarettes; the way these funds are directed to health matters; if this fund is audited on a yearly basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27320/05]
114 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the commitments she has made in the completion of phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital; the timeframe for these works; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27524/05]