223 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of private nursing home beds which were contracted out to the local health board or Health Service Executive equivalent during 2004 or later.
[19347/05]
222 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of private nursing home patients for whom a nursing home subvention was payable in 2004 or later.
[19346/05]
221 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of privately owned and operated nursing home beds for each of the past ten years.
[19345/05]
220 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of public nursing home beds each year for each of the past 20 years.
[19344/05]
166 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the annual budget for the national treatment purchase fund since it was established in 2002; the number of persons treated per HSE region; the number of persons who had to travel to the UK for treatment; the cost of the travel expenses for persons; and the average waiting time reduction for adult and child patients for each category of operation as covered by the scheme.
[18980/05]
168 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average cost for a knee operation under the national treatment purchase fund when compared to the cost of the operation under the standard Health Service Executive route.
[18982/05]
167 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average cost for a hip operation under the national treatment purchase fund when compared to the cost of the operation under the standard Health Service Executive route.
[18981/05]
164 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average cost for a gall bladder operation under the national treatment purchase fund when compared to the cost of the operation under the standard Health Service Executive route.
[18978/05]
163 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average cost for a hernia operation under the national treatment purchase fund when compared to the cost of the operation under the standard Health Service Executive route.
[18977/05]
162 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average cost for a varicose veins operation under the national treatment purchase fund when compared to the cost of the operation under the standard Health Service Executive route.
[18976/05]
161 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average cost for a cataracts operation under the national treatment purchase fund when compared to the cost of the operation under the standard Health Service Executive route.
[18975/05]
160 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average cost for a tonsils operation under the national treatment purchase fund when compared to the cost of the operation under the standard Health Service Executive route.
[18974/05]
159 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average cost for a prostate operation under the national treatment purchase fund when compared to the cost of the operation under the standard Health Service Executive route.
[18973/05]
158 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average cost for cardiac surgery under the national treatment purchase fund when compared to the cost of the operation under the standard Health Service Executive route.
[18972/05]
157 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average cost for a plastic surgery operation under the national treatment purchase fund when compared to the cost of the operation under the standard Health Service Executive route.
[18971/05]
94 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress being made on the implementation of the recommendations of the task force on the physical sciences; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19741/05]
62 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of OECD report recommendations which have been implemented at third level to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19742/05]
6 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Cabinet approval has been sought to set a new date for the achievement of the UN target for overseas development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18614/05]
102 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his action in response to the EU challenge to the tax relief on stud fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18422/05]
100 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with numbers of persons from within the State agencies which have indicated a willingness to decentralise with their agencies; and his views on the assessments from some of the agencies of the risk of damage to delivery of services.
[18423/05]
17 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the scope of the tax review currently being undertaken to include additional tax shelters requiring assessment; and if these review studies will be published well ahead of budget 2006 in order that there will be adequate opportunity for the House to consider their implications for tax policy.
[18652/05]
481 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, as a result of the energy performance building directive, article 10, it is envisaged that all new buildings will require an energy certificate by 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18142/05]
479 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the revised plans for a sewerage treatment plant for an area (details supplied) in County Westmeath were submitted to his Department in December 2004; if these plans have been approved; the expected cost of this project; and when approval to proceed to tender stage will be sanctioned for this project.
[18058/05]
345 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the matter of the special beef premium overshoot for 2004 was first discussed in her Department; when this matter was first brought to her attention; and the action taken by her on foot of becoming aware of this problem.
[17836/05]
344 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will bring forward a Supplementary Estimate to compensate beef farmers who may lose out on payments due to the special beef premium overshoot.
[17835/05]
343 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the estimated projected loss to farmers in Westmeath; if, owing to the special beef premium overshoot, a reduced rate of payment will be made to those persons.
[17834/05]
342 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has raised the matter of the special beef premium overshoot with the European Agriculture Commissioner; the date of her discussions with the Commissioner on this important matter; and the response from the Commissioner.
[17833/05]
341 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress which has been made concerning the special beef premium overshoot which was identified as far back as 2003; the number of applications and the extent of the overshoot; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17832/05]
340 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in the context of the expected visit to this country of the European Commissioner for Agriculture in May 2005, she will raise with her the special beef premium overshoot, the projected loss of €80 million to farmers resulting from this problem and since the previous European Commissioner assured the farming community that there would be no loss to farmers arising from the re-negotiation of CAP and decoupling, and that the additional funds are secured from the EU.
[17831/05]
60 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans she has to evaluate the economic implications of the use of GMOs; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17325/05]
53 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures she intends to take to address the problems experienced by farmers in the Shannon callows, as a result of current proposals which do not allow them to split their lands for grant aid purposes between REPs funding and funding allocated under the SAC and SPA designation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17312/05]
404 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his policy regarding the enforcement of planning and development legislation and the enforcement of same by local authorities; if his attention has been drawn to cases in which such enforcement is neglected by local authorities; if he will identify such local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16905/05]
403 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether possible court costs should be a decisive factor in deciding that the law should not be implemented in respect of planning enforcement.
[16903/05]
250 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will consider a major review of the national fuel scheme and an extension of the scheme to a year round payment (details supplied).
[17144/05]
191 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of prize bonds currently in circulation; if the results of the draws are published annually; the administration costs incurred in the running of the draws annually; the body which administers the draws; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17047/05]
205 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that all elective surgery has been cancelled at Tallaght Hospital since 10 April 2005; the number of procedures and patients so postponed or cancelled; if she has put in place a protocol to prevent a repeat of this crisis situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[16593/05]
204 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons who have presented at the accident and emergency department at Tallaght Hospital on each of the past 21 days; and the effect these persons have had on the normal admissions at the hospital.
[16592/05]
203 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be admitted for surgery; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[16591/05]
152 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of employees of his Department who have applied for transfers under the decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16470/05]
124 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action his Department is taking to remove the foul odours associated with the sewage treatment plant in Ringsend; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16457/05]
399 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a further review of the fire service has been commissioned; the way in which this review is to be carried out; if consultants have been engaged to carry out this work; if so, the name of these consultants and the estimated cost; if the public will be consulted in the course of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16249/05]
398 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost of a report (details supplied) on the fire service here.
[16248/05]
397 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the recommendations from a report (details supplied) on the fire service which have been implemented to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16247/05]
391 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received an application for funding for a sewerage scheme for a village (details supplied) in County Westmeath; the date of receipt of this application; if this scheme has been approved; the estimated cost and when funds are likely to be made available for this project.
[16014/05]
389 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if an application for funding for a sewerage plant (details supplied) in County Westmeath has been forwarded to his Department; the date of receipt of this application; if the project has been approved; if funds have been allocated for these works; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15960/05]
218 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Transport if there are a number of vacancies within the driver testing section of his Department; if so, the number of such vacancies; the length of time these vacancies have existed; if these vacancies have been advertised; if so, when and the way and areas in which they have been advertised; the lost through-put of driver tests due to these vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16015/05]
100 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the budgetary allocation for persons with disabilities living in Counties Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford; if this allocation is insufficient to continue the existing level of service into the last quarter of 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[16027/05]
210 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of customers who receive either weekly or monthly payments from his Department; the percentage of these who receive their cash payments through the local post office; if he has encouraged his customers to opt for payments through a particular method; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15521/05]
195 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the towns and villages in which Garda stations have been disposed of and which have had new purpose built facilities with the finance from these dealings; the profit in each case from these transactions; and the funds available for 2005 to refurbish rural Garda stations.
[15546/05]
172 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the special care baby unit at Mullingar General Hospital will be allocated staff and funding (details supplied).
[15642/05]