208 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons accepting an affordable house from a local authority are obliged to take out cover under the local authority’s mortgage protection scheme and therefore are not allowed the freedom to acquire such cover from their own insurance company which in some cases can be at a cheaper rate; his views on whether this is anti-competitive and totally against the whole concept of affordable housing; and if he will modify the existing arrangements.
[15763/07]
196 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of the new school building for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin.
[15725/07]
72 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the provisions of employment law that discriminate against employees over 65 years of age; his plans to correct these anomalies; if primary or secondary legislation will be required for each of these anomalies to be corrected; his views on whether it is desirable to facilitate those who wish to continue working past 65 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15479/07]
46 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to ensure better and more equal access to the workforce for older persons who wish to continue working; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15469/07]
81 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on a national advertising campaign to promote greater awareness of social welfare entitlements, similar to the campaign being run by the Revenue Commissioner to promote greater awareness of tax allowances; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15206/07]
46 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made in discussions with the EU Commission regarding the possibility of providing free travel passes to Irish pensioners resident abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15205/07]
1042 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that tenants of local authority dwellings here who wish to purchase their houses by tenant purchase scheme are finding it prohibitive, in view of the fact that the local authorities under the scheme are taking into consideration the current valuation on the houses; and his proposals to bring forward a more favourable tenant purchase scheme.
[15088/07]
976 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status on the Drumanagh archaeological site in Loughshinney, County Dublin; if he will initiate the process for the acquisition or purchase of this ancient site by the Government; if he will arrange to have an archaeological dig to establish and evaluate the full potential of the site; and if in the interim he will arrange for the necessary protection to be provided to safeguard the site from illegal and vandalising behaviour.
[15138/07]
787 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on whether the vegetable industry here could become unviable unless a mechanism is found to address the price and costs squeeze that the growers finds themselves in; the way the balance between the growers and supermarkets can be redressed to ensure the future production of Irish vegetables; and the steps she proposes to take to make the vegetable industry here viable into the future.
[15080/07]
87 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Taoiseach his views on whether the proposed transfer of staff from the Central Statistics Office in Swords, County Dublin to a city centre location is going against the principal of decentralisation; and if he will review the decision taken.
[14737/07]
47 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will publish the most recent six monthly Progress Report to the Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion in regard to his Department’s overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15010/07]
574 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will make a decision in respect of the grant application from Fingal County Council in respect of the replacement of the steel windows in and the refurbishment of the houses in an estate (details supplied) in County Dublin.
[13950/07]
484 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science her proposals for a second level school in Lusk, County Dublin and if, in this regard, she has received correspondence from County Dublin VEC recommending the need for such a facility in one of the fastest growing areas in Fingal.
[13949/07]
483 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the discussions she had with the board of management and Fingal County Council in respect of a proposed school (details supplied) in County Dublin.
[13948/07]
482 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the frustration of the parents of the children attending a school (details supplied) in County Dublin at the lack of progress in the provision of a permanent 16 mainstream teacher building; and if the new permanent building will be completed for September 2008.
[13947/07]
481 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the shortfall of primary school places in Skerries, County Dublin; her proposals to accommodate children for September 2007 and 2008 in this regard; and when she will sanction the school indicated in the Barnageera area action plan.
[13946/07]
480 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the need for a primary school to accommodate the children from the new housing development within the Nevinstown area action plan, Swords, County Dublin; and when she will sanction the much needed school for this area.
[13945/07]
405 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the supports available from within her Department for the development of renewable and alternative energies; if, in this regard, there are any incentive schemes available for the planting and growing of willows which then could be used for woodchip or similar type heating.
[13543/07]
314 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on the programme for the grant aiding of local authority swimming pools and bodies supported by local authorities; when the current programme was advertised; the names of the successful applications that have been approved under the scheme; when the next scheme will be advertised; and if it will provide for the refurbishment of existing pools.
[13951/07]
82 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action taken on foot of the report of the Commission of Investigation in the Dean Lyons case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12927/07]
34 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received a report (details supplied); the main findings of the report; if he has not received the report, when he expects to do so; the reason for the delay in completing the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12926/07]
339 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in signing commencement orders for civil marriages in venues of choice; and when the necessary orders will be signed.
[12816/07]
154 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the way he will accelerate the interconnector project as announced by the Taoiseach on 24 March 2007; and the timescale proposed.
[12671/07]
41 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the INO and PNA industrial action; her plans to address their member’s substantial grievances in view of the disruption this will cause to the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12073/07]
31 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children if she plans on continuing with the decision to locate the National Children’s Hospital on the Mater site, despite strong and various objections; the stage the development is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12074/07]
164 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on introducing legislation to incorporate Regtel into ComReg in order to properly regulate the content, promotion and pricing information for all premium rate telecom services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11360/07]
180 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will bring forward measures to implement a statutory basis for notice of withdrawal to ensure that all operators provide at least 30 days' prior notice for the withdrawal of electronic communications services or any electronic communications product to an end user; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11361/07]
101 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science where responsibility lies in relation to the safety of children who have been brought to school by a bus funded under the school transport scheme in the period of time between the arrival and departure of the bus and the opening and closing of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10739/07]
44 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if all of the public private partnership projects under her Department for the period up to 2007 have proceeded according to time and budget; the information she has with regard to value for money on such projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10738/07]
190 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the transfer of the portion of a site (details supplied) in Foxwood, Swords, County Dublin to Fingal County Council by way of a deed of waiver and on a further application from the local authority seeking to acquire the balance of the site.
[10640/07]
128 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his Department’s views on providing funding for the new PSNI training college in Cookstown, County Tyrone; if his attention has been drawn to the funding difficulties that are delaying the construction of the college; if the college could be used for developing links between policing organisations North and South; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10508/07]
118 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the present position in Somalia, following fighting in the wake of the removal of that country’s government earlier in 2007; if the AU has been permitted to enter the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10509/07]
150 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the value of the tax relief for each year from 2000 to date in 2007 under capital allowances for the construction of private hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10238/07]
133 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the estimate of the net VAT paid by the building and construction sectors for each of the years 2003 to 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10225/07]
282 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide the information requested by e-mail dated 22 February 2007 in respect of the number of classrooms being provided under the rental of temporary accommodation scheme with regard to the schools listed in the e-mail; and the financial arrangements for the provision of classrooms as requested.
[9339/07]
276 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the need for a post-primary school in Lusk, County Dublin; and when she expects to sanction the provision of same.
[9284/07]
275 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation in respect of the proposed new second level school for Donabate, County Dublin; when it is expected that a tendering process will be completed; when it is expected that work will commence; and her plans to meet the requirements for the children seeking post primary education in the interim.
[9283/07]
97 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her view of proposals to provide redress to an organic farmer who suffers verifiable economic loss as a result of a mixture of genetically modified crops and non-GM crops contained in the proposed new EU regulation on organic production; and if she will make a statement on the matter of the way Ireland’s organic production industry would survive should such a proposal not be included in the final regulation if GMO production here grows.
[9094/07]
54 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on the status of the CAP simplification process; and if she will make a statement on her position in this process.
[9095/07]
116 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the provisions of employment law that discriminate against employees over 65 years of age; his plans to correct these anomalies; if primary or secondary legislation would be required for each of these anomalies to be corrected; his views on whether it is desirable to facilitate persons who wish to continue working past 65 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8349/07]
110 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cost of travel and maintenance expenses incurred individually in respect of each person by name in the employment of his ministerial office, including that of Ministers of State attached to his Department as either personal assistant, political adviser, programme manager, and press communications adviser for the calendar year 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8339/07]
111 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an anomaly now exists with regards to the pensions of women civil servants who were obliged to retire from the service on marriage and who returned, having repaid their marriage gratuity with interest, to the service, post 1995 in view of the fact that civil servants are now obliged to pay full social welfare and it now transpires that the women who returned post 1995 find that under a new formula their previous service is being aggregated with their current service thus reducing their pension entitlements substantially; his views on whether this is an anomaly situation which affects all women who were forced to retire on marriage and return to the service post 1995; and when he will propose to address this anomaly.
[8066/07]
118 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the proposals he has to review the operation of the Official Languages Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7704/07]
97 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will introduce or propose any initiatives for rural Ireland in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7705/07]
107 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will supplement local authority finances if there are high levels of radon identified under the audit of local authority housing stock requiring major expenditure on retrofitting; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7348/07]
70 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding their consideration by the Garda Conciliation Council in relation to the new draft Garda Discipline Regulations, which he originally said would be introduced prior to the Dáil Éireann summer recess in 2006; when the new regulations will be in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6840/07]
24 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received a response from the Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate to the copy of the Barr report that he sent to them and which he told the House he expected to receive in January 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6839/07]
128 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if he has received proposals from the Taxi Commission in relation to the introduction of financial assistance to incentivise the provision of more wheelchair accessible taxis; his views on these proposals; when he will act upon them; and the amount of funding set aside in 2007 for the envisaged scheme.
[6572/07]