82 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the provision of a new public hospital in north County Dublin will be sanctioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26138/05]
200 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of deaths and injuries reported arising from industrial accidents in each year from 2000 to 2004 and to date in 2005; the further steps he intends to take to reduce the level of such accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25435/05]
191 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the draft regulation drawn up by the Health and Safety Authority more than 15 months ago to improve safety standards on building sites will be implemented; the reason for the long delay in bringing same into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25436/05]
535 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the application for a much needed Garda closed circuit television system in Malahide, County Dublin; when approval will be given; and when the system will be installed.
[23947/05]
534 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the application for a much needed Garda closed circuit television system in Swords, County Dublin; when approval will be given; and when the system will be installed.
[23946/05]
533 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the application to the commission for justice in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; the current position regarding this application; and when the matter will be finalised.
[23945/05]
400 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will address the anomalies in the treatment of certain claimants of deserted wife’s benefit (details supplied); if he will implement the necessary changes to ensure that the entitlements established during that period are maintained and preserved; if he will abolish the means test for the persons concerned and, furthermore, will he modify the existing scheme to enable persons who may exceed the present earning limit of €17,776.33 a year to receive a reduced rate of payment, to enable such persons to be eligible for deserted wife’s benefit should their earnings be reduced and come within the earning guidelines in future years.
[24168/05]
287 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to a company (details supplied) which has announced recently that it plans to outsource its remaining three vessels that operate on the Irish Sea with low cost foreign labour and to fund this job replacement policy with a similar arrangement; the steps he proposes to take to prevent this policy being implemented; and his proposals to ensure that commitments guaranteed by both the Government and this company in respect of future employment of the workforce are met in full.
[23752/05]
182 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the lack of services available to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will be addressed.
[23855/05]
153 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the refunds due to the family of a person (details supplied).
[23822/05]
45 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the failure to increase the cut off wage level for PRSI payments means that many minimum wage earners have not benefited as much as they should have from the recent increase in the minimum wage; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that an employee earning €298.35 per week now finds that their pay exceeds the €287 minimum level for PRSI exemption; his views on whether this effectively cancels out the bonus they receive via the increase in the minimum wage; if he will address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23029/05]
467 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on his most recent meeting with the Retired Aviation Staff Association regarding the acknowledged anomalies in the existing Aer Lingus-Aer Rianta pension scheme; if he will engage with the management of Aer Lingus with a view to reaching an agreement for the restructuring of the pension fund to enable CPI and salary related indexation of pensions of retired staff.
[22376/05]
381 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the application from an association (details supplied) in County Dublin for a major grant towards its project; the status of the confirmation by his predecessor that he had approved the preliminary report submitted by Fingal County Council for the project in Skerries, County Dublin.
[22466/05]
121 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made to date on the report on rural housing commissioned by his Department from the National Spatial Research Institute at NUI Maynooth; when he expects to receive the report; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22220/05]
52 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an outside counsel has been appointed to examine the papers in the Grangegorman murder case with a view to determining the way in which a person (details supplied) came to make a confession to these crimes while in Garda custody; if the terms of reference for the review have been finalised; when the process will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21470/05]
11 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total amount paid out either in respect of court awards or out of court settlements for claims taken against members of the gardaí in respect of assault, unlawful arrest, or other breach of a citizen’s right in respect of 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and to date in 2005; the number of cases in which awards were made by the courts and the number of cases which were settled out of court; the number of such cases pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21469/05]
198 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the situation that exists for motorists using the N32, particularly at peak periods, when traffic is backed up to the Malahide Road while they are charged €1.80 each way in toll charges; the action being taken to resolve this situation.
[21384/05]
65 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if he will commission an independent study, including a cost benefit analysis, with regard to the provision of a second greater Dublin-Leinster-midlands airport as an alternative to the proposed second northern parallel runway at Dublin Airport; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the chief executive of the DAA has stated that he would not be opposed to such a study although such a decision would have to be made by the Department of Transport.
[21252/05]
39 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if he has met with Aer Lingus representatives to discuss the scrapping of the airline’s routes to Orlando and Washington in the United States; the efforts he will make to ensure that other routes to the US are maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21208/05]
541 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if the two additional classrooms required by a school (details supplied) in County Dublin will be on site and operational by 1 September 2005.
[20992/05]
540 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the funding crisis facing the Educate Together national office which may be forced to scale down its activities from July 2005 if a resolution is not secured by that date; if she will report on her meeting with Educate Together on this issue; and if she will make a realistic offer of funding to enable the ongoing work continue.
[20991/05]
207 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she will receive the pending report on the Lourdes Hospital inquiry; and if a copy of the report will be made available to Patient Focus before it enters the public domain.
[20680/05]
133 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the HSE has by letter of 25 May 2005 confirmed that approval has been sought from her Department to proceed with the tendering process for the provision of the residential and day service complex for 66 residents in St. Joseph’s service at St. Ita’s Hospital, Portrane; and the reason for the delay in approving same (details supplied).
[20893/05]
132 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason for an inordinate delay within the HSE, northern area, in paying out pensions entitlements and lump sum gratuities to nurses retiring from the service; and her views on whether a delay of up to 22 weeks is unacceptable.
[20892/05]
172 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in respect of school transport and the difficulties surrounding the immediate installation of seat belts in school buses, she will communicate with the Departments of Transport and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with a view to implementing a maximum speed limit for school buses as an interim safety precaution.
[20528/05]
171 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that three children have been refused access to a special language class at a school (details supplied) in County Dublin, that the Health Service Executive has identified five children requiring this specific service and that only two have been offered places in the school for September 2005; if the necessary resources will be made available as a matter of urgency in order that the three children in question may secure a language class placement in September 2005.
[20527/05]
140 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals to close Rush Garda station and dispose of the property; the timescale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20526/05]
120 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the demand from the general public for an improved bus service in Fingal; the reason for the delay in responding to the application from Dublin Bus for the introduction of new bus schedules; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20529/05]
10 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has received the Irish Sports Council’s assessment of the conclusions to its consideration of the review of Ireland’s performance at the Athens Olympics; if an operational plan has been developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20282/05]
75 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he is disappointed to learn that Ireland has been passed out in broadband provision by most of the EU and that a wide range of countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East have embarked on more ambitious roll-outs than Ireland in view of his repeated challenges to broadband providers, most recently at the National Broadband Conference in Galway, and his stated intention to intervene if necessary in the market on an operator neutral basis to promote competition and choice for consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19941/05]
51 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the numbers of Irish businesses and households which had broadband connection on 1 January 2005 and 31 May 2005 or as close as possible to that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19936/05]
141 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the call made by the Irish language commissioner, Mr. Seán Ó Cuirreáin, for a review of Irish language education in primary and secondary schools; her response to this call; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19678/05]
54 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the current position regarding discussions with the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Revenue Commissioners regarding the introduction of a new higher education grants scheme; the steps being taken to bring these discussions to a conclusion; when she expects the new system will be in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19677/05]
69 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has brought proposals to Cabinet concerning the expansion of Ireland’s international boundaries to allow for further offshore exploration; the potential benefits for Ireland in this regard; the likelihood of the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to accept these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18504/05]
67 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to recent contacts in Belfast between the British Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Jonathan Powell, and senior republicans including leading members of the Irish Republican Army; if any such meetings were held with the knowledge of his Department; if he or representatives of his Department have had similar meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18503/05]
79 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the number of High Court orders sought to date by the Revenue Commissioners under the Finance Act 1999 to require financial institutions to supply names, addresses and other relevant information regarding holders of bogus accounts at the latest date for which figures are available; the number of cases where orders have been granted; the general progress made to date in identifying the holders of such accounts who did not avail of the recent voluntary disclosure scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18292/05]
77 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the number of individuals, companies and trusts being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners arising from the clerical medical insurance-NIB inquiry at the latest date for which figures are available; the number of cases where settlements have been agreed; the amount paid to date; the number of cases still outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18291/05]
110 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of deaths and injuries reported arising from industrial accidents in each year from 2000 to 2004 and to date; the further steps he intends to take to reduce the level of such accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18030/05]
102 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the decision by a company (details supplied) to relocate part of its operation to Northern Ireland with the potential loss of up to 290 jobs; if he has had discussions with the company on this matter; if he has satisfied himself that sufficient supports and incentives are in place to continue attracting industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18004/05]
230 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his proposals to introduce a new scheme for grant aid to local authorities and bodies supported by local authorities towards the cost of providing new swimming pools or refurbishing existing pools.
[17128/05]
31 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to establish a special task force comprising representatives of the State and voluntary sector as well as specialists in language planning and policy to develop a national plan for Irish language planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16670/05]
184 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the international legal action taken by Ireland with a view to securing the closure of the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16360/05]
98 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of persons believed to have died here in each of the past five years as a result of exposure to radon gas; the steps he intends to take to protect persons from exposure to potentially lethal gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16361/05]
217 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will report on the income limits for eligibility for the deserted wife’s benefit payment; his views on whether there is a need to have them updated; and when he intends to do so (details supplied).
[16474/05]
61 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of juvenile liaison officers in the Garda at the latest date for which figures are available; his plans to extend the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16148/05]
44 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount paid out either in respect of court awards or out of court settlements for claims taken against members of the Garda in respect of assault, unlawful arrest or other breach of a citizen’s right in respect of 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and to date; the number of cases in which awards have been made by the courts and the number of cases which have been settled out of court; the number of such cases pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16150/05]
68 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the procedures in place to ensure value for money in respect of public private partnership road contracts; the information available to him in that regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15671/05]
88 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her response the recent decision of the High Court to award almost €3 million in damages to a person; if she is concerned that the State may be vulnerable to similar legal actions from other people who found themselves in similar circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15347/05]
72 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the recent comments (details supplied) made by the Coroner for County Offaly; the measures she intends to take to deal with the huge toll of life being taken by suicide; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15344/05]
188 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he will designate the Higher Education Training Awards Council under the working of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 to ensure transparency and to reinforce the credibility of the third level education sector.
[15199/05]