249 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress his Department has made in achieving this 33% target of energy efficiency in the public sector; if energy use in buildings under the responsibility of his Department is being monitored; if so, the person by whom it is monitored; the recent trends; if buildings under the responsibility of his Department are being retrofitted to improve energy efficiency; if there are capital budgets for energy efficiency measures in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13126/08]
234 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Transport his views on the promise in the Programme for Government which promised to introduce a minimum requirement for the use of bio-fuels in State-owned and public transport vehicles and that Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann will move their existing fleet to a 5% bio-diesel blend and will achieve a 30% bio-diesel blend in their new buses; the progress he has made in achieving this target; the additional funds he has given to public transport operators to achieve this target; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13134/08]
233 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Transport the progress his Department has made in achieving this 33% target of energy efficiency in the public sector; if energy use in buildings under the responsibility of his Department is being monitored; if so, the person by whom it is monitored; the recent trends; if buildings under the responsibility of his Department are being retrofitted to improve energy efficiency; if there are capital budgets for energy efficiency measures in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13131/08]
223 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Transport the way he proposes to ensure that a functioning system of driving instruction will be in place after the deadline in nine months time, in view of the fact that discussions between the Road Safety Authority and driving instructors are ongoing and there is no certainty regarding the rules that driving instructors will have to adhere to after that time.
[12808/08]
200 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress her Department has made in achieving the 33% target of energy efficiency in the public sector; if energy use in buildings under the responsibility of her Department is being monitored; if so the person by whom it is monitored; the recent trends; if buildings under the responsibility of her Department are being retrofitted to improve energy efficiency; if there are capital budgets for energy efficiency measures in her Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13127/08]
137 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the energy criteria the Office of Public Works is using when acquiring or constructing new buildings for the public sector; if the OPW has, is or plans to retrofit any public buildings to improve energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13133/08]
136 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the progress his Department has made in achieving this 33% target of energy efficiency in the public sector; if energy use in buildings under the responsibility of his Department is being monitored; if so, the person by whom it is monitored; the recent trends; if buildings under the responsibility of his Department are being retrofitted to improve energy efficiency; if there are capital budgets for energy efficiency measures in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13125/08]
117 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Taoiseach the progress his Department has made in achieving this 33% target of energy efficiency in the public sector; if energy use in buildings under the responsibility of his Department is being monitored; if so, the person by whom it is monitored; the recent trends; if buildings under the responsibility of his Department are being retrofitted to improve energy efficiency; if there are capital budgets for energy efficiency measures in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13130/08]
102 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the measures in view of the envisaged changes to the milk quota system, she will bring forward to encourage new entrants to the dairy sector; the way she will ensure that small dairy producers are not negatively affected by the changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13033/08]
272 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure that there will be no conflict of interest between the selected successful tender and the past relationship with EirGrid which may compromise the credibility of the study of the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines and underground cables for the Meath-Cavan-Monaghan 400 kV project.
[10739/08]
271 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the tender has been advertised on a Europe-wide basis for the study on the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines and underground cables for the Meath-Cavan-Monaghan 400 kV project; and if there has been interest from companies outside Ireland.
[10738/08]
270 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of companies that have tendered for the study on the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines and underground cables for the Meath-Cavan-Monaghan 400 kV project; when a decision will be made on selecting a successful applicant; and the names of companies that have tendered.
[10737/08]
269 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if it is possible to extend the timeframe under which a consultant appointed by his Department will undertake a study on the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines and underground cables for the Meath-Cavan-Monaghan 400 kV project, in the context of the fact that a number of companies have decided not to tender based on the tight timescale envisaged.
[10736/08]
272 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure that there will be no conflict of interest between the selected successful tender and the past relationship with EirGrid which may compromise the credibility of the study of the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines and underground cables for the Meath-Cavan-Monaghan 400 kV project.
[10739/08]
271 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the tender has been advertised on a Europe-wide basis for the study on the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines and underground cables for the Meath-Cavan-Monaghan 400 kV project; and if there has been interest from companies outside Ireland.
[10738/08]
270 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of companies that have tendered for the study on the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines and underground cables for the Meath-Cavan-Monaghan 400 kV project; when a decision will be made on selecting a successful applicant; and the names of companies that have tendered.
[10737/08]
269 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if it is possible to extend the timeframe under which a consultant appointed by his Department will undertake a study on the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines and underground cables for the Meath-Cavan-Monaghan 400 kV project, in the context of the fact that a number of companies have decided not to tender based on the tight timescale envisaged.
[10736/08]
83 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the criteria for prioritising successful applications in view of the large number of wind energy projects hoping to get connection to the grid under the gate 3 connection process; if he will confirm the combined amount of megawatts that will be granted connection under this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10902/08]
81 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the International Advisory Forum on next generation networks has reported; if so, if he will publish the findings; if he will publish a detailed timetable of the action he proposes to take on promotion of the roll-out of high speed infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10901/08]
79 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm that, as he stated in a speech to Dáil Éireann on 26 February 2008, all areas that do not have broadband by 1 July 2008 will get broadband under the national broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10900/08]
12 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of An Agreed Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10613/08]
549 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Ireland has reserve supplies of natural gas to deal with a crisis; and if there are plans to create or increase these stockpiles.
[10486/08]
195 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Health and Children if she plans to ensure that a BCG vaccine is made available to all children in the Cork area without further delay; and if she will ensure that all waiting list issues are addressed in order that babies in Cork can receive a similar service to the rest of the country.
[10065/08]
163 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when the report of the review of systems and procedures operated by Departments and agencies to protect the confidentiality of personal data will be presented to Government; and when it will be made public.
[10072/08]
325 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the standards or qualifications his Department requires from installers of small wood pellet boilers before his Department advertises these businesses on its website; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9519/08]
324 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the amount of small wood pellet boilers which have been uninstalled since the inception of the greener home scheme and the number of complaints received by his Department by dissatisfied owners of small wood pellet boilers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9518/08]
323 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of grants given via the greener home scheme to individuals to install small wood pellet boilers since the inception of the greener home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9517/08]
262 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has instructed FÁS to introduce training courses in green energy technology installation in view of its rising popularity and the lack of current qualified tradesmen in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9520/08]
95 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason funding for the development of homeless services has not been provided in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9362/08]
596 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the breakdown of the cost to the Exchequer of the International Advisory Forum on Broadband held in Dublin on 26 and 27 February 2008.
[8834/08]
181 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of literacy tutors working in each of the State’s prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9059/08]
183 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners undertaking education and training programmes other than literacy programmes at each of the State’s prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9060/08]
26 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department have analysed the increased number of people on the live register to determine the industries and categories of worker which are being affected the most; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8441/08]
513 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress that has occurred in preparation for the transposition of the forthcoming Third Postal Directive into Irish law by 31 December 2010; if he will undertake a comprehensive review and consolidation of all legislation affecting the postal sector as part of this process; if so, the time scale involved; what impediments he envisages as affecting the prospects of achieving end-to-end competition in the postal market here; and the action he will take to address them.
[7594/08]
316 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Education and Science if pupils of grind schools are assigned examination numbers in public examinations that enable them to be identified as pupils of such schools by correctors; if pupils of such schools are treated differently in any way in the allocation of numbers; if in her opinion this undermines the anonymity of the system; and if she will ensure that changes are made to the system to ensure the complete anonymity in every way of pupils in the future.
[7459/08]
57 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that those entitled to DIRT refund are getting it; and if he has proposals to rectify the apparent under-claiming.
[7776/08]
222 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost to the Exchequer of the International Advisory Forum on broadband to be held in Dublin later this month.
[7197/08]
26 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding her recent discussions at EU level relating to the CAP health check; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7052/08]
343 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the implementation of a postcode system here; if he has reverted to Government on the issue following further analysis to quantify the benefits; and if the public consultation process has started.
[7032/08]
342 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the Electricity (Transfer of Assets) Bill is expected to be published; if the Government is still committed to transferring ownership of the electricity transmission assets from the ESB to Eirgrid; if not, the reasons for the change of policy; if so, if he will supply an updated detailed timetable of the steps which will lead to that transfer, including whether it will be achieved by end 2008 as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will provide details of all meetings held and planned with ESB management, unions, and ESOT.
[7031/08]
341 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the details of all contracts awarded by Postbank to date; the dates and value of the contracts; and the company to whom they were awarded.
[7030/08]
296 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide a comprehensive list of all cars owned by the State used to drive Ministers and junior Ministers; the engine size of each; the emissions label on each and if it has a hybrid engine or uses biofuels regularly.
[7033/08]
219 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a detailed list of all vehicles owned by his Department here and abroad, including makes, models, engine sizes and emissions labels where they exist; if in each case they have hybrid engines or use biofuels; and if there is a policy of buying low emissions cars when they need to be replaced.
[7036/08]
709 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reasons he has refused price increases to onshore wind energy projects while granting them to offshore projects.
[6406/08]
708 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm that there has not been and will not be queue-jumping or interference by his Department in favour of offshore wind projects to the detriment of onshore projects which have already applied for connection in the gate three connection process.
[6405/08]
707 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if contracts awarded by Postbank, a subsidiary of An Post, are subject to public procurement tendering rules.
[6218/08]
706 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the contracts awarded by Postbank which should have been subject to public procurement tendering rules; and if in each case those rules were followed.
[6217/08]
503 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the building of a new school (details supplied), especially in the context of the fast-tracking of a new school in neighbouring Rochestown; and if she will issue a new schedule for the completion of the school as the old ones are now irrelevant.
[6511/08]
183 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the results of the review of systems and procedures operated by Departments and agencies to protect the confidentiality of personal data, reports of which were due to be returned to his Department by 1 February 2008; if the results are not yet finalised, when they will be finalised; and if they will be published.
[6160/08]
424 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding bodies (details supplied); if each body is still in existence; the status of each; the role of each; the staff numbers of each; and the budget for each.
[5399/08]