98 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs about the experts on the strategy to help the Irish language that have been employed on a contract basis to advise his Department and the Government; the advice they have given; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32481/07]
437 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the action she will take to prevent Directives of EU Parliament’s Environment Committee proceeding with proposals to restrict crop protection which would seriously impact on food supply especially in crops like, potatoes and other vegetable crops; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32501/07]
436 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers in County Galway who are participants in the REP scheme three and REP scheme two over the past four years; the number who have opted out of the scheme; the number of farmers who have had penalties incurred under each of the schemes during these years; the value of such penalties; the reason for the delay in REP scheme four; if the 17% increase announced in Budget 2007 has been approved; when the scheme will be put into operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32500/07]
435 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will introduce a support mechanism for sheep farmers in view of the declining number of breeding ewes in the flocks in the country and the numbers of farmers exiting sheep farming; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32499/07]
201 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the guidelines for the introduction of the mid Shannon tourism infrastructure investment scheme have been forwarded for approval by the European Commission; and if the certification board has been established.
[32502/07]
81 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken or can take to raise concerns regarding the possible violation of North Korean peoples' fundamental human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29391/07]
94 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of the Government regarding the reported restrictions on journalists and dissidents in Burma; the situation regarding the visit of Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, the UN human rights envoy to Burma; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29390/07]
311 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it was appropriate that contributions paid under the superannuation scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Galway could be refunded, while this person was in prison to their family without their knowledge, approval or consent; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30072/07]
283 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the provision of ten additional classrooms at a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30070/07]
246 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the Employment Exchange Office, King Street, Loughrea, County Galway will be restored and re-opened to the public; the reason it was closed, without notice causing hardship to persons using the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30071/07]
171 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when installation aid grant due to person (detail supplied) in County Galway will be awarded; the reasons for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28782/07]
47 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science if there is an ongoing review and analysis being carried out in the Kinvara catchment area, County Galway on the provision of a second level co-education school in Kinvara as a replacement for a school (details supplied); if a similar review was completed by the planning unit of her Department before the announcement of 16 May 2007 in which she stated that a new second level school would be provided in Kinvara; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28563/07]
6 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Defence the number of proposals received following stage 1 of the competition for the purchase of the two offshore patrol vessels with an option of a third, and one extended patrol vessel, with an option on a second; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27761/07]
55 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make changes to the in camera rule in Family Law Court cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27326/07]
75 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the facilities that will be put in place for medical card holders and persons with long-term illness cards in the event of an escalation of the dispute between the Health Service Executive and the IPU; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26716/07]
31 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding currently being provided, on a county basis, towards community development programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26312/07]
550 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will re-consider his decision to allow the Turoe Stone located at Bullaun, Loughrea, County Galway to be removed to a museum in Galway City and instead provide proper protection at this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25962/07]
543 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will review the planning guidelines for one off rural housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25951/07]
408 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation of the 217 Montessori trained teachers employed by her Department working in the special needs area in mainstream schools who, due to changes in conditions to special needs provision, are no longer secure in their positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25950/07]
368 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her attention has been drawn to the fact that hay is being imported from continental Europe as fodder, mainly for horses, and this could possibly transfer the Bluetongue disease to Ireland; if her Department has monitored the origin of this importation; her views on whether this could be a danger to animal health here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25946/07]
356 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the guidelines for the new LEADER programme 2007 to 2013 will be published; the reason for the delay in issuing the guidelines in view of the many projects awaiting sanction and approval for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26402/07]
173 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on extending medical card cover to patients who are celiacs, asthmatics and diabetics; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25958/07]
26 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the plans he has to ensure that the Shannon Region and the mid-west generally benefit from the potential of Open Skies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25591/07]
466 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the proposal for a school amalgamation (details supplied) at second level in Tuam, County Galway; the progress that has been made; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24942/07]
421 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the breakdown in subject area of the 2,063 successful appeals by students of the leaving certificate 2007 results; and the change in grades involved.
[24692/07]
186 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children awaiting assessment for speech and language therapy in the Health Service Executive west; the number of children awaiting such services in HSE west following assessment of need; the number receiving speech therapy in HSE west; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24693/07]
389 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the environmental condition of the old Tynagh Mine site in Loughrea, County Galway; if his Department will take responsibility for a rehabilitation plan in co-operation with the owners of the site in view of the fact that the EPA described it as an environmental time bomb; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24289/07]
386 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of applications received in his Department for each county, under the provision of alternative energy in the home scheme; and his reason for the reduction in grant aid under this scheme.
[24294/07]
383 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in the upgrading of the Gort water supply as investigations on this scheme started 15 years ago and as yet there is no progress in the provision of an adequate water supply to Gort town; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24296/07]
382 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of applicants on waiting lists for disabled persons grants and essential repair grants; the length of time they are waiting in each of the councils throughout the country; the allocation of funding provided to each council; the cost of grant applications submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24295/07]
326 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will incorporate the cost of college registration fees in the third level maintenance grant for students; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24293/07]
325 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of the application for a much needed class room extension at a school (details supplied) in County Galway as there is serious overcrowding at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24292/07]
324 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science if she is satisfied with the standard of allocation of grades in the leaving certificate examinations 2007 in view of the fact that 2,063 upgrades were granted on appeal; her views on whether this will have serious effect on allocation and availability of third level places at this late stage in the academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24291/07]
323 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide funding for the provision of a supervisor on all school buses to eliminate potential distractions to the driver; if she will provide for the provision of warning flashing lights to avoid injuries to students getting off school buses especially during the hours of darkness; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24290/07]
306 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will revise the conditions and eliminate the anomalies in the implementation of the Malone sheep report which now restricts grant support to REP scheme four applicants and so denies most sheep farmers from benefit of grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24288/07]
212 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the average length of time patients have to wait for an assessment with an occupational therapist; the number of people in County Galway waiting for an assessment; the number of occupational therapists employed in the Health Service Executive west working within County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24302/07]
211 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children if funding will be provided, as promised, for the restoration of the Old Work House at Portumna, County Galway, formally the property of the Western Health Board; if she supports the original commitments given on her visit to launch the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24301/07]
175 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the details of the scheme announced in budget 2006 extending to the middle Shannon region incentives for tourism related projects; if application forms are available; the number of applications received by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24300/07]
174 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views on an allocation of funds for the completion of restoration and maintenance of works at Portumna Castle in view of the designation of the middle Shannon region under the terms and provisions of budget 2007 and work already carried out by the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24299/07]
96 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he has received a report on the pay levels of chief executive officers in the State sector; the recommendations made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23554/07]
181 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps that have been taken by his Department to reduce the incidence of human trafficking through Irish ports in view of recent revelations which highlighted the absence of appropriate legislation here to tackle human trafficking; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22534/07]
120 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the project to construct a new prison at Thornton Hall, County Dublin; the amount of money that has been spent on the Thornton Hall project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22533/07]
258 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of staff at various levels in many local authorities which is being exacerbated by the current embargo in place, particularly in planning divisions of county councils and in housing, engineering, water and sewerage schemes causing delays in progress in providing these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21962/07]
257 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on a review of the affordable housing scheme income limits in view of the fact that many applicants are no longer qualifying for inclusion as their income is no longer adequate under the conditions of the present scheme and many applicants have to return to the social housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21961/07]
256 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the names of the various schemes that require funding for water and waste water capital projects in County Galway that have been submitted to his Department for funds; the amount of funding in each case; the proposed starting date of these projects; the projects in progress; and funding allocated for their completion.
[21960/07]
208 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide funding for the extension to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and when she envisages work will commence on this project.
[21959/07]
207 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in the provision of the new second level school to replace a school (details supplied) in County Galway in view of the concessions made by the trustees of the college, by an intake of first year students at the college in 2007; if she has had the proposed sites identified in Kinvara assessed as to their suitability; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21958/07]
206 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made for the construction of a new primary school at a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the result of the site visitation listed for earlier in 2007; and the time scale for the completion of the project.
[21957/07]
162 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made following her visit to St Brendan’s Hospital, Loughrea, in the construction and provision of the new 40 bed unit at the hospital in view of the need for long stay beds for elderly in the area and the constant reduction in the bed capacity at the hospital over the past six years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21965/07]
161 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the additional funding she is providing to University College Hospital, Galway following her announcement of her change in policy dealing with breast cancer; the number of new specialist staff she is providing to service the increased work load; the way she reconciles this new recruitment need with her announced embargo on the creation of new posts; if she envisages an increased waiting time for treatment of patients referred to UCHG; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21964/07]