357 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make additional funding available for adult education programmes organised by the vocational educational committees in view of the increase in unemployment that has occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34124/08]
356 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of permanent teachers employed by his Department at primary level for each of the years 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009; the corresponding number of registered students for each of these years; the number of part-time and temporary teachers for these years; the number of special needs assistants and other support teachers employed; the number of pupils at this level receiving support; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34123/08]
355 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of permanent full-time teachers employed at second level for each of the years 2005-2006, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 in second level schools, private secondary schools, community schools, comprehensive schools and vocational schools; the student numbers enrolled in each category; the number of temporary and part-time teachers; the number of support teachers in each of the categories mentioned; and the number of students receiving these supports.
[34122/08]
334 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason, in view of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 1 October 2008, the regional inspector dealt with the imposition of the penalty at local level in the first instance, before it became necessary to go to appeal; the person who attended the appeal in respect of the Galway office and their costs; the cost of the venue and the appeals officers’ costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34129/08]
333 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the steep increase in herds affected by tuberculosis outbreaks in parts of County Galway, he will provide for extra field personnel to help eliminate the badger problem and the increasing evidence of deer as a contributory factor to TB infection in herds; if he will co-ordinate the activities of development agencies such as National Roads Authority, rail development projects and gas line construction and the part these activities have played in the outbreak of TB in many herds where such work is in progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34128/08]
291 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will waive the unemployment requirement in the back to education allowance in order that those affected by job losses can avail of the opportunity to upskill, retrain or re-educate themselves in order to regain employment at a later stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34125/08]
545 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the reasoning behind the withdrawal by Bus Éireann of a bus route servicing second level schools in Loughrea, Castledaly and Kilchreest, County Galway and replacing the route with a service which has later collection times; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33948/08]
130 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has engaged in discussions with the Department of Education and Science with regard to the development of schemes to prevent early school leaving in the context of the new national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33556/08]
256 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the area of office space rented or leased by his Department for the delivery of its services nationally; the cost of leasing of office space in Dock Gate, Galway for the period 2005, 2006 and 2007; the cost of the area rented; the amount of this rental space currently being utilised; if he will renegotiate the rental of this accommodation for unused office space in view of the changes in the single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33050/08]
222 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received or if his attention has been drawn to the report for his Department and the Higher Education Authority regarding the suggested sale of part of the University College Dublin research farm at Lyons Estate, Celbridge, County Kildare which was promised three years ago; if it is still policy to dispose of part of these lands; if his attention has further been drawn to the consequences of continued and ongoing stripping of these resources to part fund other UCD faculties; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32906/08]
197 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will justify the imposition of a penalty and confirmation of it on appeal to the local regional inspector (details supplied) and subsequent successful appeal to the independent appeals board; the cost of this case to his Department; his views on whether this is a time wasting exercise for all involved; if he will refund the professional costs to the farmer in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32907/08]
196 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, following the rejection of the Lisbon treaty, he has requested the EU Commission to review his position in relation to unannounced farm inspections under the various schemes operated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32902/08]
175 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the request for funding for the Athenry, County Galway sewerage scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32898/08]
174 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if funding has been granted for the provision of a sewerage treatment plant in Woodford, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32897/08]
173 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if funding has been allocated by his Department for a sewerage scheme in Eyrecourt, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32896/08]
172 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the Craughwell, County Galway sewerage scheme; if the proposed scheme includes the area where the local primary school is situated which caters for approximately 200 children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32895/08]
171 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding that has been allocated for the upgrade of the Gort water treatment plant and the Gort regional water scheme; if money has been allocated for the Gort sewerage scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32894/08]
157 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans for the retention and protection of the Turoe Stone at its present location in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32700/08]
86 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 1 July 2008, the cost to the Health Service Executive in each of the HSE areas of investigating, processing and compensating where appropriate, cases of bullying; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32901/08]
85 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the process and procedure followed in the awarding of a contract by the Health Service Executive west, amounting to circa €16.8 million, for the provision of facilities at a centre (details supplied) in County Galway; the locations at which and when tenders were invited and advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32900/08]
84 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of new home help persons appointed between 1 April and end of September 2008 by the Health Service Executive in County Galway; the cost involved; the number of people who benefited from these appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32899/08]
70 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits by the Industrial Development Authority to Athenry, County Galway and the initiatives undertaken to attract new industries to the town during 2006 and 2007; the cost of land purchase by the IDA in Athenry; the plans and development costs incurred on these lands to prepare for future job creation in the town; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32905/08]
69 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits by Industrial Development Authority representatives with potential investors in job creation to the centres in Gort, Loughrea and Ballinasloe during 2005, 2006 and 2007; the availability of potential sites or developed facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32904/08]
622 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the decision of the school principal and board of management of a second level school to refuse admission to a person (details supplied) in County Galway who was enrolled following an open day at this school earlier in 2008 and in September 2008 was told to leave the school on the first day of term; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32504/08]
621 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has reviewed his Department’s circular 46/00 regarding the provision of reduced teaching hours in second level schools in response to submissions made by the National Association of Adult and Community Education Directors executive to the education and science committee in May 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32502/08]
506 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding that will be made available to Galway County Council for the additional application works that were previously with the Health Service Executive west in relation to arrangements between local authorities and the HSE under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme; if he is satisfied with the situation whereby there are 387 outstanding applications since 2006 together with additional applications for 2007 and 2008; if his attention has been drawn to the impasse between both bodies in relation to the lack of available funds to deal with previous applications and new applications under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32503/08]
179 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will take responsibility in the area of special needs education particularly in the area of speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and the other needed ancillary support services required in this area in view of the fact that many parents find that these services, which are crucial at an early age, are either not available or being delivered on an ad hoc basis; and if she will report on the co-ordination of these services between her Department and other Departments.
[26391/08]
14 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Finance his latest assessment of the end of year figure for the numbers out of work, the shortfall in tax revenue, the Exchequer deficits and the rate of increase in the Consumer Price Index; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31457/08]
48 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to introduce domestic water charges to fund local government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27656/08]
4 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools that have applications before his Department under the school building and modernisation programme; when he will make an announcement in connection with the next phase of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26390/08]
266 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide for the introduction of a wood log gasifier grant scheme in view of the high costs of oil and gas and the Government’s commitment to the greener homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26108/08]
580 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of submissions of design and planning received from Galway County Council for the sanction and approval for sewerage and water schemes that are with his Department; the period of time each scheme is awaiting approval; the estimated cost of each; the length of time these projects will be detained in his Department before they are released to the council for works to begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25799/08]
482 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether it is necessary to introduce bonus points for higher level leaving certificate maths to help combat the shortage of skills in the technology area as recommended by Forfás in its recent report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25798/08]
481 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary schools in County Galway who have sought an extension, an upgrade of facilities, prefab accommodation and assistance under each of the small works scheme and the summer works scheme; his views on the reintroduction of these schemes to alleviate the difficulties and hardship involved for these schools in view of the number involved and the urgency of the works required.
[25794/08]
480 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress on the provision of the new co-education second level school for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25793/08]
423 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will verify that work partially completed at a school (details supplied) in County Galway under the small schools devolved scheme will be completed before September 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25308/08]
359 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she will carry out the promised reform following the completion of consultations on the pensions Green Paper and the introduction of new legislation to make pensions fairer to persons on social welfare pensions particularly women and part time workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25307/08]
323 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Transport if, under Transport 21, funds are available for the construction and completion of the N18 motorway, Oranmore to Gort, within the promised timescale; and if the political undertaking for the provision of a second entry and exit to the town of Gort will be provided for in the design of the scheme.
[25802/08]
322 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Transport the way, in view of his recommendation to Government, to withdraw the decentralisation of the Railway Safety Commission from Ballinasloe, County Galway to Drogheda, County Louth, he will maintain the number to be decentralised to Ballinasloe through the National Roads Authority transfer; the number already committed; if progress has been made in providing for this change; the timescale envisaged for this move; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25801/08]
272 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of bullying cases active within the Health Service Executive for each of the HSE areas; her views on whether in-house investigations are adequate; the number of cases resolved through these processes; the number of cases which have proceeded to outside arbitration; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25797/08]
271 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in County Galway who are in receipt of enhanced subvention in private and public nursing homes; the cost for each of the years 2005, 2006, 2007 and to date in 2008; the number of persons in receipt of respite place for these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25796/08]
270 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost to the Health Service Executive western area of the contract cleaning at University College Hospital, Galway, Merlin Park Hospital, Galway and Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway for each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25795/08]
269 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide the resources for the provision of the long-planned new health centre for Gort, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25792/08]
268 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive western area has benefited substantially from the bequest of a person (details supplied); when the finance was received; the use to which it was put; if it was in accordance with the wishes of the donor; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25791/08]
267 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost to date of the planning, design and investigation for the provision of the new planned 50-bed unit at St Brendan’s Hospital, Loughrea, County Galway; and the estimated cost of the completed unit.
[25790/08]
266 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that there are restrictions and cutbacks on travel within the Health Service Executive western area; the category of staff affected by these cutbacks; the effects of these cutbacks on the delivery of community health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25789/08]
265 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of full-time nurses at Merlin Park Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway for each of the years 2003 to 2007 and at present; the number of part-time or temporary nurses for each of the years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25788/08]
264 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in County Galway who were holders of full medical cards for each of the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 and to date in 2008; the number of persons with general practitioner visit-only cards for the same years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25787/08]
263 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the additional resources or staff required to put the additional ten beds funded in 2007 and lying idle at University College Hospital, Galway and three beds at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe into service; if she will provide the necessary resources and staff; and when the beds will be put into service.
[25786/08]
27 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will propose to Government that the National Consumer Agency should be represented at the pay talks and in social partnership; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24001/08]