Parliamentary questions

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Noel Grealish

175. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if a code similar to the code of conduct on mortgage arrears should be part and parcel of addressing mortgage arrears in the buy-to-let sector which is responsible for housing one quarter of consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42172/13]

Sea Lice Controls

Noel Grealish

498. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the recent publication (details supplied) regarding salmonis infestations on migrating Atlantic salmon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42326/13]

Homeless Persons Data

Noel Grealish

160. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current level of homelessness in Dublin and the other urban areas compared with two years ago; the amount of such homelessness that can be attributed to the new standards in rental accommodation, specifically those relating to the prohibition of bed-sits; if the requirement to have an individual bathroom for each unit of accommodation is a contributory factor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41611/13]

Sea Lice Controls

Noel Grealish

528. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the recent publication in the Journal of Fish Diseases of the comment on Jackson et al Impact of Lepeophtheirus salmonis infestations on migrating Atlantic salmon (details supplied); if he has sought advice on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40482/13]

Fish Farming

Noel Grealish

157. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the names of the authors of the environmental impact statement report for the proposed Galway Bay salmon farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38876/13]

Sea Lice Controls

Noel Grealish

1208. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of his remarks on 8 May 2013 regarding the issue of sea lice, his views on the indication by a company (details supplied), Ireland’s largest producer of farmed salmon, in its last annual report that it has seen a rise in the number of its sites infested with sea lice above the trigger treatment level, from 6.2% in 2010 to 13% in 2011 and 19.9% in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38102/13]

Sea Lice Controls

Noel Grealish

1209. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the pilot 764/09/ENV investigation into sea lice and salmon farming (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38103/13]

Sea Lice Controls

Noel Grealish

1210. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason he cancelled the pilot project to improve sea lice investigation control efficiency in the marine farming sector in Ireland, which was agreed on the advice of senior officials on 21 July 2010 as part of the SEA process of the Aquaculture Operational Programme and was to be 100% funded by the European Union under Article 41 of the EFF, and reversed the decision not to increase the targets for farmed salmon production until a sustained period of sea lice control has been demonstrated by the industry by awarding funding to and instructing Bord Iascaigh Mhara to develop salmon farming and specifically to apply for a licence to double Ireland’s farming salmon production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38104/13]

National Procurement Service Framework Agreements

Noel Grealish

318. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a directive has been issued to primary and post-primary schools requiring that they purchase all stationery-paper from an Office of Public Works-selected company, identified through the public procurement process or may they purchase from local suppliers using best value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30198/13]

School Funding

Noel Grealish

118. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding that has been provided by his Department to a school (details supplied) since the school was opened; if he will provide a breakdown of this funding per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28732/13]

Public Procurement Contracts Tenders

Noel Grealish

175. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will investigate the full cost of the public procurement scheme and the effect this has on small businesses here which are not in a position to tender or supply goods to local authorities, schools and other Government bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29399/13]

Aquaculture Licences Applications

Noel Grealish

826. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Marine Institute has carried out an independent review of the BIM Environmental Impact Study of the proposed fish farm for Galway Bay; the name of the scientist or scientists involved; if the review will be published; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27728/13]

Health and Safety Regulations

Noel Grealish

122. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way the safety, health and welfare at work regulations, due to be in force from 1 June, will affect the owners of buy-to-let properties who wish to upgrade; the reason these regulations apply to small domestic projects; if any small buy-to-let or domestic building work is excluded and, if so, the criteria for such exclusion; if he will accept that when a house owner, whether domestic or buy-to-let, engages a builder, the expectation is that the builder alone has the expertise to comply with the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26424/13]

Charities Regulation

Noel Grealish

167. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 298 of 7 May 2013 regarding the regulation of charity collectors, the reason there is a delay in the implementation of the Charities Act; the financial reasons for the delay; the reason there is a delay in the creation of the register of charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24941/13]

Air Services Provision

Noel Grealish

266. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an investigation of additional charges associated with airline travel, including bag charges, credit card fees, and so on is being carried out at an EU level by him as part of the Irish Presidency of the EU; if so, from what perspective it will be investigated, for example competition/ consumer rights/law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24522/13]

Housing Assistance Payments Implementation

Noel Grealish

198. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that the proposed housing assistance payment which will replace rent supplement will continue to be paid while a case is being heard by the Private Residential Tenancies Board, even if a landlord's termination notice has expired, in view of the fact that it is necessary to have a termination notice in order for the PRTB to hear the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23413/13]

Road Projects Issues

Noel Grealish

738. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the motorway from Gort to Tuam, which is due to go to construction shortly, under PPP will not be a toll road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22512/13]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Noel Grealish

53. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the way deferral of local property tax and the subsequent 4% charge will be of any benefit to those qualifying persons already in debt distress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21930/13]

Charity Clothes Bank Thefts

Noel Grealish

298. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the penalties that apply for those convicted of theft from charity bring banks; if he is considering strengthening the laws in this area, in view of the significant loss of revenue this theft causes to charities; if he intends to regulate charity collectors who call door to door to collect for charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21458/13]

Sea Lice Controls

Noel Grealish

323. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the years that the lice control protocols have been in place for salmon cage installations, the number of cases in which there has been legal action or financial penalties brought against salmon cage operators that repeatedly fail to keep to the required levels; the penalties that can be imposed by his Department for such breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21108/13]

Sea Lice Controls

Noel Grealish

324. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason data of lice levels relating to salmon cage installations is only available from the Marine Institute two to three years after the event; if the data can be made publicly available within a month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21109/13]

Sea Lice Controls

Noel Grealish

325. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if treatment levels are set at 0.5 lice per salmon in salmon cage installations, regardless of numbers of salmon in cages; in view of the fact that there will be at least 7.2m salmon in the proposed cages in Galway Bay, will the same treatment level take account of this number of fish and that consequently the levels of lice from these salmon breeding and proliferating, will be catastrophic to any wild salmon or sea trout traversing the bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21110/13]

Broadcasting Legislation

Noel Grealish

361. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way the proposed public broadcasting household charge will be levied on users in the case of a rental property; if it is expected that the owner or tenant of a rental property will be the liable person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20134/13]

Aquaculture Licences Numbers

Noel Grealish

477. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of current valid licences that are in issue from his Department for salmon cage installations in counties Mayo, Galway and Clare; if all of these licences are being actively used; the person responsible for the maintenance of salmon cages; if these cages-installations are inspected by his Department's officials on a regular basis; if he will provide a copy of the conditions of these licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20132/13]

Offshore Islands

Noel Grealish

408. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will indicate the amount spent on the two airports, Cleggan and Inishbofin, County Galway, by the Exchequer since they were created; if he has plans to provide funding to finish these two airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19083/13]

Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding

Noel Grealish

420. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the restrictions that exist for membership of the State funded Inishbofin Development Company Limited (details supplied); if he is satisfied to allow this situation to exist despite several islanders feeling excluded by the criteria that has been imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19082/13]

Aquaculture Development

Noel Grealish

1066. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the effect that there have been disease outbreaks in a number of salmon cage installations along the west coast, one of which is amoebic gill disease; if he will give details of the locations of these outbreaks and whether the disease has caused high mortalities and the closure of open salmon cage installations; if the treatment of the disease prevents the management of lice levels, in view of the fact that the fish will not feed and be able to take medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17488/13]

Bus Éireann Services

Noel Grealish

1374. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received the report and recommendations by the National Transport Authority on public service obligations which was carried out in summer 2012; if he will make the recommendations of the National Transport Authority available to the public; if and when he intends to make decisions based on these recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16386/13]

Property Taxation Application

Noel Grealish

110. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify a statement he made that the liability date for local property tax from 2014 will be 1 November in the preceding year; if that means persons who sell their property between 1 November 2013 and 31 December 2013 will be liable for the 2014 liability even though they will not own the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15500/13]

IBRC Account Holders

Noel Grealish

111. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the liquidation of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation has an apparently unintended consequence for up to five personal deposit account holders (details supplied); if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that some holders of IBRC deposit accounts received a letter in 2011 stating that their deposit accounts were moving to Allied Irish Banks but the affected accounts were not transferred and may therefore be outside the scope of the eligible liabilities guarantee scheme which covers amounts over €100,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15501/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Noel Grealish

169. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection if any precedent of civil liability has attached to her Department or the community welfare service, for loss or damages arising from tenancy contracts as a result of rent supplement issues; if any legal advice has been provided to her Department suggesting or indicating that direct payment to landlords should cease, barring very extreme and extenuating circumstances; if any legal advice was given that direct payments to landlords should not be a routine practice; if she will define what could be considered as very extreme or extenuating circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15498/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Noel Grealish

170. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection if circulars issued by her Department regarding payment of rent supplement direct to a landlord, where the tenant so requests, can be described as merely internal guidelines; the status of such guidelines in regard to decisions of the community welfare service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15499/13]

Garda Transport

Noel Grealish

87. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda cars that have been taken off the road in the past three years; the number of these that have been replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13484/13]

Anti-Social Behaviour

Noel Grealish

148. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the proposals regarding anti-social behaviour by tenants which include landlords being prosecuted by the Private Residential Tenancies Board in cases when tenants misbehave inside or outside the property; if such proposals are to be handled as civil or criminal cases; if will confirm the authority of the Garda in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13389/13]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Noel Grealish

187. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the agri-environment options scheme 2 payment will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13388/13]

Property Taxation Collection

Noel Grealish

155. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance when he expects local property tax to be deductible from rental income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12341/13]

Property Taxation Application

Noel Grealish

156. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if, in regard to local property tax, he will outline the situation that will apply when a taxpayer has declared a particular value in good faith but the property is sold for a higher figure during the period of the valuation and if in that scenario, any additional local property tax will be charged; the way the reverse situation will be handled whereby a higher valuation does not equate with the realised market value in a sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12342/13]

Property Taxation Application

Noel Grealish

157. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if any outstanding amount of local property tax in a repossession or forced sale scenario will rank higher for payment purposes than an outstanding mortgage when the realised sale price is insufficient to fully discharge a mortgage liability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12343/13]

IBRC Staff

Noel Grealish

181. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he or the liquidator of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation has been in contact with any other financial institution asking them not to employ current employees of IBRC while they are involved in the wind down of the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12854/13]

Insurance Coverage

Noel Grealish

150. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 254 of 29 January 2013, if he will intervene with insurance companies with reference to the provision of flood cover for persons who previously made a flood claim under their insurance, but have since relocated to a new home and cannot secure flood insurance as a result of their previous claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7981/13]

Insurance Coverage

Noel Grealish

254. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the discussions that are ongoing between his Department and insurance companies regarding flood insurance cover for people whose homes flooded in the past. [4168/13]

Property Taxation Collection

Noel Grealish

255. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance when he proposes to provide for local property tax to be deductible from rental income; if he will clarify his statement that it will be introduced on a phased basis; if primary legislation or ministerial order is required, and if it is the former, the legislative vehicle that he will use; if he will also consider extending the expense status for the 2013 tax year only of the other local service charges for the remainder of their existence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4171/13]

Tax Code

Noel Grealish

256. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider whatever legislative or ministerial order changes are required to allow individual private landlords to be considered as operating a business, rather than being treated as recipients of unearned income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4172/13]

Tax Code

Noel Grealish

257. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider removing the interest restriction applying to private landlords who have taken out loans for the provision or upgrading of private rental property, in view of the fact that it can give rise to a taxable gain on a loss; his views that the restriction is unfair, especially as it only applies to private landlords and not to those operating formal businesses; if its continued application since its introduction in the April 2009 supplementary budget can be justified on grounds of tax inequality, notwithstanding that the estimated cost of removing the restriction is €95 million per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4173/13]

HSE Staffing

Noel Grealish

642. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if the 2013 public sector redundancy scheme will be open to front-line health care workers in the Health Service Executive including nursing staff, nursing management, matrons; if they may apply for redundancy under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4169/13]

Dental Services Provision

Noel Grealish

688. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the reason a person with a full medical card is not covered for essential dental work under this medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4170/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Noel Grealish

264. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools approved to go to construction in 2010, 2011 and 2012; the number of schools approved building extensions in 2010, 2011 and 2012; the number of each of these projects that have gone to consolidation over payment and the number of projects gone to arbitration over payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58158/12]

Turbary Rights

Noel Grealish

558. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 22 November 2012, all other factors being equal the commercial value placed on an acre of raised bog not under an SAC designation by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58156/12]

Hospital Equipment

Noel Grealish

998. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the reason the Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotriptor machine, which was purchased for UHG in February 2010 at a cost of €400,000 was never put into operational use for treating kidney stone patients, despite waiting lists at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58157/12]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Noel Grealish

672. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a football club (details supplied) in County Galway was not successful in its recent application for a sports capital grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56279/12]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Noel Grealish

673. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a football club (details supplied) in County Galway were not successful in their recent application for a sports capital grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56280/12]

Farm Inspections

Noel Grealish

419. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments of grants will issue to those who have had satellite inspections carried out on their farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55537/12]

Aquaculture Licences Applications

Noel Grealish

485. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm if a letter was sent by Bord Iascaigh Mhara to him complaining about members of Inland Fisheries Ireland attending a public meeting in Galway on 14 November last; if so, if he will provide a copy of same to this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53721/12]

Road Projects Contracts

Noel Grealish

270. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding is still available for the new M17/M18 motorway; the date on which contracts will be signed for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53402/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Noel Grealish

135. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the value the State places on an acre of raised bog, which is not under a special area of conservation, the rate his Department will pay to purchase an acre of raised bog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51949/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Noel Grealish

531. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budget for his Department; the amount of this budget that is used to run his Department; the number of staff employed by his Department; the total amount paid in wages to these staff; the amount of his Department budget that goes directly to farmers; the number of State boards under the control of his Department; the cost of administration and Director remuneration for these boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49531/12]

School Patronage

Noel Grealish

211. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact that there are currently 500 children in County Galway attending Educate Together primary schools and these numbers are set to increase significantly in the coming years, his plans to provide a post-primary Educate Together school in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45785/12]

Fisheries Protection

Noel Grealish

116. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if eel fishing licences will be issued following the review of the eel fishing ban which was completed earlier this year; if not, whether compensation will be awarded to those who had eel fishing licences in the past; the EU directive regarding eel fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43835/12]

Local Authority Charges Application

Noel Grealish

140. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he has any difficulty with the provision in standard residential letting contracts whereby owners of private residential property can legally pass on local service charges such as the household charge and the non-principal private residence charge to tenants. [39904/12]

Household Charge Exemptions

Noel Grealish

149. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the rationale considered by him in preparing the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 which led to tenants of residential properties not being considered as having any liability for the local services to which the charge contributes through the local government fund. [39901/12]

Household Charge Exemptions

Noel Grealish

150. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his views whether legislation suggesting that tenants of residential properties are not liable for the household charge is discriminatory, in view of the fact that tenants, whether in public or private accommodation, benefit from the local services provided through the charge, notwithstanding the legislative provision that certain buildings are not considered as residential for the purposes of the legislation. [39902/12]

Household Charge Exemptions

Noel Grealish

151. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his views on the provision in standard residential letting contracts whereby owners of private residential property can legally pass on the household charge and the non-principal private residence charge to tenants. [39903/12]

Household Charge Exemptions

Noel Grealish

152. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 595 of 6 June 2012, if the household charge is a property tax rather than a charge for local services; if it is not a property tax, the reason the legislation says that certain buildings are not residential property for the purposes of section 2(2) of the Household Charge (Local Government) Act 2011. [39905/12]

Local Authority Charges Application

Noel Grealish

1018. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the rationale considered by him or his Department in preparing the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 which led to tenants of residential properties not being considered as having any liability for the local services to which the charge contributes through the local government fund. [37021/12]

Local Authority Charges Application

Noel Grealish

1019. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if legislation suggesting that tenants of residential properties are not liable for the household charge is discriminatory, in view of the fact that tenants, whether in public or private accommodation, benefit from the local services provided through the charge, notwithstanding the legislative provision that certain buildings are not considered as residential for the purposes of the legislation. [37022/12]

Local Authority Charges Application

Noel Grealish

1020. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his views on the provision in standard residential letting contracts whereby owners of private residential property can legally pass on the household charge and the non-principal private residence charge to tenants. [37023/12]

Local Authority Charges Application

Noel Grealish

1021. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 595 of 6 June 2012, if the household charge is a property tax rather than a charge for local services; if it is not a property tax, the reason the legislation says that certain buildings are not residential property for the purposes of section 2(2) of the Household Charge (Local Government) Act 2011. [37025/12]

Fisheries Protection

Noel Grealish

412 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the decision in 2009 to stop issuing eel fishing licences and prohibit eel fishing, Conservation of Eel Fishing By-Law No. C.S 303 2009 and Conservation of Eel Fishing (Prohibition on Issue of Licences) By-Law No. 858 2009, his plans to compensate eel fishermen for loss of income; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34614/12]

Garda Strength

Noel Grealish

512 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the number of gardaí based in each station in the Galway Division; the number of these gardaí who are members of the Garda reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34524/12]

Naturalisation Applications

Noel Grealish

527 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who have applied for naturalisation on the basis of being married to an Irish citizen since it was no longer possible to make a post-nuptial declaration of citizenship, since 29 November 2005; the number of those applicants since 29 November 2005 who have been deemed acceptable to be naturalised and eligible to apply for citizenship; the number of applicants since 29 November 2005 who have been deemed ineligible to apply for citizenship; the number of applications now pending for spouses of Irish citizens since 29 November 2005; the logistics of interdepartmental checks that take place for this process; what the departmental checks entail; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34613/12]

Defence Forces Re-organisation

Noel Grealish

616 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Defence if he will give a firm commitment that he will not amalgamate the Army Western Brigade and the Army Southern Brigade; if he will give a firm commitment that he will make no change to the 1st Brigade of the Irish Battalion (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34523/12]

Schools Building Projects

Noel Grealish

262 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a site has been identified for the new secondary school for Claregalway, County Galway; if negotiations have commenced with a landowner for the purchase of a site for the new secondary school for Claregalway; if a site for the new temporary school building for Claregalway secondary school has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32325/12]

Water and Sewerage Schemes

Noel Grealish

473 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the Clarinbridge sewerage scheme, County Galway; if the scheme will be included in the next water services investment programme in view of the fact that it was removed from the water services investment programme 2010-2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32330/12]

Garda Strength

Noel Grealish

519 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí stationed in the Galway Garda division on 31 May 2008; the number of gardaí stationed in the Galway Garda division on 31 May 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32322/12]

Garda Strength

Noel Grealish

520 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí on the beat in the Galway Garda division on 31 May 2010; the number of community gardaí on the beat in the Galway Garda division on 31 May 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32323/12]

Garda Strength

Noel Grealish

521 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vacancies currently in all ranks of An Garda in the Galway Garda division; the number of gardaí at all ranks in the Galway Garda division that are expected to retire in the next twelve months; his plans to commence a recruitment process for gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32324/12]

Hospital Accommodation

Noel Grealish

663 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a 22-bed Alzheimer’s unit at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway; if the Health Service Executive have signed a lease for this property; the length of the lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32326/12]

Road Network

Noel Grealish

719 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport now that a loan has been approved in principle from the European Investment Bank of €170 million for the M17-M18 Gort to Tuam motorway, County Galway, the additional funding that must be secured from private investors to commence construction; the progress that has been made by him as of 30 June 2012 in securing this additional funding; the timeframe for the commencement of construction of this new motorway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32327/12]

Road Network

Noel Grealish

720 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided to the National Roads Authority for the purchase of land for the Claregalway inner relief road when the design stage has been completed by Galway County Council; the time frame in which this funding will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32328/12]

Road Network

Noel Grealish

721 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Galway city outer bypass is given the go-ahead by the European Court of Justice in November, if funding is ring-fenced for construction of this new road; the time frame for allocation of this funding to enable construction to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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