Parliamentary questions

Drug Treatment Programmes

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

204. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the current registered number of addicts accessing services in County Dublin and combined regional areas. [12592/15]

National Drugs Strategy Implementation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

205. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if the Government will provide a commitment to review drug policy over the past two decades, as it moves towards reviewing and implementing the national drugs strategy from 2017 to 2022, to include a national consultation process with key players, and the form this review will take. [12593/15]

Departmental Contracts

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

206. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the name of the company that was paid to supply methadone; the amount the company has been paid by the State in the past 17 years; and the savings this has secured to the State in the past 17 years. [12594/15]

Hospital Consultant Recruitment

Gabrielle McFadden

207. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the timeframe, if any, for a second palliative care consultant for the midlands region to take up the post in the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12599/15]

Medical Card Applications

Bernard Durkan

208. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determining an application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12622/15]

Departmental Contracts Data

Catherine Murphy

209. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list, in tabular form, of all contracts and tenders awarded by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 1 January, 2004, including any such awarded singularly or as a joint bid or consortium including said company; if he will indicate which Department, agency or semi-State company was the contacting party in each case; the value in each case; the purpose of each contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13112/15]

Passport Applications Data

Ruth Coppinger

210. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications that have been made, by year, where the applicant is seeking to record a different gender on the passport than that which is on the applicant's birth certificate; the number of passports that have been issued, by year, where a different gender is recorded than the gender recorded on the applicant's birth certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12363/15]

Passport Applications Data

Ruth Coppinger

211. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications made in the Irish language from 2004 to 2014, inclusive; and the total number of passport applications in those years. [12364/15]

Legislative Process

Pearse Doherty

212. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of pieces of legislation that were submitted for pre-legislative scrutiny by his Department since 2011; his plans to allow pre-legislative scrutiny for any upcoming pieces of legislation from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12414/15]

Emigrant Support Services

Bernard Durkan

213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he has been able to verify the claim that undocumented Irish in the United States of America can obtain a visa from that country's embassy in Dublin, to facilitate their unrestricted return to the United States of America, after a visit here for family reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12588/15]

Departmental Contracts Data

Catherine Murphy

214. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list, in tabular form, of all contracts and tenders awarded by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 1 January, 2004, including any such awarded singularly or as a joint bid or consortium including said company; if he will indicate which Department, agency or semi-State company was the contacting party in each case; the value in each case; the purpose of each contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13111/15]

Skills Shortages

Bernard Durkan

215. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which any skills shortage might exist in the workplace at present; if an evaluation has been done to identify those skills in most demand, and the ability to respond to any shortage now and in the future, with particular reference to the improving economic situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12563/15]

Skills Shortages

Bernard Durkan

216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which it remains possible to identify in advance the full extent of the skills requirement in the modern workplace, with particular reference to the urgent need to meet any such requirements and to plan accordingly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12565/15]

Institutes of Technology

John Halligan

217. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the projected cost of the proposed merger between Waterford Institute of Technology and Carlow Institute of Technology; if parallel management structures will be retained at each institute after the merger; the projected cost of retaining parallel management structures at each institution; the amount that has been spent to date by each college on due diligence on the proposed merger; the amount the State will contribute to the cost of the proposed merger; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12384/15]

Institutes of Technology

John Halligan

218. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update regarding the proposed construction of a new campus for Waterford Institute of Technology at Carriganore in County Waterford; the estimated cost of the building project; the amount the Government has committed to the project; the way the shortfall will be made up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12385/15]

Scientific Research

Terence Flanagan

219. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of a substantial number of science academics that the current science policies of the Government are negatively affecting research and science education; if she will meet with academics to discuss their concerns first-hand, with a view to making changes to current policies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12389/15]

School Curriculum

Terence Flanagan

220. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to promote the teaching of sign language in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12390/15]

Legislative Process

Pearse Doherty

221. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of items of legislation that have been submitted for pre-legislative scrutiny by her Department since 2011; her plans to allow pre-legislative scrutiny for any upcoming legislation from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12411/15]

Coinníollacha Oibre Mhúinteoirí Bunscoile

Éamon Ó Cuív

222. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén uair a athraíodh na rialacha maidir le saoire mháithreachais do mhúinteoirí bunscoile; go mór mhór do dhaoine a mbíonn páistí acu i rith Mhí Iúil agus Lúnasa; ar aontaigh Cumann Múinteoirí Éireann leis na socruithe nua; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [12425/15]

School Patronage

Olivia Mitchell

223. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the patronage determination process will commence for the new primary school in the Goatstown-Stillorgan area of County Dublin; the timeframe for this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12432/15]