Parliamentary questions

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Denise Mitchell

783. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health when he will establish a focused working group to develop proposals for a package of health and well-being supports for survivors of mother and baby homes as recommended in the collaborative forum report; the process by which persons will be appointed to this forum; the consultation he will have with survivors and the various representative groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19005/19]

Tobacco Control Measures

Denise Mitchell

922. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the number of retail outlets registered to sell tobacco with the National Register of Tobacco Retailers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19551/19]

Tobacco Control Measures

Denise Mitchell

923. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of making nicotine replacement therapy free of charge to all those enrolled in smoking cessation programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19557/19]

Tobacco Control Measures

Denise Mitchell

924. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health his plans to examine operational structures to provide nicotine replacement therapy without a prescription to GMS patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19558/19]

Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage

Denise Mitchell

925. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of abolishing the exclusion of nicotine replacement therapy from the drugs payment scheme in a full year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19559/19]

Residential Institutions

Denise Mitchell

1351. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to consult with the broader survivor community in addition to the collaborative forum membership regarding the recommendation of the report of the collaborative forum to fund a series of memorialisation measures to remember and honour the mothers and children incarcerated in mother and baby homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19006/19]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Denise Mitchell

1352. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she expects to appoint a new chairperson of the collaborative forum; the process by which this appointment will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19007/19]

School Meals Programme

Denise Mitchell

1424. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 636 to 641, inclusive, of 12 March 2019, the criteria used to determine the way in which the 367 non-DEIS schools participating in the school meals programme were selected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19002/19]

School Meals Programme

Denise Mitchell

1425. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 636 to 641, inclusive, of 12 March 2019, the way in which the pilot scheme from September 2019 providing hot school meals will be undertaken; the criteria used to select the participating schools; the way in which the scheme will be evaluated; when a report will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19003/19]

Election Monitoring Missions

Denise Mitchell

51. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of male and female applications, respectively, received from Irish election observers for the OSCE observation mission covering the first round of presidential elections in Ukraine; the number of male and female observers, respectively, sent for the first round; his views on whether this is in line with the policy of having an appropriate gender balance; the reason no long-term election observers were sent; the number of observers requested by the OSCE for the second round; the reason for scaling back the number of observers being sent to the second round to just five observers; when the decision was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18246/19]

Childhood Obesity

Denise Mitchell

156. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recommendation of the healthy weight for children (zero-six years) framework calling for obesity impact assessments for new planning developments that impact children and their families; if he will consider same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18308/19]

Obesity Levels

Denise Mitchell

178. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the progress on meeting the targets as set out in A Healthy Weight for Ireland in regard to a sustained downward trend as measured by a survey (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18166/19]

Health Promotion

Denise Mitchell

179. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the funding being provided to support family food initiatives nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18167/19]

Health Promotion

Denise Mitchell

180. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if a similar initiative to an initiative (details supplied) will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18168/19]

Health Promotion

Denise Mitchell

181. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the costs that would be associated with developing a healthy start programme here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18169/19]

Childhood Obesity

Denise Mitchell

182. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the estimated funding needed to implement the HSE healthy weight for children (zero-six) framework; the funding that has been made available for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18170/19]

Health Promotion

Denise Mitchell

183. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the health promotion programmes operational under Healthy Ireland; the funding earmarked for each of the programmes for each of the past five years; if evaluations have been carried out of the programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18171/19]

Health Services Staff Data

Denise Mitchell

184. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the number of dedicated paediatric dietetic HSCP whole-time equivalents for all acute hospitals; the number for the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18172/19]

Health Services Staff Data

Denise Mitchell

185. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting one whole-time equivalent dedicated paediatric dietitian per primary care network; the estimated cost based on recruitment from the current base; the estimated cost of developing the service from the beginning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18173/19]

Health Services Staff Data

Denise Mitchell

208. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting child health development officers in each CHO to provide leadership and co-ordination for the national healthy childhood programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18306/19]

Health Services Staff Data

Denise Mitchell

209. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting and appointing community nursing staff to allow public health nurses to focus on child health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18307/19]

Data Protection

Denise Mitchell

380. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the status of the policy paper regarding options to seal the breach of the data protection legislation regarding Guthrie cards retained without consent and for the future retention, storage and potential secondary uses of the cards; the timeframe for the publication of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17678/19]

National Driver Licensing Service

Denise Mitchell

498. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider adding the SPSV licence to the NDLS list of acceptable forms of identification which can be used when a person is renewing or replacing an existing driver licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17840/19]

Garda Station Refurbishment

Denise Mitchell

179. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans in place for the refurbishment and-or extension of Coolock Garda station; if a request has been made for upgrading, extension or refurbishment of the station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16541/19]

Waste Disposal

Denise Mitchell

272. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fines for breaches of the Waste Management Act 1996 issued to persons for the use of non-registered waste disposal services in each of the years 2016 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16540/19]

Youth Services Provision

Denise Mitchell

568. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the LGBTI+ youth strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16539/19]

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Denise Mitchell

480. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she expects a refuge (details supplied) to reopen; if the refuge will reopen as a domestic violence refuge; if it is to be used by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive as emergency homeless accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15265/19]

Childcare Services Regulation

Denise Mitchell

481. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the serious negative impact the Pobal compliance visit report is having on a crèche (details supplied); if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that it has undertaken contracts with parents in good faith but due to direction from Pobal it is being asked to de-register or re-register children; her views on the fact that this is having serious financial implications culminating in a loss of over €10,000; if her attention has been drawn to the needs and social challenges of marginalised families and of staffing obligations; if she has reviewed the Pobal report concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15266/19]

Affordable Childcare Scheme

Denise Mitchell

482. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether the proposed new affordable childcare scheme will negatively impact on some crèches, including a crèche (details supplied); her further views on whether the new proposals will negatively impact both on the funding for the crèche in addition to affecting parents and employment practices; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the grant system accounts for 78% of the total grants fund from Pobal but the incoming system will only fund contact hours not full-time or part-time categories as it is at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15267/19]

Childcare Services Regulation

Denise Mitchell

483. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the outcome of a community childcare subvention compliance visit to a service (details supplied) has resulted in a reduction of approximately €10,000 in funding for the service after appeals; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that this centre provides a flexible service for children from a marginalised community; her views on whether criticism from the service that the forensic approach taken by the inspection regime regarding attendance and absenteeism was unfair and no consideration was given to the particular challenges faced by some of those using the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15268/19]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Denise Mitchell

484. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the report on the issue of over overage exemptions under the ECCE produced by the National Disability Authority will be published; the actions being considered arising from this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15271/19]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Denise Mitchell

485. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the anomaly by which a child with special needs who wishes to avail of a third year of preschool privately finds themselves left without the ability to secure SNA assistance in view of the fact they are paying privately; the options available to remedy such a situation in which a child that has not reached primary school age but has already availed of the two free ECCE preschool years with AIM supports can continue to avail of SNA supports while paying privately for preschool; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15272/19]

Wildlife Protection

Denise Mitchell

621. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the proposed plan for the Clonshaugh sewage plant for the greater Dublin drainage project, which will see an outfall pipe located off the coast of Portmarnock near Ireland's Eye bird sanctuary and special area of conservation in north County Dublin; her views on whether the pumping of this wastewater into feeding grounds of vulnerable seabird species is in keeping with the EU birds directive; if she has raised concerns regarding the matter with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and-or the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15269/19]

Wildlife Conservation

Denise Mitchell

622. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for the reintroduction of the Irish hare to the North Bull Island special area of conservation, from which Dublin City Council reports they are all but extinct; the additional measures that will be taken to protect the species on the island; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15270/19]

Domestic Violence

Denise Mitchell

2. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to increase capacity for the number of refuges providing services to victims of domestic violence; the steps being taken to improve geographic access to these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14528/19]

Departmental Communications

Denise Mitchell

32. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the communication she had with an organisation (details supplied) following the issuance of correspondence by Tusla on 18 February 2019 raising concerns regarding child protection procedures within the organisation; her plans to publish a redacted version of the report by the barrister into the handling of a sexual assault allegation by the organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14339/19]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Denise Mitchell

33. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has considered the burial report from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; when she plans to publish it; her views on the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14338/19]

Tax Code

Denise Mitchell

91. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the revenue generated by the sugar-sweetened drinks tax since its introduction; if he will provide a revised estimate of the revenue raised from the tax in a full year and a projection for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11546/19]

Tax Code

Denise Mitchell

92. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the number of products that have been affected by the imposition of a calcium threshold on products exempt from the sugar-sweetened drinks tax; if the imposition of the threshold has brought these products within the scope of the tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11547/19]

Tax Code

Denise Mitchell

93. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the consideration which has been given to extending the sugar-sweetened drinks tax to products within the CN2202 category in which sugar has been added; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11548/19]

Tax Code

Denise Mitchell

94. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the status of an evaluation that has taken place of the sugar-sweetened drinks tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11549/19]

Tax Code

Denise Mitchell

95. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the research which has been undertaken on evidence-based fiscal measures to support healthy eating and lifestyles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11550/19]

Tax Code

Denise Mitchell

96. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the review of evidence which has taken place for fiscal measures on products that are high in fat, sugar and salt to reduce their consumption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11551/19]

VAT Rate Application

Denise Mitchell

97. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the work being undertaken in respect of addressing anomalies in food and drink VAT rates as part of deliberations on upcoming changes to VAT law at EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11554/19]

VAT Rate Application

Denise Mitchell

98. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider the inclusion of a nutrient profiling model to identify unhealthy food products as part of the applicability of VAT on food and drink; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11555/19]

Schools Facilities

Denise Mitchell

132. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the costs associated with conducting a national audit of secondary schools in respect of the equipment, infrastructure and facilities available to cook, prepare and serve meals to students in addition to the facilities in which they can eat; if this can be undertaken as part of a healthy schools policy; his plans for such an audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11565/19]

Schools Facilities

Denise Mitchell

133. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding available to schools that wish to develop and purchase equipment, infrastructure and facilities available to cook, prepare and serve meals to students in addition to the facilities in which they can eat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11566/19]

Schools Facilities

Denise Mitchell

134. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if schools have contacted his Department in respect of the availability of drinking water in schools; if applications have been made for financial support to address issues in which a school does not have a tap drinking water supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11568/19]

Schools Facilities

Denise Mitchell

135. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an audit of all learning centres will be undertaken on the availability of potable drinking water; the estimated cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11569/19]

Obesity Strategy

Denise Mitchell

274. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the research which has been undertaken on evidence-based fiscal measures to support healthy eating and lifestyles as per action point 1.8 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11552/19]