Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Human Trafficking

Patrick Costello

241. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the progress made to improve access to supports for victims of human trafficking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30723/20]

Driver Licences

Patrick Costello

242. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the timeline for delivering the ability to apply for driver licences and bank accounts for persons resident in direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30725/20]

Penal Policy Review Group

Patrick Costello

243. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the status of the Consultative Council on Penal Policy, in particular its membership and its work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30726/20]

Employment Rights

Patrick Costello

299. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the reports of widespread abuse of workers’ rights and terms and conditions in the fishing industry; the steps he will take to deal with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30727/20]

School Staff

Patrick Costello

10. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education her views on the upcoming loss of a teacher in a school (details supplied) and the progress or lack thereof in reducing class sizes in view of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30223/20]

Family Support Services

Patrick Costello

231. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the steps taken by Tusla to ensure parental alienation does not occur as a by-product of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30430/20]

Visa Agreements

Patrick Costello

189. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the date on which and the reason it was decided that embassies would refuse to process the issuing of visas that have been granted for travel here; if this decision was made in relation to all embassies; and if not, the embassies to which it relates. [30003/20]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

333. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of children in the care of Tusla in residential placements in the United Kingdom; the number on short term or specialist placements; the number on long term placements; the implications of Brexit on these placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29570/20]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

334. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of children in the care of Tusla in foster placements in the United Kingdom; the number on short term or specialist placements; the number on long term placements; the implications of Brexit on these placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29571/20]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

337. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of children aged under 12 and aged under 18 resident here by Tusla LHO area in tabular form. [29853/20]

Visa Applications

Patrick Costello

373. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if her Department will issue a visa (details supplied). [30004/20]

Legislative Measures

Patrick Costello

406. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if she has included measures that will address the abusive practice of strategic lawsuits against public participation which increasingly threaten media freedom in the heads of a Bill in view that a report on the reform of the law on defamation was submitted to her in early 2020 with a view to bringing forward legislative proposals in due course. [30120/20]

Primary Care Services

Patrick Costello

428. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if a primary care centre (details supplied) will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29566/20]

Child and Family Agency

Patrick Costello

178. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the research capacity of Tusla; the number of staff employed full-time in the area of research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27384/20]

Child and Family Agency

Patrick Costello

179. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the last time a staff census was completed in Tusla; if he will provide the results broken down by local office; and the number of vacant posts at the time. [27385/20]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

180. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of children in care currently by local area office. [27386/20]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

181. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of children under 12 years of age in residential units by LHO area. [27387/20]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

182. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of young persons in care who turned 18 years of age between 2016 and 2019 by LHO area. [27388/20]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

183. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of young persons receiving an aftercare allowance by LHO area. [27389/20]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

184. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of children in care without an allocated social worker by LHO area. [27390/20]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

185. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of children in care placed outside their area of origin by LHO area. [27391/20]

Road Traffic Offences

Patrick Costello

210. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the number of successful prosecutions there have been of drivers that have struck railway bridges and level crossings in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, by year of the incident including the offence which was prosecuted and the sentences handed down. [27119/20]

Road Traffic Offences

Patrick Costello

211. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the number of successful prosecutions there have been of drivers that have struck LUAS trams in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, by year of the incident including the offence which was prosecuted and the sentences that were handed down. [27120/20]

Bus Éireann

Patrick Costello

238. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he has spoken formally with the CEO of Bus Éireann since his appointment; and if so, the issues discussed. [26846/20]

Tax Code

Patrick Costello

275. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance the estimated additional revenue that would be generated if the betting duty levy increased from 2% to 2.5%. [26854/20]

Ambulance Service

Patrick Costello

361. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the financial support provided annually by her Department to an organisation (details supplied) since 2010. [26512/20]

Defence Forces Data

Patrick Costello

429. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence the estimated full-year cost of increasing the Reserve Defence Force from 2,330 to 4,500. [26855/20]

Departmental Funding

Patrick Costello

613. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the financial support provided by his Department to an organisation (details supplied) since 2010, on an annual basis. [26511/20]

Garda Equipment

Patrick Costello

713. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number and percentage of the Garda roads policing unit fleet that are currently equipped with the automatic number plate recognition system. [26851/20]

Garda Equipment

Patrick Costello

714. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if all interview rooms in each Garda station are fully equipped with video recording facilities; and if not, the estimated cost of ensuring all interview rooms in Garda stations are equipped with recording facilities. [26852/20]

Child Safety

Patrick Costello

715. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of staff nationally involved in accessing material on mobile phones, computers and so on relating to child sexual offences; and the qualifications required for such works. [26853/20]

Departmental Funding

Patrick Costello

825. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the financial support provided by his Department to an organisation (details supplied) since 2010, on an annual basis. [26513/20]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

887. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of doubling the number of beds in the national burns unit at St. James's Hospital. [26847/20]

Maternity Services

Patrick Costello

888. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if each maternity hospital has a birthing pool; and if not, the estimated cost of ensuring each maternity hospital has a birthing pool. [26848/20]

Hospital Staff

Patrick Costello

889. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for the recruitment of a full-time craniofacial surgeon for paediatrics at Children’s Health Ireland, Temple Street. [26849/20]

Ambulance Service

Patrick Costello

890. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of purchasing, equipping and staffing 18 additional ambulances. [26850/20]

General Practitioner Services

Patrick Costello

934. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the implementation of the provisions in the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020, in particular the increase in income limits for medical card assessments for persons 70 years of age or over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27035/20]

Bord Bia

Patrick Costello

1016. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost in 2021 if the budget for marketing and promotional expenditure within An Bord Bia increased by 7%. [26856/20]

Court Orders

Patrick Costello

214. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of attachment orders, community service orders, prison orders and recovery orders in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in relation to non-payment of court order fines. [26088/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Patrick Costello

224. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the priority level provided to Covid-19 tests from teachers. [26019/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Patrick Costello

225. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 tests which have been carried out on teachers since the reopening of schools until 18 September 2020; and the number that resulted in a positive diagnosis. [26020/20]

Penal Policy Review Group

Patrick Costello

168. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice her plans to publish the eighth report of the implementation oversight group relating to the implementation of Penal Policy Review Group recommendations. [25793/20]

Fines Administration

Patrick Costello

169. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of fine defaulters that have received community service in lieu of prison time in the past four years by county. [25794/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Patrick Costello

216. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided to independent dental practitioners for PPE since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic [25908/20]

Departmental Funding

Patrick Costello

216. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the annual departmental funding allocated to the Dublin bikes rental scheme and other similar public rental schemes operating in counties Cork and Galway since the inception of each scheme. [25404/20]

Departmental Funding

Patrick Costello

217. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if there are departmental plans to open up new public rental schemes. [25405/20]

Departmental Funding

Patrick Costello

218. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the details of future allocated departmental budget to the Dublin bike rental scheme. [25406/20]

Departmental Funding

Patrick Costello

219. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the departmental funding provided or allocated for the expansion of the Dublin bikes scheme as laid out in the Dublin bikes Strategic Planning Framework 2011-2016 document. [25407/20]

Programme for Government

Patrick Costello

279. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the provisions being made to facilitate the remote working policy in State bodies as set out in the Programme for Government. [24755/20]

State Examinations

Patrick Costello

411. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the criteria by which the independent appeals scrutineers will be judging appeals from leaving certificate students for 2020 in the absence of exam scripts. [24785/20]

Voluntary Sector

Patrick Costello

22. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the steps being taken in relation to the commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government to ensure that organisations (details supplied) are properly resourced especially in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. [24318/20]

Community Development Projects

Patrick Costello

43. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the timetable for the Programme for Partnership Government commitment to introduce a number of projects similar in approach to community development projects. [24319/20]

National Educational Psychological Service

Patrick Costello

110. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the breakdown of employees of NEPS including grades and locations, in tabular form. [24450/20]

National Educational Psychological Service

Patrick Costello

111. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the number of vacancies currently open in NEPS. [24451/20]

National Educational Psychological Service

Patrick Costello

112. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the number of NEPS assessments deferred in 2020 in view of restrictions due to Covid-19; and the alternative arrangements put in place to fulfil same. [24453/20]

Defence Forces Reports

Patrick Costello

63. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence if the commission on the Defence Forces will be ready by the end of 2020 as agreed in the Programme for Partnership Government; if he will provide a detailed timeline for its establishment and work and the details of its membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24389/20]

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Patrick Costello

68. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost in 2021 if the budget for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission were to increase by 12%. [22759/20]

Ministerial Meetings

Patrick Costello

91. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance if he has met formally with each of the CEOs of banks based here since 1 June 2020; and if so, the dates of each meeting in tabular form. [22760/20]

Office of Public Works

Patrick Costello

116. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all sites under the remit of the Office of Public Works have admission fees and the capacity to accept bookings online. [22763/20]

Free Travel Scheme

Patrick Costello

191. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2021 if the budget for free travel scheme increased by 5%; and the estimated cost in 2021. [22762/20]

Garda Transport Provision

Patrick Costello

239. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of unmarked Garda cars that came into the fleet in 2019 and to date in 2020; and the number of unmarked Garda cars withdrawn from the fleet during the same period. [22761/20]

Maternity Services

Patrick Costello

261. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional cost of ensuring each maternity hospital has access to foetal anomaly screening; and the breakdown in terms of equipment and staff. [22757/20]

Autism Support Services

Patrick Costello

262. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the way in which the additional €2 million allocation was spent in 2020 to improve autism health services. [22758/20]

Child and Family Agency

Patrick Costello

42. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the timeline for the implementation of the commitment in the programme for Government for development of in-house therapeutic services within Tusla. [22368/20]

Foster Care

Patrick Costello

50. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if his Department will take initiatives to support recruitment of Traveller families to become foster parents. [22369/20]

Rail Accidents

Patrick Costello

173. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the number of bridge and level crossing strikes and Luas and vehicle crashes that occurred in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; the number of each that led to a prosecution; and if an anonymised list will be provided of the prosecutions including individuals and companies. [21981/20]

Rail Accidents

Patrick Costello

225. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport his plans for Irish Rail to step up campaigns towards drivers to let them know the consequences such as, fines, imprisonment, penalty points and so on of striking level crossings and bridges. [21982/20]

Rail Accidents

Patrick Costello

226. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport his plans for Irish Rail to quantify the cumulative delays to passengers, disruption of service and cost to Irish Rail of striking level crossings and bridges. [21983/20]

Railway Stations

Patrick Costello

249. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the status and projected construction date of a new DART station at Inchicore, Dublin 8 as laid out in the DART expansion programme. [22503/20]

Planning Issues

Patrick Costello

413. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a report (details supplied) regarding alleged serious planning irregularities in County Donegal will be published; the reason for the delay in publishing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21564/20]

Foreign Policy

Patrick Costello

456. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if representation has been made on behalf of Ireland to the EU or UN on issues pertaining to restrictions placed on civil liberties for the people of Zimbabwe including the cutting off of the internet and the alleged tampering of elections. [21625/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Patrick Costello

655. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which information was obtained from recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment at airports by date on which each case was interviewed by Departmental staff and by airport; the date on which each payment was ceased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21156/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Patrick Costello

656. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason rules regarding the pandemic unemployment payment were changed on the website of her Department; the date the rules were changed; the reason genuinely seeking work was added; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21157/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Patrick Costello

657. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection the legal remit for changing how to qualify section of pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21158/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Patrick Costello

658. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if third party agencies, companies or bodies provide her Department with information on recipients of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21159/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Patrick Costello

665. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons in receipt of jobseeker's transitional payment can currently receive the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment in which they have had a total loss of employment. [21240/20]

Crime Data

Patrick Costello

911. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice her plans to amend the Larceny Act 1916 or other relevant legislation to criminalise the theft of animals; and the measures to be put in place to tackle animal theft. [21559/20]

Nursing Staff

Patrick Costello

1059. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health his plans to recruit more nurse specialists nationwide for persons with Parkinson’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21313/20]

Medicinal Products

Patrick Costello

1226. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health when publicly funded adjuvant immunotherapy specifically Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab will be available under the public healthcare system as laid out in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026. [21648/20]

Education Policy

Patrick Costello

18. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education and Skills if detailed plans will be provided of the implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Government to develop inclusive and age-appropriate RSE and SPHE curricula across primary and post-primary levels, including an inclusive programme on LGBTI+ relationships and making appropriate legislative changes, if necessary. [18119/20]

Departmental Staff

Patrick Costello

84. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the establishment of a new section for education research and policy within her Department has commenced as stated in the Programme for Government; and the timeline for same. [18118/20]

Special Educational Needs

Patrick Costello

631. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will be opened as an autism-specific school in view of the fact local families have been campaigning for same for a considerable time. [18802/20]

Gender Recognition

Patrick Costello

1188. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the requirements for adult patients undergoing an assessment in the National Gender Service to have parents present, despite this being a concern for patient confidentiality [20035/20]

Gender Recognition

Patrick Costello

1189. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the years long waiting lists for assessment and treatment at the National Gender Service in Loughlinstown, County Dublin [20036/20]

Gender Recognition

Patrick Costello

1190. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if the National Gender Service will be instructed to follow best practice international guidelines on transgender healthcare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20037/20]

Middle East Peace Process

Patrick Costello

35. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take to prevent the annexation of occupied Palestine by Israel. [18121/20]

Middle East Peace Process

Patrick Costello

63. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take to expedite the recognition of the state of Palestine before it is too late in view of the threat of annexation by Israel. [18120/20]

Taxi Licences

Patrick Costello

154. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will assist taxi drivers by lifting the blanket four month extension on the NCT or by ensuring that the NTA extend taxi licences by four months in line with NCT tests; and his plans to ensure that taxi drivers have 60 days to carry out any necessary changes or repairs as was the case before the NCT extension. [18328/20]

Low Pay Commission

Patrick Costello

582. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Low Pay Commission has been formally requested to examine universal basic income as agreed in the programme for Government; and if not, when the request will be made. [18145/20]

Homelessness Strategy

Patrick Costello

121. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the concerns of the many housing and homelessness organisations about the level of homelessness being masked by the Covid-19 pandemic measures. [17791/20]

Homelessness Strategy

Patrick Costello

122. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to reconvene the National Homeless Consultative Forum. [17792/20]

Planning Issues

Patrick Costello

131. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider making change of use or class of use to childcare facilities exempt from planning permission even on a limited or temporary basis to facilitate the early years sector during this challenging post-Covid-19 landscape. [17493/20]

Transport Policy

Patrick Costello

109. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he will address a recent request by the National Transport Authority for a clear policy commitment to bring forward legislative changes to allow it to carry out camera-based enforcement of bus lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16658/20]

Consumer Rights

Patrick Costello

246. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide clarity for those persons who have booked holidays abroad regarding clear guidelines for travel; and if they will be compensated for choosing to follow current guidelines that would leave them out-of-pocket. [15587/20]

National Transport Authority

Patrick Costello

263. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which the €11.2 million allocated to National Transport Authority under the accessibility retrofit programme was spent in each of the years 2018 and 2019. [15931/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Patrick Costello

266. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide Covid-19 testing for GAA players to prevent outbreaks in the community; if this could be seen as urgent in view of the fact that social distancing in the sport is deemed impossible; and if financial support will be made available to fund such a strategy. [16015/20]

Foreign Conflicts

Patrick Costello

467. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland will use its membership of the United Nations Security Council to push for resolution in respect of Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15185/20]

Ministerial Meetings

Patrick Costello

479. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to the ambassador to Russia since 1 April 2020. [15940/20]

Third Level Admissions

Patrick Costello

588. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to improve access to higher education for members of the Traveller community. [15184/20]

Citizens Information Board

Patrick Costello

782. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost in 2021 if the budget for the Citizens Information Board increased by 6%. [15952/20]