Parliamentary questions

Public Sector Pensions Data

Bríd Smith

362. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the Civil Service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26977/17]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Bríd Smith

465. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the civil service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26970/17]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Bríd Smith

676. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the Civil Service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26973/17]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Bríd Smith

732. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the Civil Service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26976/17]

Public Sector Pensions

Bríd Smith

926. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if she will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of her Department, excluding those in the civil service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26966/17]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Bríd Smith

1050. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate and ensure that persons (details supplied) in the Drimnagh area with a medical general practitioner cards will not lose their general practitioner service due to the closure of a general practice. [26698/17]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Bríd Smith

1098. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason motor neuron disease is not covered under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will review this matter with the intention of adding motor neuron disease to the scheme [26862/17]

Medical Card Administration

Bríd Smith

1099. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to simplify the application for general practitioner cards for persons with long-term illnesses by awarding automatically medical cards for certain conditions. [26863/17]

Public Sector Staff Data

Bríd Smith

1130. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the Civil Service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26974/17]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Bríd Smith

1611. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the Civil Service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26965/17]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Bríd Smith

1744. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the Civil Service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26968/17]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

1814. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the new National Transport Authority bus transport proposals for Dublin BusConnects and the subsequent redrawing of the city's bus routes will see Dublin Bus operate those routes; if the NTA has plans to license private bus operators on some of these new radial and orbital routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26655/17]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Bríd Smith

1831. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the civil service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26980/17]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Bríd Smith

1902. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if she will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of her Department, excluding those in the civil service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26967/17]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Bríd Smith

1999. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if she will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of her Department, excluding those in the Civil Service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26978/17]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Bríd Smith

2168. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the Civil Service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26971/17]

Street Nomenclature

Bríd Smith

2197. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the procedures for a local authority to change the name of a street in its authority; and the legislation that governs this issue. [27407/17]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Bríd Smith

2281. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the civil service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26969/17]

Departmental Reports

Bríd Smith

82. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection when the report on the contributory pension scheme will be ready; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26006/17]

Social Insurance Fund Deficit

Bríd Smith

98. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the write-off by his Department of moneys owed by employers under the redundancy and insolvency schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26007/17]

Irish Prisoners Abroad

Bríd Smith

81. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his efforts to have a person (details supplied) released from prison in Cairo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25655/17]

Trade Relations

Bríd Smith

94. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on Ireland's trading relationship with Israel in view of the ongoing abuses of human rights with regard to the Palestinian population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25612/17]

Disabled Drivers Grant Appeals

Bríd Smith

141. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) who has been refused a primary certificate by the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, in view of the finding of the Office of the Ombudsman that the scheme as currently framed is overly rigid and inflexible and may be causing inequity. [25389/17]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Bríd Smith

268. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if, when calculating the average contributions of persons for accessing their contributory pension, there is a provision to include contributions made for the years spent working in Britain or another EU member state; if these years are included in the final calculation when deciding the reckonable amount paid and credited contribution; and if this can be discounted in the overall calculation of the years at work. [25342/17]

Údarás na Gaeltachta Funding

Bríd Smith

376. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 213 and 214 of 23 March 2017, the grants provided by Údarás na Gaeltachta to client companies that are among the Succeed in Ireland initiative companies credited with providing verified jobs; and the amount provided for all companies that are in this scheme. [25281/17]

Health Services Staff

Bríd Smith

400. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the replacement of a person (details supplied) who deals with rare eye disorders in children. [25323/17]

Enterprise Ireland Expenditure

Bríd Smith

626. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the payments made by Enterprise Ireland under the headings of the beef fund, ESS, the community enterprise centre scheme and the community enterprise initiative scheme in each of the years 2010 to 2016. [25277/17]

Departmental Bodies Expenditure

Bríd Smith

627. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 213 and 214 of 23 March 2017, the amount in grants provided by Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to client companies that are among the Succeed in Ireland initiative companies credited with providing verified jobs; the amount provided for all companies that are in this scheme. [25281/17]

Housing Assistance Payment

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to deal with ongoing problems being experienced by persons trying to access accommodation or remain in existing accommodation under the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24810/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Bríd Smith

26. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of house-building projects and the number of units involved in those projects that are in the process of being built or at the planning stage under the control of local authorities and that will deliver local authority owned and run social housing in the next period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24811/17]

Public Inquiries

Bríd Smith

42. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will commission a public inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24681/17]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Reports

Bríd Smith

69. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider a public inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24335/17]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

93. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will review the prices being charged in the shop in Mosney to persons in the direct provision system to determine if these are at a reasonable level compared to other shops; the reasons for differences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24334/17]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

160. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the alleged food shortages in the Mosney resident's shop over the Easter weekend; if persons donated milk and bread to the residents over the weekend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24753/17]

Asylum Applications

Bríd Smith

161. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the single procedure changes and provide a numerical breakdown of the different categories of persons being processed; her plans for fully implementing the single procedure; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the partial implementation of the plan is causing distress and confusion among persons. [24754/17]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if asylum seekers are entitled to open a bank account by right here; the acceptable forms of proof of identity and proof of address for those residing in direct provision and other convention asylum seekers that wish to open a bank account; her views on whether clarity in this regard will allow asylum seekers and banks to follow transparent and fair procedures rather than the reportedly ad hoc and inconsistently applied arrangements that are being experienced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24777/17]

Public Sector Pensions

Bríd Smith

378. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount contributed by or deducted from all public sector workers toward their pensions including amounts from the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016. [24048/17]

Wildlife Regulations

Bríd Smith

396. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his Department plans to issue authorisation for persons to enter onto private land in County Donegal or on islands off the coast of County Donegal to carry out the corncrake census; if her attention has been drawn to complaints that contractors to date in 2017 have broken the law in the construction of fences and so on without planning permission from Donegal County Council or permission from the NPWS and in contravention of the Wildlife Act which prohibits such work during the bird nesting season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24130/17]

Wildlife Regulations

Bríd Smith

397. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which grants for persons to provide protection for corncrakes was dispersed by county in 2016 and to date in 2017; the reason most of these grants were allocated to counties Mayo and Donegal, in which most of these birds nest without adequate funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24131/17]

Wildlife Regulations

Bríd Smith

398. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the pending fines or possible prosecutions against the State for breaches of EU wildlife protection law and destruction of protected habitats; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24132/17]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects

Bríd Smith

615. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the projects that Transport Infrastructure Ireland plans to commence with the remaining €70 million of funds now available following the recent ECJ ruling on VAT on toll roads (details supplied). [24047/17]

Child Poverty

Bríd Smith

670. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to ensure children can continue to avail of vital services (details supplied) that are in fact helping to reduce child poverty within very disadvantaged areas of the country as evidenced through poverty deprivation scores. [24411/17]

Child Protection

Bríd Smith

671. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way she will protect the rights of children to ensure that they are not further marginalised through the enactment of new legislation (details supplied). [24412/17]

Defence Forces Contracts

Bríd Smith

60. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the value of contracts for equipment, goods or services procured from Israeli-based firms and companies over the past five years by the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23277/17]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Bríd Smith

67. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to address the endemic low pay among personnel in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23276/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Bríd Smith

83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of his Department to external agencies or consultancies for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on. [23962/17]

Consultancy Contracts Data

Bríd Smith

99. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of her Department to external agencies or consultancies for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23959/17]

Departmental Agencies

Bríd Smith

110. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of his Department to external agencies or consultancy for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23957/17]

Departmental Contracts Data

Bríd Smith

143. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of his Department to external agencies or consultancies for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23955/17]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Bríd Smith

159. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of his Department to external agencies or consultancies for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations to include the hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23956/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Bríd Smith

175. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of his Department to external agencies or consultancies for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23961/17]

Departmental Contracts Data

Bríd Smith

185. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of his Department to external agencies or consultancies for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations, including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on. [23485/17]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Bríd Smith

202. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of her Department to external agencies or consultancies for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations, including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23951/17]

Departmental Contracts Data

Bríd Smith

265. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of his Department to external agencies or consultancy for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations, including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23950/17]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Bríd Smith

270. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of his Department to external agencies or consultancies for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23953/17]

Departmental Contracts Data

Bríd Smith

281. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of her Department to external agencies or consultancies for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations, including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23958/17]

Consultancy Contracts

Bríd Smith

287. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of her Department to external agencies or consultancies for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations, including hiring and interviewing staff and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23952/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Bríd Smith

302. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of his Department to external agencies or consultancy for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23954/17]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

52. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will consider supporting the Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016 currently undergoing scrutiny on Committee Stage rather than introducing a draft proposal of her own that seems to deal with the same issues of low hours and precarious hours contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23045/17]

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Bríd Smith

91. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports and grants given by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to client companies since 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23046/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Bríd Smith

271. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection to set down the number of staff employed in his Department since 2009, including temporary clerical officers and whole-time equivalents; and the amount of hours issued on the payroll. [23070/17]

Job Losses

Bríd Smith

592. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department has been notified of proposed redundancies at a company (details supplied). [23063/17]

Road Tolls

Bríd Smith

57. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the way the €100 million of VAT on tolls collected by the National Roads Authority and then Transport Infrastructure Ireland will be spent; the plans the agency has for these funds; and the implication this may have for his Department and the funding of transport projects over the coming period. [22129/17]

Bus Éireann

Bríd Smith

70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on media reports that the management of Bus Éireann has contingency plans to declare insolvency depending on the outcome of the pending ballot of its workers; his plans to deal with this; and if he or officials from his Department met with Bus Éireann management recently to discuss this issue. [22130/17]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bríd Smith

47. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he plans to take to achieve targets on greenhouse gas emissions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21824/17]

Renewable Energy Projects

Bríd Smith

49. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether the recent announcement of a joint ESB and Bord na Móna solar energy enterprise represents a large enough investment in solar energy in view of the scale of the climate crisis and the poor history the State has in embracing solar power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21826/17]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bríd Smith

67. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated costs of fines he expects Ireland to incur based on current projections of the failure to reach emissions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21497/17]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Bríd Smith

75. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he expects the target for renewable energy for electricity of 40% to be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21825/17]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Bríd Smith

90. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social policy and public service reform last met; and when the next meeting will take place. [21516/17]

Revenue Commissioners Audits

Bríd Smith

162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the number of audits and prosecutions taken by the Revenue Commissioners in connection with evasion or fraud in the non-payment of categories of tax (details supplied). [22040/17]

Revenue Commissioners Audits

Bríd Smith

163. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if the figure of €555 million savings for 2017 (details supplied) is a figure that reflects all moneys recouped from audits and compliance interventions or a projected assumption similar to assumptions used in calculating moneys saved from welfare fraud; the number of Revenue Commissioner officials involved in conducting the revenue audits and compliance interventions; and the number of audits conducted over the past five years. [22077/17]

Live Exports

Bríd Smith

553. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage that live animal exports represent of the overall market in agricultural exports for each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and the estimated value in euro of live animal exports for each of the years 2010 to 2016. [21787/17]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Bríd Smith

652. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the criteria or instructions which are given to outside consultants in order to perform a given task (details supplied); and if a consultancy is asked to screen applicants for the position of clerical officer, if explicit criteria and qualifications are expressed to the consultants by her Department or other bodies such as the HSA. [21710/17]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Bríd Smith

653. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the criteria used by her Department when deciding to use an outside agency or consultancy. [21711/17]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

654. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number and specific details of prosecutions taken by her Department or the WRC on foot of complaints from employees for non-issuing of a contract of employment. [21739/17]

Afforestation Programme

Bríd Smith

36. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider putting in place a community-led afforestation project co-ordinated by local authorities as part of a programme to tackle climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21113/17]

Coillte Teoranta Lands

Bríd Smith

38. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the Coillte and South Dublin County Council plans for a location (details supplied); his views on whether this may be an inappropriate intervention in these important forest areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21112/17]

National Maternity Hospital

Bríd Smith

5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the way in which the agreement with a religious order (details supplied) for the running of the new National Maternity Hospital will ensure women will have access to all services and operations, including abortion, in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20883/17]

Speech and Language Therapy

Bríd Smith

31. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will examine delays in parents accessing speech and language therapy for their children in the Crumlin area of the HSE, specifically in the case of a person (details supplied); and his plans to ensure vulnerable children at a key developmental age are not left without key services such as these. [20803/17]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Bríd Smith

34. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures he has taken to address the significant shortfall in occupational therapist and speech and language therapists to provide the inputs for children with disabilities outlined in the service statement under the Disability Act; the way he plans to remedy this staff deficit, including the increased deficit which would occur if statutory deadlines were kept; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20805/17]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Bríd Smith

71. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures he has taken to address the significant staffing deficit leading to failure to keep to statutory deadlines for assessment and reporting on needs under the Disability Act; the way this staff deficit will be remedied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20804/17]

Services for People with Disabilities

Bríd Smith

104. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health to outline the reason children are being sent to private assessment services, such as from a particular company (details supplied); the reason after this initial assessment the HSE refuses to offer crucial follow up tests in the face of advice from the private companies it has employed to carry out initial assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20806/17]

Visa Applications

Bríd Smith

116. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the hardship caused by the current limits placed on visas for persons visiting family members here (details supplied); if she will consider altering this or introducing a discretionary duration for visas in certain circumstances. [21032/17]

Illegal Dumping

Bríd Smith

55. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if her attention has been drawn to illegal dumping at the Glenveagh National Park in an area situated within the park and opposite the staff entrance to the park; if such dumping is a breach of EU regulations, the Water Pollution Act or the Invasive Species Act; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that this is taking place in a protected area and special area of conservation in addition to being in a national heritage area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20400/17]

Proposed Legislation

Bríd Smith

80. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has received or sought a legal opinion on whether sections of the proposed Heritage Bill may contravene EU directives such as the birds and habitats directives, the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, the European Union (Natural Habitats) Regulations SI 94/1997 or the Wildlife Amendment Act 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20401/17]

General Practitioner Services

Bríd Smith

778. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that are eligible for the free under six general practitioner scheme; the number of persons that have registered under the scheme to date; if he has conducted research on the reason some persons are not taking up the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19151/17]

General Practitioner Data

Bríd Smith

779. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to bring in a national register of general practitioners as recommended in the HSE document on medical workforce planning future demand for GPs 2015 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19152/17]

General Practitioner Services

Bríd Smith

780. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the HSE to assist persons that wish to enrol their children under the free under six general practitioner scheme but that are unable to access a general practitioner that is accepting new patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19153/17]

General Practitioner Services

Bríd Smith

781. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons registered with a general practitioner; the GMS status of those general practitioners; if those general practitioners have registered for the free under six GP scheme; if so, the number of children under six years of age those general practitioners have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19154/17]

Commission for Communications Regulation

Bríd Smith

1254. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the legal firms contracted to work for ComReg on a consultancy basis; and the amount in fees paid to them since 2013. [19145/17]

National Transport Authority Staff

Bríd Smith

1382. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to potential conflicts of interest within the NTA; and if he will ensure that no staff or member of the management team that can influence or decide on the awarding of routes to private bus operators have previously worked at or with the same bus company. [20504/17]

Workplace Relations Commission

Bríd Smith

1398. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 5 April 2017, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that only 10% of cases from the Equality Tribunal have been appealed to the Labour Court (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19175/17]

Public Private Partnerships

Bríd Smith

14. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost to the Exchequer of all planned PPP projects for the coming period; if his attention has been drawn to research that suggests such projects ultimately cost the State more than alternative funding models; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18712/17]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Bríd Smith

22. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the high level forum on the community employment sector is empowered to take steps to rectify the injustice done to community supervisors who remain without an entitlement to a pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18711/17]

National Transport Authority Remit

Bríd Smith

359. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has oversight on the operations of the NTA in regard to its licensing of private bus operators and the enforcing and policing of the conditions of such licences. [18992/17]

National Transport Authority Remit

Bríd Smith

360. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) operated for 44 weeks in breach of its licence and without the proper authority to provide passenger services; and if he will ensure such breaches are dealt with by the relevant authorities. [18993/17]

National Transport Authority Remit

Bríd Smith

361. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the operations of the NTA with regard to the regulation and enforcement of regulations on private operators in passenger bus services to ensure full compliance with health, safety and conditions of their licences. [18994/17]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

2. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure, environment and climate action last met; and when it plans to meet next. [17840/17]

JobPath Implementation

Bríd Smith

78. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the oversight his Department has on the operations of the private companies contracted to operate the JobPath initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17843/17]

JobPath Implementation

Bríd Smith

83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the use of psychometric tests by operators of JobPath; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the administration of such tests using psychometric questionnaires contravenes international ethical guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17844/17]