Parliamentary questions

Health Services Staff

Catherine Connolly

964. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE physiotherapists currently in position in St. Vincent’s public long-Covid clinic; the number of vacant WTE physiotherapist posts in St. Vincent’s public long-Covid clinic; the status of recruitment of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54404/22]

Health Services Staff

Catherine Connolly

965. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE clinical psychologists currently in position in St. Vincent’s public long-Covid clinic; the number of vacant WTE clinical psychologist posts in St. Vincent’s public long-Covid clinic; the status of recruitment of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54405/22]

Public Sector Pay

Catherine Connolly

1021. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the plans to bring the pay of workers in Section 39 organisations in line with the public service pay agreement entitled Building Momentum and successor agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54613/22]

International Agreements

Catherine Connolly

13. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 2 of 12 October 2022, the status of his engagement at WTO and EU level with regard to the proposal to extend the 17 June 2022 decision of the WTO on the TRIPS Agreement to cover Covid-19 therapeutics and diagnostic tests with no further conditions to the text; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53788/22]

White Papers

Catherine Connolly

20. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the development of the White Paper on enterprise; his plans to prioritise sustainable indigenous industry in the forthcoming White Paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53787/22]

Departmental Bodies

Catherine Connolly

60. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to the publication of the review of the atypical scheme for non-EEA crew in the Irish fishing fleet, the status of the establishment of the promised cross-departmental group to oversee implementation of the transition from the current scheme to the employment permits scheme, which his Department is to co-chair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53789/22]

Human Rights

Catherine Connolly

62. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 14 September 2022, the status of his Department’s engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding the development of a second national action plan on business and human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53790/22]

Departmental Funding

Catherine Connolly

91. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the enhanced Community Centres Investment Fund for the delivery of new build community centres, promised under Budget 2023, will be open for applications; the amount of funding that will be allocated for the building of new community centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53791/22]

Island Communities

Catherine Connolly

102. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 15 September 2022, the status of the new policy for the islands; if she will provide an update on the work of the interdepartmental committee for the islands; the date of the last meeting of the committee; if she will provide a timeline for the completion of the new policy and action plan for the islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53792/22]

Island Communities

Catherine Connolly

103. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the purposes of the LEADER programme; her plans for the islands around the coast to be recognised as one region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53795/22]

Harbours and Piers

Catherine Connolly

108. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 668 of 14 September 2022, if she will provide an update on the development of Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin; the status of the development of the model simulation of the harbour by the National Maritime College of Ireland; if the data has been compiled to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53794/22]

Harbours and Piers

Catherine Connolly

128. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 15 September 2022, if she will provide an update on the development of the pier on Inis Oírr; the expected timeline for the updating of the environmental reports to the standard required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53793/22]

Childcare Services

Catherine Connolly

244. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that the national childcare scheme subsidy is paid based on hours attended rather than hours paid for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53900/22]

Low Pay

Catherine Connolly

50. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 14 September 2022, the status of the report by the Low Pay Commission on universal basic income; the timeline for the publication of this report and the accompanying research report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53810/22]

EU Directives

Catherine Connolly

51. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 15 September 2022, if he will provide details of any engagement that he has had at European Union-level with regard to the forthcoming corporate sustainability reporting Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53811/22]

Departmental Reports

Catherine Connolly

70. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 71 of 17 July 2022, the status of the establishment of the wool council; if the promised €30,000 for initial set-up costs has been drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53219/22]

Fishing Industry

Catherine Connolly

113. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 283 of 28 September 2022, the details of any analysis carried out by his Department regarding the amount of sprat caught within the six nautical-mile limit since September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53218/22]

Shannon Airport Facilities

Catherine Connolly

208. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if an aircraft (details supplied) that arrived at Shannon Airport on 13 October 2022 and left on 14 October 2022, was approved to transport weapons or munitions through Shannon Airport; the details of any checks, inspections or inquiries carried out in this regard in respect of the aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52706/22]

Public Transport

Catherine Connolly

227. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the consideration that is being given to bringing forward a standalone feasibility study into light rail, including very light rail in Galway, as opposed to the matter being considered as part of the upcoming review of the Galway Transport Strategy in view of a recent decision (details supplied) by An Bord Pleanála and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53194/22]

United Nations

Catherine Connolly

349. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of the engagement that he has had at UN Security Council-level with regard to the ongoing crackdown on peaceful protest in Iran; his plans to raise this matter at the next meeting of the Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53359/22]

Foreign Policy

Catherine Connolly

350. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement that he has had with his Algerian, European and UN counterparts in relation to the kidnapping on 6 January 2009 in Algiers of the sibling of an Irish citizen (details supplied) for which the UNHCR established Algeria's responsibility; the circumstances of their abduction; the reason for their detention without trial; the steps that he has taken to secure their safe return; the engagement that he has had with their family in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53366/22]

National Educational Psychological Service

Catherine Connolly

420. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to extend the recently announced funding for a cohort of third-year doctoral students of educational psychology to all second and third-year doctoral students of educational psychology; the estimated annual cost of extending the payment to all second and third-year doctoral students of educational psychology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53524/22]

National Educational Psychological Service

Catherine Connolly

421. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to extend the recently announced funding for a cohort of third-year doctoral students of educational psychology beyond the current academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53525/22]

National Educational Psychological Service

Catherine Connolly

422. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the status of the development of the workforce plan for educational psychologists; when she expects the workforce planning group to submit its final report; if the workforce planning group is examining the provision of financial support to all second and third-year doctoral students of educational psychology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53526/22]

School Meals Programme

Catherine Connolly

470. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 22 of 13 October 2022, 50745/22, if the review of the school meals programme includes an evaluation of the rates of payment, particularly in view of rising energy and food costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53267/22]

Disability Services

Catherine Connolly

568. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the staff census and workforce review of community disability network teams 2022, due to have been undertaken on 12 October 2022; the current vacancy rate by discipline and CHO area in tabular form; the CHO2 vacancy rate by region and discipline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53308/22]

Family Reunification

Catherine Connolly

26. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 590 of 11 October 2022, the reason for the delay in approving applications under the Afghan admissions programme, which was announced in September 2021, but under which no applications have been approved to date; the analysis that her Department has carried out into the eligibility criteria for the programme; if they are operating as intended; the timeline for when decisions on applications will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52189/22]

Legislative Reviews

Catherine Connolly

40. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the status of the independent review of part IV of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017; the timeline for the publication of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52190/22]

Hospital Facilities

Catherine Connolly

98. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the plans for a new elective hospital in Merlin Park, Galway; the timeline for the completion of the project; if this is phase one of the new elective and acute hospital proposed for the MPUH site, as set out as the preferred option in the Saolta University Health Care Group’s “Options Appraisal for Saolta Model 4 Hospital Services in Galway” 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52192/22]

Emergency Departments

Catherine Connolly

132. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 100 of 12 July 2022, if the examination by his Department of the HSE’s strategic assessment report regarding the new emergency department in University Hospital Galway has been completed to date; the status of the updated preliminary business case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52191/22]

EU Directives

Catherine Connolly

215. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the audio-visual media services directive will be fully transposed into Irish law; the details of the deadlines that will be applied to the requirement for audio-visual services to be made accessible to people with a visual or hearing disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52641/22]

Childcare Services

Catherine Connolly

291. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase the income limits for the income assessed strand of the National Childcare Subsidy; the details of any analysis carried out by his Department in this regard; if he will clarify what, if any, mitigating circumstances are taken into account when assessing a subsidy application in respect of parents earning marginally over the income limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52498/22]

Disability Services

Catherine Connolly

327. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 12 October 2022, that recipients of the supplementary blind welfare allowance will receive a cost-of-living double payment in October 2022 and a Christmas bonus double payment in respect of their supplementary blind welfare allowance payment; the reason information on these double payments is not available on the HSE website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52499/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

157. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of international protection applicants who have undergone an assessment for eligibility under the Child Care Act 1991 and the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022 with Tusla, the child and family agency to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52215/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

158. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown of decisions by Tusla following eligibility assessments of international protection applicants under the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022 to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52216/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

159. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide further details on the statement in Budget 2023 that accommodation for vulnerable applicants will be developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52217/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

160. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of international protection applicants who are accommodated in tented accommodation; and the location of those sites in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52218/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

161. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons currently accommodated in a hotel (details supplied); the capacity of that hotel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52219/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

162. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons in accommodation provided by the International Protection and Accommodation Service who have refugee status, subsidiary protection or permission to remain; if he will provide a breakdown of their location by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52220/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

163. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of minor international protection applicants who are sharing a room with an adult who is not their parent or guardian; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52221/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

164. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the asylum, migration and integration fund; when an open call for funding will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52222/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

192. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if Ireland will opt-in to Regulation (EU) 2021/2303 on the European Union Agency for Asylum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52237/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

193. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the total number of applications under the Afghan admission programme which have been brought forward to the second stage of the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52238/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

194. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if visa applications for Afghan family members of Irish citizens and Afghan nationals living in Ireland are still being processed “speedily and sympathetically”, as per her statement to Dáil Éireann on 16 June 2022 stating that “visa applications for Afghan family members of Irish citizens and Afghan nationals living in Ireland are being assessed speedily and sympathetically”; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52239/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

195. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if her Department is developing a fast-track or prioritisation process for applications under the policy document for non-EEA family reunification, following a judgment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52240/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

196. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of international protection applicants deemed adult by the International Protection Office under Section 24 of the International Protection Act 2015 to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52241/22]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Catherine Connolly

198. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the status of the development of a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on domestic sexual and gender-based violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52319/22]

Abortion Services

Catherine Connolly

219. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the research commissioned by his Department to inform the three-year review on the implementation of Termination of Pregnancy Services (the service providers' perspective) which was due to be completed in September 2022; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52106/22]

Primary Care Centres

Catherine Connolly

250. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 230 of 25 May 2022, the status of the development of a primary care centre on Inisbofin; if he will provide a progress update on the site acquisition; the details of his and the HSE’s engagement with Galway County Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media since June 2022, with regard to progressing with the purchase of the identified site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52323/22]

Care of the Elderly

Catherine Connolly

251. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 943 of 12 July 2022, the number of respite beds currently operational within Merlin Park community nursing unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52324/22]