Parliamentary questions

Departmental Budgets

Bríd Smith

176. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the budget allocation for his Department; if it is sufficient to expand the public transport system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33103/16]

Public Transport Provision

Bríd Smith

28. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which the budget allocation to his Department will allow for the needed expansion and provision of additional services and routes for the State's bus and rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32791/16]

Public Transport Provision

Bríd Smith

41. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the expansion of the public transport network to cope with increasing volumes of passengers in all three companies, Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann. [32790/16]

Departmental Contracts

Bríd Smith

232. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if the contracts for JobPath were put out to tender; the awarding process; the criteria on which it was based; if there were any other applicants; the personal data of persons participating on JobPath that will be passed onto the recruitment agencies; if persons participating will be notified in advance of their data and details being handed over; and the reassurances that have been given to the government regarding data security. [32899/16]

JobPath Implementation

Bríd Smith

239. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons participating on JobPath are paid by either JobPath or the employer for travel, child care or lunch vouchers; and, if it is the employers who pay, if it is mandatory that they cover costs when they take on a JobPath participant. [32955/16]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Bríd Smith

476. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the upcoming Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and its implications for Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31818/16]

Afforestation Programme

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to expand national forestry coverage as a measure to battle climate change; the role of Coillte Teoranta in these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21592/16]

Fishing Industry Development

Bríd Smith

39. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to rejuvenate the fishing industry and fishing communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21594/16]

Postal Services

Bríd Smith

12. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the financial position of An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32126/16]

Climate Change Policy

Bríd Smith

14. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department's budget allocation is sufficient to ensure targets for reductions in CO2 emissions under the Paris treaty are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32124/16]

Climate Change Policy

Bríd Smith

17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the additional resources he plans to use for climate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32125/16]

Air Pollution

Bríd Smith

25. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the potential health and environmental effects of the misuse or defective use of particulate filters on diesel cars and other vehicles and the fact there currently is no effective testing by the NCT system for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32127/16]

National Mitigation Plan

Bríd Smith

36. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he will take to ensure Ireland reaches its CO2 emissions targets in all areas including energy production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32128/16]

Climate Change Policy

Bríd Smith

48. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the detail of the national strategic risks identified by him in the draft national risk assessment report concerned with climate change; and his plans to deal with such risks. [31823/16]

Consular Services Representations

Bríd Smith

47. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of recent efforts to secure the release of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31817/16]

Maoiniú d'Eagrais Ghaeilge

Bríd Smith

16. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Bríd Smith den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sí ag diúltú maoiniú a dhéanamh ar an bplean infheistíochta, a comhaontaíodh idir 80 grúpa Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta agus Foras na Gaeilge san áireamh, ós rud é go bhfuil sé soiléir ón mbuiséad nach bhfuil na hacmhainní cuí á gcur ar fáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [31146/16]

Maoiniú d’Fhoras na Gaeilge

Bríd Smith

45. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Bríd Smith den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sí sásta go mbeidh a thuilleadh ciorruithe ar scéimeanna Fhoras na Gaeilge in 2017 ós rud é nach ndearnadh aon mhéadú ar an maoiniú dóibh i mbuiséad 2017 agus gurb airde costais an bhliain seo chugainn nuair a chuirfear breisithe tuarastail foirne agus costais is airde trádála ginearálta san áireamh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [31147/16]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Bríd Smith

25. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if any account was taken in preparing his Budget Statement of the need for wage increases among public service workers outside of the already planned unwinding of financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, provisions by his Department. [30933/16]

State Pension (Contributory) Data

Bríd Smith

83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected savings to the Exchequer as a result of changes in the criteria for qualification for the contributory old age pension since these changes were introduced. [30988/16]

State Pension (Contributory) Data

Bríd Smith

84. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected savings in 2017 and the number of old age pensioners affected by the changes in criteria for qualification for the contributory pension. [30989/16]

Home Care Packages Data

Bríd Smith

136. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in receipt of home care packages in the Dublin South Central constituency. [31116/16]

Home Care Packages Data

Bríd Smith

137. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in receipt of home care packages in the Dublin West constituency. [31117/16]

Home Care Packages Data

Bríd Smith

138. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in receipt of home care packages in County Wicklow. [31118/16]

Home Care Packages Data

Bríd Smith

139. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in receipt of home care packages in County Mayo. [31119/16]

School Costs

Bríd Smith

231. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills when plans to restore the capitation grant to schools, as set out in the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019, will be realised; and if the restoration will include a prohibition on the practice of schools seeking so-called voluntary contributions from parents (details supplied). [30337/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Bríd Smith

297. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of housing units he envisions will be delivered under the social housing construction and acquisition fund in 2017 in categories (details supplied). [30800/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Bríd Smith

298. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the funding under the social housing current expenditure programme for 2017 will provide social housing units only as leased arrangements with private landlords or will be used to build social housing units for local authority or approved housing bodies. [30801/16]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Bríd Smith

25. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason means-testing by his Department is done on gross pay and not take-home net pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28756/16]

One-Parent Family Payment Payments

Bríd Smith

32. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if, further to the finding of the Millar report, he will reverse lone parent allowance cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28755/16]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Bríd Smith

27. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if funding for proposed rapid builds is new funding or if it is funding that was previously allocated to other housing projects. [28610/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Bríd Smith

66. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local authorities are postponing projects for regular-build social housing to fund rapid-build houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28611/16]

Citizens Assembly

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach his plans for convening the Citizens' Assembly. [28720/16]

Referendum Campaigns

Bríd Smith

9. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach the plans he has for any referenda in the coming year. [27372/16]

Croke Park Agreement

Bríd Smith

39. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether his Department's withholding of certain payments from members of the ASTI will help achieve the Government's aim of modernising the education system or promote excellence and innovation in schools. [28375/16]

Industrial Disputes

Bríd Smith

51. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether present disputes may affect the morale of secondary school teachers and the ability of the system to deliver excellence and innovation as per the programme for Government. [28376/16]

Labour Court Recommendations

Bríd Smith

214. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department intervened in the ongoing refusal of a State-supported company (details supplied) to honour a Labour Court finding in relation to workers made redundant; if his Department has instructed this company not to use State funds to honour the findings of another State agency; and if he will intervene in this matter to ensure the workers involved receive their just payments. [28059/16]

Labour Court Recommendations

Bríd Smith

215. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason funding is made available to a private company (details supplied) by his Department while this company is refusing to obey the judgment of a State-appointed body in regard to its workforce. [28060/16]

IDA Ireland Supports

Bríd Smith

592. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the precise supports given by the IDA and any other State agency to a company (details supplied). [28046/16]

IDA Ireland Supports

Bríd Smith

593. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the financial support, if any, offered by the State to a company (details supplied). [28047/16]

IDA Ireland Supports

Bríd Smith

594. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs her Department expects a company (details supplied) to provide here in 2017. [28048/16]

IDA Ireland Supports

Bríd Smith

595. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the general supports client-supported companies can expect from the IDA and any other State agency that fall under her Department's remit. [28049/16]

National Broadband Plan Expenditure

Bríd Smith

254. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated yearly cost of the proposed 25-year contract for the NBP under the current proposed model. [27866/16]

National Broadband Plan Expenditure

Bríd Smith

255. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated costs of alternative proposals around alternative models for unrolling the NBP or any such information his Department may have on such costs. [27867/16]

National Broadband Plan Expenditure

Bríd Smith

256. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated savings his Department views the chosen funding model will deliver over the 25 years of any contract for the NBP. [27868/16]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on recent tragic incidents in a direct provision centre and if they are fit for purpose. [27375/16]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Bríd Smith

72. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to meet international obligations to assist in the international refugee crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27376/16]

Home Help Service Data

Bríd Smith

542. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of home help hours provided by the Health Service Executive, HSE, annually since 2008; the total budget allocated by the HSE for home help hours since 2008; and the number of home help hours provided by private health companies and paid for by the HSE or his Department since 2008. [26458/16]

Medical Card Drugs Availability

Bríd Smith

676. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the names of all drugs which have been removed from or had any restrictions placed upon their use under the general medical services, GMS, medical card scheme since 2014; the numbers of new patients affected by their removal or restriction; the number of patients affected by the newly introduced standard operating for discretionary hardship arrangements, STOP, that is, the number of patients who are prescribed particular drugs but now find these drugs not covered by the GMS medical card scheme. [26988/16]

Child Care Services Funding

Bríd Smith

12. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of the 500 after-school child care scheme, ASCC, places taken up now that the eligibility for 52 weeks is ending; the measures put in place to provide child care for these children at the same affordable rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22963/16]

Departmental Schemes

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to expand the qualifying criteria for the community child care scheme to allow families who are not in receipt of Social Protection but are on low incomes to be included in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22964/16]