Parliamentary questions

Health Services Staff

Bríd Smith

1497. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason healthcare assistants who come from abroad to work here, with qualifications above QQI level 5 will only be given renewed employment permits if they complete the QQI level course for healthcare assistants in Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the NARIC Ireland international qualification comparison requirement (details supplied) that those who are qualified above QQI 5 level in the health sector, do not need to repeat the QQI 5 level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16905/23]

Medical Cards

Bríd Smith

1533. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when free GP-visit cards for children aged six and seven years of age will commence as announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17096/23]

Research and Development

Bríd Smith

1810. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details (details supplied) in relation to a research centre hosted by University College Dublin. [16712/23]

Disability Services

Bríd Smith

7. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures his Department is taking to inform all public bodies of their immediate obligations under the convention to prioritise disabled persons' organisations in all consultations affecting disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15766/23]

Emergency Accommodation

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will revisit his emergency accommodation policy published on 24 January that announced a pause in provision of emergency shelter to international protection adults arriving to Citywest; the number of international protection adults who are currently without accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15764/23]

Domestic Violence

Bríd Smith

20. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that advocates for domestic violence sufferers are very critical of his failure to offer full pay to victims while out on leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15767/23]

Disability Services

Bríd Smith

47. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what supports he will put in place for people with disabilities facing eviction after the lifting of the eviction ban this week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15765/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bríd Smith

119. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will detail all carbon credits purchased by the State or its agencies under any scheme since 2015 to date; if the CO2 equivalent totals of such credits and the monetary costs involved will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15980/23]

Rail Network

Bríd Smith

124. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the timeframe for commencement and completion of the DART+ South West project and its infrastructural works; if he will provide the details of the proposal for a station in Ballyfermot; the timeframe for the delivery of same; if Irish Rail has a dedicated liaison office to liaise with residents in areas such as Kylemore in Ballyfermot whose property may be affected by the works involved; if CPOs on gardens have been issued to these residents; if negotiation and consultation will take place with these residents ahead of any such CPO or proposed works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15925/23]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

126. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if the authors of a report (details supplied) commissioned by the NTA on fare-fee public transport can provide a figure for CO2 emission savings from a 1% decline in car usage; and if the authors can provide a figure for the total reduction in kilometres travelled by car users as a result of a 1% decline in car usage. [15981/23]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

127. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the total cost of a report (details supplied) on fare-free public transport. [15982/23]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

128. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will itemise or detail the potential categories of internalised benefits that were not part of the report (details supplied) into fare-free public transport; the reason such benefits did not form part of the scope of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15983/23]

Irish Prisoners Abroad

Bríd Smith

178. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on his efforts to secure the release of a person (details supplied) who is currently being held in an Iranian prison; if he is aware of the declining health of the person and the urgency this poses in terms of the person's release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16009/23]

Gender Equality

Bríd Smith

232. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on his plans for improving gender equality. [12865/23]

Disease Management

Bríd Smith

323. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will acknowledge that approximately 300,000 people in Ireland are currently living with a rare disease; if he will provide adequate resources for genetic services in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15963/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

3. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [11608/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he is planning to publish a Housing for All report with the final figures of housing delivered for the whole of 2022; and when he expects to do this. [15433/23]

Departmental Properties

Bríd Smith

20. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his Department's resource-efficiency action plan. [15156/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

24. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagements with the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez. [15157/23]

Domestic Violence

Bríd Smith

158. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if Carlow will have a women's refuge in place as promised in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15577/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the most recent meeting of the Cabinet committee on health took place. [12867/23]

Departmental Offices

Bríd Smith

17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international division of his Department. [11607/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Bríd Smith

78. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to increase welfare rates for those on disability payments in light of additional costs and rising cost-of-living pressures; if any consideration is being given to the provision of a universal non means-tested payment for those suffering from long-term disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15453/23]

Social Welfare Code

Bríd Smith

98. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has made any provision for an increased budget for additional needs’ payments in light of the ending of the eviction ban and the likelihood of additional expenses being faced by people made homeless; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15160/23]

Community Employment Schemes

Bríd Smith

112. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to change the eligibility criteria for CE schemes to include persons in direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15164/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

134. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify that people in district heating systems who have faced large increases in their energy bills can access additional needs’ payments; if any instruction has been issued from her Department to community welfare officers in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15162/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Bríd Smith

146. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the last occasion when there was an increase in the energy part of the household benefit package; if she has any plans to raise this allowance in light of the ongoing energy crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15163/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

216. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide the cost of installing an electronic timetable with real-time arrival times at bus stops that currently only have a sign; the estimated cost of installing a roofed shelter at bus stops that currently only have a sign; if he will clarify the process for applying for both, for a particular bus stop; if he will outline his Department’s and Dublin Bus’s plans to install both across Dublin city and county over the coming year; if Dublin Bus will consider installing both at stop 2380, Cork Street and Ardee Street servicing routes towards the city, in the same fashion as the stop directly opposite going in the opposite direction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15133/23]

Housing Policy

Bríd Smith

312. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 494 of 21 March 2023, if he will provide more specific information on the existing internal complaints and appeals systems within local authorities, particularly in relation to appealing decisions regarding medical priority for housing applications; if he will consider implementing a standardised and transparent appeal mechanism at the national level to ensure consistency and fairness for all applicants seeking medical priority for housing support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15248/23]

Education Policy

Bríd Smith

365. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify why the procurement process for a contractor for a school (details supplied) has been halted; if she will acknowledge the need for an ETSS in this area to accommodate the significant number of children who want to continue their education in an ETSS; if she will reconsider the stoppage on the procurement process and allow this necessary secondary school be progressed as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14659/23]

Register of Electors

Bríd Smith

466. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will acknowledge the importance of encouraging young people to participate in the democratic process by becoming a registered voter; if she is aware of some of the difficulties young people have in trying to become a registered voter for the first time (details supplied); if there are plans to streamline the process to make it more accessible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15262/23]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

658. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he has listened to and consulted with the trans community in relation to their healthcare needs and the provision of that care currently; if he will consider reviewing the National Gender Service in terms of international best practice and how it is currently working from the trans community’s perspective; if he will listen to the trans community’s call for an informed consent model that is led by GPs in local communities and respond accordingly; if he will consult with the trans community, in addition to consulting with medical professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14817/23]

Church-State Relations

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on recent engagements with church leaders. [12860/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [12866/23]

Departmental Inquiries

Bríd Smith

171. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that the scoping inquiry into historical sex abuse in schools will not be restricted to Roman Catholic religious orders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14180/23]

Northern Ireland

Bríd Smith

11. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [12858/23]

Departmental Meetings

Bríd Smith

17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the climate action delivery board, co-chaired by his Department. [12859/23]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

99. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he had any discussions on the impacts of Israel’s continued aggression and illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and its destabilising effects on the region during his recent trip to Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5133/23]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

182. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he expects to approve a proposed increase in the pension entitlements of An Post workers; if the S.I. to give effect to this will be ready soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12951/23]

Legislative Process

Bríd Smith

211. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason his Department has not issued a money message or a reasoned response in relation to the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 despite being requested to do so by the Bills Office in May 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13602/23]

Electric Vehicles

Bríd Smith

221. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide clarification in relation to the scheme aimed at encouraging taxi drivers to convert to EV vehicles; if the unintended consequence (details supplied) of extending licences for some vehicles as a Covid-related measure, is that vehicles and drivers that would have qualified for the EV grant may now lose out as a result of both of the Covid extension together with ongoing delays in getting EVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12235/23]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

372. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he can clarify in relation to retired OPW workers, if these retired workers will receive a due pension increase; when this increase will be paid and the categories of retired workers affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13901/23]

Housing Provision

Bríd Smith

494. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the reason there is no appeal mechanism for a parent to query a decision by their local authority to refuse an application for medical priority for housing as a result of a medical condition of their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13731/23]

School Funding

Bríd Smith

761. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of the proposed funding of two schools (details supplied) in Dublin 4 and Dublin 6; when these facilities will be developed given that primary school children in the wider area may have no options to locate to co-educational multi-denominational facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13610/23]

Ukraine War

Bríd Smith

906. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will acknowledge the huge work, support and solidarity shown by communities around the country in welcoming Ukrainians into their homes and wider communities; if he will listen to these voices of support and, in particular, a community group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12638/23]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

907. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in light of the recent announcement that one in ten asylum seekers has no accommodation, there are plans to allow members of the public to offer a place to stay to those applying for asylum; if he envisages a payment to homeowners who provide accommodation similar to the accommodation recognition payment currently offered to people who provide a place for Ukrainian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12679/23]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

990. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if IPAS has decided that current applicants for international protection staying in accommodation in rooms on their own will now be roomed with at least one other, regardless of Covid or other health concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13942/23]

International Agreements

Bríd Smith

1044. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he can clarify when and if Ireland will ratify the UNCRC second optional protocol on children, child prostitution and child pornography; when and if the State will act on Article 19A, the provision dealing private counselling therapy records in relation to a victim of sexual abuse; if these are made available to the accused abuser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12326/23]

Citizenship Applications

Bríd Smith

1097. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the average processing times for citizenship applications (details supplied) in each of the years 2015 to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13617/23]

Citizenship Applications

Bríd Smith

1098. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if applications for all stages of citizenships are dealt with in chronological order in relation to when applications are made; if he will clarify that no recent applications have been acknowledged or have been processed to the e-vetting stage ahead of older applications made previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13618/23]