Parliamentary questions

Personal Public Service Numbers

Niamh Smyth

448. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for their PPS number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11480/23]

Courts Service

Niamh Smyth

522. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice the steps the Courts Service intends to take to reduce the delays in the Probate Office and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11435/23]

Immigration Policy

Niamh Smyth

523. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice the reasons behind the delays in INIS; the steps he intends to take in order to reduce the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11436/23]

Hospital Procedures

Niamh Smyth

566. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot have their treatment at Cavan General Hospital rather than having to travel to the Mater Hospital on five consecutive days once a month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10998/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

652. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has to wait so long for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11452/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

671. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11511/23]

Rail Network

Niamh Smyth

60. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if the Navan to Kingscourt rail line, which is to be included in the all-island strategic rail review, will be reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10392/23]

Road Projects

Niamh Smyth

70. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the Virginia bypass. [10393/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Niamh Smyth

122. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is still waiting on an appeal decision for carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10414/23]

EU Meetings

Niamh Smyth

62. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the agenda highlights of the Environment Council, to be held in Brussels on 16 March 2023. [9857/23]

National Broadband Plan

Niamh Smyth

114. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the roll-out of high-speed broadband in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [9858/23]

Insurance Coverage

Niamh Smyth

168. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to reduce the large number of uninsured drivers estimated at nearly 200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10229/23]

Fuel Poverty

Niamh Smyth

424. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) had her fuel allowance stopped [10146/23]

Health Services

Niamh Smyth

551. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has lost his respite entitlement and has not received any respite since the beginning of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9577/23]

Care Services

Niamh Smyth

552. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if long time care will be allocated for a person (details supplied) in full-time residential care. [9579/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

602. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot get an appointment in Galway Merlin Park Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9809/23]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Niamh Smyth

609. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a minor (details supplied) cannot access a Thorax brace under the public health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9887/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Niamh Smyth

647. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason twin boys (details supplied) have received no follow-up assessment in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10067/23]

Health Services

Niamh Smyth

681. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a facility (details supplied) is not operating; the expected timeframe for a commencement date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10222/23]

Departmental Schemes

Niamh Smyth

9. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the Streetscape Enhancement Initiative for Ballyconnell, County Cavan. [9231/23]

Departmental Programmes

Niamh Smyth

12. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of community groups in counties Cavan and Monaghan that are in receipt of funding under the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme. [9232/23]

Driver Test

Niamh Smyth

186. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for their driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9423/23]

Health Services

Niamh Smyth

264. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of women eligible for BreastCheck screening in each county; and the number of women currently on the waiting list for same; the number waiting 0-3, 3-6, waiting 6-12, and the number waiting 12 months, in tabular form. [9352/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

216. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has to wait so long for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8989/23]

Forestry Sector

Niamh Smyth

250. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason road planting, thinning and felling licences are not active since the start of 2023; the measures that are to be taken by those who are in limbo since December 2022 when their licences expired (details supplied); when they can expect all licences to be renewed and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8992/23]

Bullying in the Workplace

Niamh Smyth

113. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of organisations that have adopted the Safe to Create programme’s code of conduct; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8623/23]

Departmental Data

Niamh Smyth

115. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of artists in counties Cavan and Monaghan that are in receipt of the basic income for the arts scheme. [8622/23]

An Garda Síochána

Niamh Smyth

74. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the youth diversion programmes in place in County Cavan and if they will be rolled out across the county. [7509/23]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Niamh Smyth

81. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the zero tolerance towards violence against women policy, in particular the progress made in the implementation of actions under the 4 pillars of the Istanbul Convention. [7510/23]

Disability Services

Niamh Smyth

132. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the way his Department envisages addressing the waiting list in children's disability network teams (Enable Ireland) services in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7443/23]

Disability Services

Niamh Smyth

169. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of new appointments that have been made to the children's disability network teams (Enable Ireland) services in counties Cavan and Monaghan since January 2022, in light of the very high vacancy rate within the service. [7444/23]

Health Services

Niamh Smyth

361. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to review the age parameters for breast check to increase the provision of free examinations to over 70s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7526/23]

State Pensions

Niamh Smyth

118. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review will be carried out on a pension payment to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7476/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

153. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting on an operation in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7455/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

168. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long on an appointment in Monaghan Hospital. [7495/23]

Health Services

Niamh Smyth

182. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the funding his Department has allocated to BreastCheck, the national breast cancer screening programme; the percentage of the total budget allocation for his Department this amounts to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7598/23]

Health Services

Niamh Smyth

183. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the waiting lists for the BreastCheck national breast cancer screening programme; the steps his Department is taking to deal with this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7599/23]

Health Services

Niamh Smyth

185. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to review the age parameters for BreastCheck to increase the provision of free examinations to people under the age of 50 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7604/23]

Health Services

Niamh Smyth

186. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the number of mammograms carried out by BreastCheck in 2022; how this number compares to numbers of mammograms carried out over the previous three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7605/23]

Health Services

Niamh Smyth

187. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the number of BreastCheck screening locations; if there are plans afoot to increase this number; if there are plans to have a screening unit in every county in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7606/23]

Cancer Services

Niamh Smyth

193. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the BreastCheck annual screening report; the reason a report has not been published since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7613/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Niamh Smyth

400. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) cannot get carer's allowance for their mother-in-law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6786/23]

Health Services Staff

Niamh Smyth

617. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for her appeal of a special pandemic recognition award that was due in January 2023 and is still not finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6660/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Niamh Smyth

639. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for an appointment with Enable Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6720/23]

Medicinal Products

Niamh Smyth

640. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if matters (details supplied) in relation to cariban will be addressed in the interest of pregnant women in Ireland experiencing extreme nausea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6721/23]

Dental Services

Niamh Smyth

652. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the options a person (details supplied) has to get dental works carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6754/23]

Domestic Violence

Niamh Smyth

79. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects paid domestic violence leave to come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5940/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Niamh Smyth

197. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to help with reducing delay for appeals cases that are ongoing for more than three months. [6401/23]

Community Welfare Services

Niamh Smyth

198. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reintroduce the practice of community welfare officers visiting towns and communities in counties Cavan and Monaghan one day per week. [6402/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Niamh Smyth

227. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if people working within the core funding scheme can be allocated a teaching number to avoid returning the same information every year for validation. [6400/23]

Disability Services

Niamh Smyth

248. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the strategies being examined to fill the vacancies to support the workload of the staff of an organisation (details supplied) and speed up waiting lists. [6399/23]

Driver Test

Niamh Smyth

96. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for their driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6080/23]

Departmental Funding

Niamh Smyth

299. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding core funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6078/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

402. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting so long for a chiropodist appointment in the primary clinic in Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5805/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

448. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6049/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

450. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6053/23]

Defibrillators Provision

Niamh Smyth

506. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if grants are available to upgrade a defibrillator (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5778/23]

Defence Forces

Niamh Smyth

7. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the strategies and improvements required to attract females to enlist in the Defence Forces and to feel fully respected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5032/23]

Defence Forces

Niamh Smyth

63. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if has he full confidence in the investigation into the death of a person (details supplied) following his visit to Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5031/23]

School Transport

Niamh Smyth

94. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if she will investigate the reason that students (details supplied) from Kilnaleck, County Cavan are paying private bus fees each week to get to school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4940/23]

Special Educational Needs

Niamh Smyth

134. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the number of applications for assistive technology for students with special educational needs received by the National Council for Special Education since the inception of the scheme by county; the number of these applications that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4939/23]

Education Schemes

Niamh Smyth

280. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the Creative Clusters Programme for primary and post-primary schools; the number of schools involved in the Programme; if there are plans to increase the number of participating schools each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5029/23]

Departmental Data

Niamh Smyth

281. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the bringing live arts to students and teachers, BLAST, programme for primary and post-primary schools; the number of schools involved in the programme; if there are plans to increase the number of participating schools each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5030/23]

Broadband Infrastructure

Niamh Smyth

65. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he could address the concerns on internet and broadband in west Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5055/23]

Medicinal Products

Niamh Smyth

199. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that women who suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy have to pay for vital medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4819/23]

Cabinet Committees

Niamh Smyth

12. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality will next meet. [4219/23]

Departmental Schemes

Niamh Smyth

266. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance if it is possible for a person (details supplied) to get extra financial support for a car. [4270/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Niamh Smyth

525. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the parents' association of a core-funded preschool (details supplied) can hold fundraisers to raise money for the preschool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4160/23]

Third Level Costs

Niamh Smyth

547. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that a student (details supplied) did not get the full SUSI grant; if this could be looked into further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4342/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

630. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that a child (details supplied) has not received a hospital appointment in Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4074/23]

Medicinal Products

Niamh Smyth

750. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that the drug cariban is not available free of charge to pregnant women who are suffering with sickness during pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4803/23]

Arts Policy

Niamh Smyth

9. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of organisations that have adopted the safe to create programme’s code of conduct; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3554/23]

Arts Policy

Niamh Smyth

67. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of artists in counties Cavan and Monaghan that are in receipt of the basic income for the arts scheme. [3553/23]

Housing Schemes

Niamh Smyth

125. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenants that were housed in counties Cavan and Monaghan under the housing assistance payment scheme. [3583/23]

Housing Schemes

Niamh Smyth

172. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the means of housing assistance payment can be increased to match increases in rent and cost-of-living in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [3584/23]

Tax Credits

Niamh Smyth

134. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the unfair treatment when it comes to the rent tax credit not being made available to parents of students where the tenancy is of a type that is exempt from RTB registration, such as a ‘rent-a-room’ or ‘digs’-type arrangement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2270/23]

Bus Services

Niamh Smyth

79. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if the Local Link in Cavan could be extended to Crosskeys, which is 8 km away, to accommodate 21 Ukrainian refugees, comprised of adults, teenagers, infants and babies (details supplied). [2255/23]

Driver Test

Niamh Smyth

91. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the plans and strategies being introduced to reduce waiting times in Cavan’s driving test centre, which are currently running into June 2023, which is a full five-month wait to apply for a test (details supplied). [2256/23]

Bus Services

Niamh Smyth

166. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if the Local Link service in County Cavan could be extended to Crosskeys, which is 8 km away, to accommodate 21 Ukrainian refugees (details supplied). [62390/22]

Driver Test

Niamh Smyth

167. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the plans and strategies being introduced to reduce waiting times in the Cavan driving test centre, which are currently running into 9 April 2023, which is five months to apply for a test (details supplied). [62391/22]

Housing Schemes

Niamh Smyth

584. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the counties that currently have the homelessness rate of HAP available to people in need in their respective counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2154/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

1174. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63243/22]

Primary Care Services

Niamh Smyth

1252. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that a child (details supplied) was moved from Meath primary care unit to Louth primary care unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63548/22]

Disability Services

Niamh Smyth

1253. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that a child (details supplied) has not received any appointments in the past three years for their autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63549/22]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

1490. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) is waiting on a procedure at Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1449/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

1630. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) has been waiting so long for surgery in St. James’s Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1901/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

1680. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an urgent ophthalmology appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2167/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Niamh Smyth

1713. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the unfortunate experience and delay of a person (details supplied) in getting their hip operation will be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2318/23]

Control of Dogs

Niamh Smyth

5. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she intends conducting a review of the Control of Dogs Act 1986-1992 in view of the recent dog attack in County Wexford which left a child with life-changing injuries; if she will appoint an expert panel to review the legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62505/22]

Departmental Funding

Niamh Smyth

36. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding that was provided to counties Cavan and Monaghan from her Department in 2021 and to date in 2022, broken down by project in tabular form. [62504/22]

Departmental Data

Niamh Smyth

86. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of one-stop contractors that have been approved in counties Cavan and Monaghan and north County Meath; and the take-up by householders in the area since the scheme commenced. [62560/22]

National Broadband Plan

Niamh Smyth

98. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out of broadband in counties Cavan and Monaghan and north County Meath. [62559/22]

Departmental Data

Niamh Smyth

79. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail the most recent data on the level of Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs in counties Cavan and Monaghan in tabular form; the number of additional jobs created in each county since March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62129/22]

Work Permits

Niamh Smyth

98. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeframe for non-working EEA nationals visas to be processed; the number of employment permits that have been awarded in counties Cavan and Monaghan and declined since March 2020 and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62130/22]

Departmental Investigations

Niamh Smyth

182. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of his Department’s investigations of the HSE cyberattack in May 2021; if a foreign power was involved; the measures that have been taken to prevent such an incident from reoccurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61790/22]

Bus Services

Niamh Smyth

214. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the additional PSO funded Bus Éireann services that will be provided by location in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61863/22]

Bus Services

Niamh Smyth

215. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the number of passengers that have used Bus Éireann route 109X in each direction in 2021 and to-date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61864/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Niamh Smyth

651. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) has been waiting so long for their special pandemic recognition award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62282/22]

Health Services Staff

Niamh Smyth

50. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the incentives that he has considered to overcome the shortage of carers in the Carrickmacross area. [61269/22]

Health Services Staff

Niamh Smyth

113. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the way that he intends to speed up the recruitment process of qualified personnel within health organisations (details supplied). [61268/22]