Parliamentary questions

Defence Forces Representative Organisations

Bríd Smith

59. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to recognise representative associations for members of the Defence Forces; his plans to allow such bodies to join a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53015/19]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Bríd Smith

67. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the additional resources allocated to address low pay in the Defence Forces and the expected increases in pay across various grades in 2020. [53017/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

451. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 445 of 10 December 2019, the details of the English study referred to; the location in the study in which the figure of 20% discordance in relation to false negatives compared to high grade abnormalities in view of the fact the study suggests a discordance of 14.9%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53223/19]

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Bríd Smith

625. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the need for a women’s refuge in County Carlow will be examined in order to provide safe accommodation for women in emergency situations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53181/19]

Fire Safety Regulations

Bríd Smith

753. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an apartment built in 1997, which complied with fire safety regulations at the time, is now obliged to upgrade its fire alarm systems in order to comply with 2013 regulations. [52916/19]

Homeless Persons Data

Bríd Smith

53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of children in emergency accommodation in each local authority area; the average period of time spent by children in accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51864/19]

Local Authority Housing Eligibility

Bríd Smith

62. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if income limits for access to the social housing waiting lists will be examined in view of recent reports that show the difficulty of persons accessing affordable housing and the inability of many to qualify for mortgages but who are above income limits for local authority housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51863/19]

Help-To-Buy Scheme Eligibility

Bríd Smith

114. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the first-time buyers help to buy incentive scheme to cover second-hand houses and apartments and not just new builds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51925/19]

Departmental Budgets

Bríd Smith

129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding and expenditure not spent by each Department and returned to the Exchequer in 2019. [51923/19]

Citizenship Applications

Bríd Smith

238. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the new legislation necessary further to the recent Court of Appeal decision regarding residency criteria for citizenship applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51148/19]

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Bríd Smith

386. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the funding from his Department to the Canal Communities Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force by year since 2015; the planned funding for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51380/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

394. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the laboratories in which the 159 slides reviewed by a college (details supplied) came from and which were classified as discordant cases in which the expert panel considered there was an adverse effect on the outcome of the woman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51505/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

395. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the laboratories from which the slides came from and which were found by the review by a college (details supplied) to contain discordant results; and the slides which were found to have low grade abnormal cells 14.3% and high grade abnormal cells 30%. [51506/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

438. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will release the information sought since June 2018 regarding a breakdown by laboratory contracted under CervicalCheck of the false negatives identified by a review (details supplied) and the scale of discordance identified between the original CervicalCheck result and the review; and if same will be presented across the laboratories in this regard. [51728/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

439. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 5 December 2018, if, following a review (details supplied) he will direct the HSE to provide the information requested. [51729/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

440. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of 5 February 2019, if the analysis referred to the person with appropriate expertise is a reference to the 221 laboratory audit report, a report (details supplied) or a separate analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51730/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

441. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 322 and 323 of 24 September 2019, if the fact that the HSE has established an expert group to review clinical audit of interval cancers is a reference to a review (details supplied) or a different expert group. [51731/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

443. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if, following the Scally report and a review (details supplied), he will recommence the CervicalCheck audit that has been paused since May 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51750/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

444. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of slides requested by a college (details supplied) to be included in its review and which had been given consent for inclusion by the women concerned but were not available to the review due to the fact the laboratory concerned could not locate them, by laboratory; if the slides have subsequently become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51751/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

445. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a review (details supplied) suggests that twice as many high-grade abnormalities are missed by laboratories contracted to conduct the CervicalCheck screening programme in comparison to the referenced screening programme in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51752/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

446. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if the exact same standards of measuring of that which constitutes a discordant slide upon review as opposed to a concordant slide are employed by the ongoing slide review involving cases of cervical cancer in the UK referenced by a college (details supplied) and its own methodology used in a recent review. [51753/19]

Energy Efficiency

Bríd Smith

683. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the €20 million allocation for retrofitting homes in the midlands under the just transition plan is funding from the SEAI or from other sources; the amount that will be spent in 2020 and thereafter; the counties to which the allocation will be targeted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49389/19]

Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears

Bríd Smith

94. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that banks and financial institutions which placed persons in mortgage distress on split mortgages some years ago as a response to the recession and crisis are now removing persons from the plans and pressurising them to make new arrangements with the banks; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this often entails new repayment plans that place enormous burdens on borrowers and unrealistic budgeting plans; his plans to help persons in such a situation; the number of persons placed on split mortgages; if the banks concerned have informed his Department or the Central Bank of their plans to remove persons from split mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51070/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Bríd Smith

96. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will meet with trade union representatives to discuss recent developments with the pension entitlements of community employment supervisors and related issues; his plans to convene the community sector high level forum to resolve outstanding matters relating to community employment supervisors and other workers' pension entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50791/19]

Home Tuition Scheme Provision

Bríd Smith

116. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of home tuition hours applications still awaiting sanction under the home tuition scheme; the reason for the ongoing delays; the budget allocation for the scheme for 2020; the number of pupils involved; the number of teachers affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50844/19]

Waste Management

Bríd Smith

313. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to reduce the level of waste tyres exported to India; if the Climate Action Plan 2019 or future plans will address the generation and treatment of such waste by-products in the motor industry; if ways of treating such waste here will be examined; if the disposal and environmental damage done by such waste in third party countries such as India can be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51072/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Bríd Smith

375. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the recommendations by the Labour Relations Commission on pensions for community employment supervisors (details supplied); her further views on whether she is the funder referred to; her further views on whether the recommendations are being rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51071/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Bríd Smith

397. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the situation in relation to the data collection exercise agreed by her Department in relation to the LCR19293 recommendation CE/JI Supervisors-Assistant Supervisors; the reason it included data from other categories not included in the LRC recommendation; if the data will be corrected to cover just the workers covered by the LCR recommendation; if the Community Sector High Level Forum will be convened in order to resolve the outstanding issues in relation to LCR19293; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50793/19]

Public Services Card

Bríd Smith

40. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to set out the cost to date of the unrolling of the public services card; the reason possession of a card is mandatory for parents availing of the new child care scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50381/19]

Workplace Relations Services Data

Bríd Smith

83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of cases heard at the Workplace Relations Commission in 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of adjudicators employed by the commission; the number of appeals to decisions of adjudicators; the time taken for cases to be heard; and her plans for the commission for the coming year. [43635/19]

Workplace Relations Services Data

Bríd Smith

94. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the staff numbers at the WRC including adjudicators; the average time taken to have cases heard and appeals decided; and the number of cases heard in 2018 and to date in 2019. [50382/19]

Criminal Law Review

Bríd Smith

252. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a review of the impact of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 will be held and completed; if it will examine specifically the impact of the changes in law on sex workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49764/19]

Criminal Prosecutions Data

Bríd Smith

253. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of criminal prosecutions of women and sex workers under the provisions of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017; the number that relate to migrant and non-resident women and sex workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49765/19]

Crime Data

Bríd Smith

254. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána keep a specific record of attacks and violence against sex workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49766/19]

Garda Operations

Bríd Smith

255. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if specific training for gardaí has been provided in the way in which to deal with migrant, non-resident and vulnerable sex workers and women who may face prosecution since the passing of the Criminal Law (Sexual offences ) Act 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49767/19]

Garda Operations

Bríd Smith

256. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration has been given by his Department or An Garda Síochána to provide supports and or a dedicated liaison officer for sex workers to report on violence against them without fear of subsequently being prosecuted under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49768/19]

Citizenship Applications

Bríd Smith

265. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position in relation to residency requirements for acquiring Irish citizenship, specifically for long-term residents with UK passports who wish to become Irish citizens; if an appeal mechanism is available when applications are refused due to time spent outside of the State in a given period; if an appeal of a decision can be made to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49820/19]

Criminal Prosecutions Data

Bríd Smith

274. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prosecutions under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 for the offence of purchasing sex. [49885/19]

Emergency Departments Data

Bríd Smith

323. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that presented at hospitals and emergency departments recorded as incidents of self harm and-or attempted suicide in each of the years 2008 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and the number of same that registered as having no fixed abode or classified as homeless. [49698/19]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

511. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 546 of 22 October 2019, the date and day on which the survey of services at peak hour in Chapelizod, Dublin 20 was conducted; if the survey was conducted by NTA staff on site in Chapelizod; if not, if the survey relied on on-board bus information; and the number of persons travelling on each bus was logged. [50042/19]

Fire Safety Regulations

Bríd Smith

607. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of apartments and houses known to his Department to have substandard fire safety standards; the person or body responsible for taking action to correct the defects; his plans to ensure such homes meet the safety standards required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49807/19]

Fire Safety Regulations

Bríd Smith

614. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if consideration has been given to setting up a redress scheme for homeowners who find their properties have substandard fire safety standards and in which the developer and builder is no longer solvent; the responsibility and role of State agencies including local authorities and planning regulators in enforcing the original regulations regarding safety standards in such developments; if he has a role in ensuring breaches are pursued and corrected if clear breaches of existing regulations have been committed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49977/19]

Natural Gas Imports

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if support for liquefied natural gas, LNG, projects that are destined to bring fracked gas imports from North America here will be reconsidered in view of the recent European Investment Bank, EIB, statement regarding the funding of fossil fuel infrastructure and projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49380/19]

Bord na Móna

Bríd Smith

38. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the meetings or discussions he has had with both Bord na Móna management and a person (details supplied) on the planned job losses at the company and the ending of peat harvesting; if the issue of negotiations with workers' representatives was discussed; if the issue of retraining workers affected was discussed or raised by him or his officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49390/19]

National Broadband Plan Expenditure

Bríd Smith

44. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the expenditure to date on the broadband tendering process; the costs associated with the competitive tendering process and subsequent legal and consultancy advice; and the breakdown of fees paid to external agencies. [49387/19]

Carbon Credits

Bríd Smith

51. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated amount of carbon credits Ireland will need to purchase in 2020 in order to comply with its international obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49386/19]

Energy Efficiency

Bríd Smith

55. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the SEAI allocation to local authorities for energy efficiency measures and retrofitting in social housing stock since 2010; and the planned spending by the SEAI on future energy efficiency measures in social housing units. [49388/19]

Corrib Gas Field

Bríd Smith

197. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address matters (details supplied) relating to the Corrib gas project and related infrastructure. [49471/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

52. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to investigate further the significant statistical difference between laboratories in terms of the number of slides reviewed as a percentage of their overall intake, as per the report on the 221 patient group laboratory audit results profile; the reason the 38 slides that showed no difference in grading were not removed from the total of 343 slides in the analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48816/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

126. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if the review of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the history of over 1,000 women with the CervicalCheck screening programme will detail the discordant reviewed slides with a breakdown as to the laboratory they originated from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48815/19]

Environmental Policy

Bríd Smith

397. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the work under way by his Department and the Attorney General to finalise a legally robust plan to implement a nationwide smoky coal ban; his plans to do so by regulation, amending legislation or primary legislation; if he will publish the advice on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48955/19]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Bríd Smith

41. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a review will be commissioned into proposals to retain a location (details supplied) for education facilities; if a feasibility study will be commissioned into siting an Educate Together facility and a Gaelscoil at another location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47443/19]

Technological Universities

Bríd Smith

75. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if arrangements have been made to relocate staff working at the Technological University Dublin city campus offices at Park House, North Circular Road, to alternative offices for the duration of work to remove asbestos at the site; when a risk assessment on the site was completed; the reason for the proposed removal of asbestos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47444/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Bríd Smith

360. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47269/19]

Approved Housing Bodies

Bríd Smith

643. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of homes delivered by approved housing bodies since 2015 under the CAS scheme; the number that were delivered for social housing; and the number delivered for non-social housing under the funding scheme. [47100/19]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the escalating costs of the national children’s hospital will require changes to his budget projections or to promised capital expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46799/19]

Public Sector Pay

Bríd Smith

12. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his position on the pay of senior civil servants and the proposed review of same by the Public Service Pay Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46801/19]

Office of Government Procurement

Bríd Smith

14. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his role in selecting the chief procurement officer; if the CEO of the Office of Government Procurement will have a future role in the management of costs at the proposed new national children’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46802/19]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

20. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost in one full year of providing funding for a pension scheme for community employment supervisors in line with a previous Labour Court recommendation of 2008 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46803/19]

Public Sector Pay

Bríd Smith

24. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of exceptions granted to the general pay caps in the public service, specifically for special advisors to Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46800/19]

European Globalisation Fund

Bríd Smith

201. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he or Bord na Móna plan to apply to the EU globalisation fund to aid in a just transition in Bord na Móna and elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46849/19]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

226. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the delay between an initial application for refugee status from the International Protection Office, the notification that the application is successful and a letter from his Department confirming same, which the applicant needs to receive a GNIB card. [46054/19]

Immigration Status

Bríd Smith

227. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) is still awaiting a GNIB card having successfully applied for refugee status in March 2019; and when the International Protection Office will be in a position to confirm same in writing in order to facilitate the granting of a GNIB card. [46055/19]

Defence Forces Representative Organisations

Bríd Smith

5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will accept the affiliation of a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45762/19]

Defence Forces Expenditure

Bríd Smith

13. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount spent by the Defence Forces on Israeli-manufactured equipment and services in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45764/19]

Defence Forces Strength

Bríd Smith

14. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the staffing levels of the Defence Forces; the recommended levels that should be operational; his plans to retain and recruit sufficient staff numbers in the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45763/19]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Bríd Smith

26. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of the proposed increases in pay and allowances for the Defence Forces personnel under the proposed deal from the Public Service Pay Commission; and the way in which this deal will stem the losses of personnel. [45760/19]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Bríd Smith

32. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the review mechanism in place under the Public Service Pay Commission pay proposals for the Defence Forces in the event that the changes do not result in the forces retaining or recruiting staff in sufficient numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45761/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

Bríd Smith

148. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the average length of time it takes for Tallaght Hospital to deal with letters from general practitioners for patients that may need hip replacements; the time period between first seeing a consultant and having the operation; and the number on the waiting list at the hospital for hip and other joint replacements. [45870/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Bríd Smith

149. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the likely timeframe for a person (details supplied) to access healthcare for a hip replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45871/19]

Land Development Agency

Bríd Smith

41. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether the board membership of the Land Development Agency will be able to provide sufficient social and affordable public housing on public lands to deal with the current crisis; his plans to appoint housing rights advocates or NGO activists to the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45148/19]

Social and Affordable Housing

Bríd Smith

53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he is taking to ensure the availability of affordable housing units in view of Central Bank rules and the income limits that apply to qualify for inclusion on social housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45149/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

652. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason no breakdown was provided as to the degree of change noted in 305 of the slides under consideration in the laboratory audit of 221 cases; the further reason no breakdown was provided as to which laboratories the 305 slides came from and the degree of change that pertained to each laboratory concerned; the further reason the 38 slides that did not have changes in their original interpretation after the review; and the further reason they were not removed from the statistics provided in the laboratory breakdown in table 4. [45155/19]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

948. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason fines were imposed on a company (details supplied) for failure to operate or reach agreed targets for the provision of services in Dublin city; and the breakdown in relation to the categories of driver availability, on-road bus breakdown, absence, late sickness and no reason given. [45150/19]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

949. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason in the categories provided for the imposition of fines by the NTA on Dublin Bus and a company (details supplied) there are categories no reason given and other; and if the NTA can provide further information regarding same. [45151/19]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

950. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of scheduled departures from termini that failed to operate by each company in 2018 and to date in 2019, in relation to fines imposed by the NTA on Dublin Bus and a company (details supplied) for the failure to operate schedules, services or reach agreed targets. [45152/19]

Fuel Allowance Eligibility

Bríd Smith

1045. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an increase will be made in the winter fuel allowance payment for Traveller families living in mobile homes or trailers. [44553/19]

Fuel Allowance Eligibility

Bríd Smith

1046. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the winter fuel payment will be extended to Traveller families that are officially sharing accommodation. [44554/19]

Traveller Accommodation

Bríd Smith

1132. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a caravan rental or rent-to-buy scheme will be developed that will provide residential standard mobile homes for Travellers. [44555/19]

JobPath Data

Bríd Smith

46. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of jobseekers who have entered the JobPath programme since its commencement; the number who faced sanctions from her Department in each year on foot of this interaction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43634/19]

Fuel Allowance Data

Bríd Smith

51. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review of the levels of energy poverty in the general population will be commenced; the number of applicants for the fuel allowance that were unsuccessful and refused in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019; the reason for the refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43637/19]

National Minimum Wage

Bríd Smith

53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the suggested 30 cent increase in the national minimum wage will be implemented following a deal on Brexit, her plans to examine proposals for a living wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43636/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Bríd Smith

66. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of jobseekers under 25 years of age who are deemed to live independently; the way in which this is determined; and the number of such jobseekers that are expected to qualify for the full rate of jobseekers in the coming year following the recent budget 2020 announcement. [43633/19]

Education and Training Boards Expenditure

Bríd Smith

206. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of legal fees and settlements in colleges (details supplied) in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019, including a settlement in 2018 at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, for alleged bullying. [43295/19]

Education and Training Boards Staff

Bríd Smith

207. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the appointment of a principal to an education and training board college is subject to departmental scrutiny and approval; if so, the process involved; if allegations of previous breaches of dignity at work guidelines are taken into account before such an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43296/19]

Protected Disclosures

Bríd Smith

208. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the results and actions taken as a result of the investigation into the protected disclosure regarding alleged wrongdoing at a college (details supplied). [43297/19]

Education and Training Boards Staff

Bríd Smith

209. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers employed at colleges (details supplied) at the time of the appointment of the current principal; and the number that have left. [43298/19]

Third Level Admissions Data

Bríd Smith

210. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students enrolled at colleges (details supplied) on 1 September 2019; and the number presently enrolled. [43299/19]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Bríd Smith

307. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans for the Drimnagh, Dublin 12, primary healthcare centre; if it is provided for in the 2020 HSE capital budget; if planning permission will expire in November 2019 should the project not commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43079/19]

Hospital Procedures

Bríd Smith

329. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the policy in relation to the future availability of the medical procedure involving vaginal mesh implants in the health service; his views on the reported ill effects of the procedure on some women; if he will commission an independent inquiry that takes account of the serious health concerns suffered by these women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43169/19]

Energy Schemes Data

Bríd Smith

499. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding used for SEAI grants; and the number of persons and households that gained funding or access to grants in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019 in categories (details supplied). [43166/19]

Energy Infrastructure

Bríd Smith

501. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the inclusion of the Shannon LNG project on the PCI list agreed on 4 October 2019 is the finalised list of PCI projects; if the decision for its inclusion on the PCI list has to be finally ratified; if so, when this decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43246/19]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

546. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request that the NTA examine the bus currently operating through Chapelizod, Dublin 10, at peak hours between 7.30 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. on Monday to Friday in view of the fact that current service levels mean buses are full and passing intending passengers at peak hours in the village; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43489/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding for additional SNAs and improvements in the pay and conditions of SNAs will be provided for in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42572/19]

Schools Building Projects

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the planned programme for school building for 2020; if the capital spending programme will meet the demands expected in primary, secondary and third levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42577/19]

School Accommodation

Bríd Smith

28. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the number of primary and secondary schools using temporary premises for their schools; the checks that take place by his Department to ensure these temporary premises are fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42575/19]

Schools Building Regulations

Bríd Smith

57. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the situation of schools affected by an issue with a company (details supplied); if a full independent review will be conducted; if so, when such a review will take place; and the mechanisms his Department is using to procure the school building programme. [42576/19]

Electric Vehicles

Bríd Smith

64. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to enhance fast charging points for electric vehicles in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the grants available to owners of service stations nationally to enable them to develop high speed 100 kWh electric car fast charging points at their service stations; the grant supports in place for persons who wish to introduce a charge point at their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42251/19]

Passport Applications

Bríd Smith

112. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason a child (details supplied) has not had their application processed; the reason the child's father has been asked to supply additional documentation that is readily available to the authorities; and if the request for a passport requires additional documentation. [42190/19]

Garda Operations

Bríd Smith

284. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason documents confiscated from a person (details supplied) have not been either returned to the person or released to a member of An Garda Síochána. [42116/19]