Parliamentary questions

Human Rights

Paul Murphy

44. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the gravity of the recent human rights abuses committed by the Government of Bahrain; and the reason a joint statement will not be introduced at the UN Human Rights Council in March 2020 to address the gravity of the abuses. [53209/19]

Middle East Issues

Paul Murphy

60. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the content of his discussion with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel; and if they discussed the recent plans by the Government of Israel to build a further illegal settlement in Hebron. [53210/19]

Social Welfare Appeals

Paul Murphy

449. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the record will be corrected regarding the statement by the chief appeals officer of the social welfare appeals office to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection that the social welfare appeals office does not use test cases in view of the fact this contradicts a letter of 9 January 2019 (details supplied). [53652/19]

Social Welfare Appeals

Paul Murphy

456. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the social welfare appeals office does not have legislative powers, cannot set precedent and is not free to act outside of legislation and precedents set by court. [53882/19]

Approved Housing Bodies

Paul Murphy

466. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the over-reliance on approved housing bodies which do not have the properties to meet the needs of those on the council housing list, as in the case of a person (details supplied), will be addressed; and the steps he will take for persons who need to be transferred from their approved housing body property to another council property due to safety concerns in cases in which the council will not transfer a tenant of an approved housing body and the body has no properties available. [53656/19]

European Council Meetings

Paul Murphy

20. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach his plans for official visits abroad over the next six months. [53202/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Paul Murphy

302. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of individual homes in each of the four Dublin local authority areas that do not have access to fibre broadband. [52182/19]

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Paul Murphy

43. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of new build homes to be completed by each local authority by the end of 2019. [51370/19]

Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists

Paul Murphy

89. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the most recent figures on the housing waiting list for four Dublin councils (details supplied). [51371/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Paul Murphy

16. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure last met; and when it is scheduled to meet again. [50290/19]

National Economic and Social Council

Paul Murphy

23. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of his Department with the National Economic and Social Council. [50373/19]

Domestic Violence Services Funding

Paul Murphy

61. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to support a network (details supplied) that includes the vital local service provided by an organisation in view of the 16 days of action to promote domestic violence awareness, which has highlighted that 60% of abuse starts before 25 years of age and that Ireland has only one third of the recommended number of refuge spaces; and her views on whether women's domestic abuse refuge centres are an important aspect of her Department. [51357/19]

Election Monitoring Missions

Paul Murphy

106. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason Ireland has scaled back by a third the number of observers it sent to the recent elections in Belarus compared to previous elections in 2015 and 2016; the names of the two observers sent; the basis on which they were selected; if his attention has been drawn to concerns that no open call issued to the official election roster for the mission; his plans to ensure future opportunities are advertised and filled on a transparent basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51163/19]

Low Pay

Paul Murphy

53. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will report on the high incidence of low pay within the meat industry; and her plans to address same. [50380/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Paul Murphy

10. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach the status of the work of the international division of his Department. [50372/19]

Joint Labour Committees

Paul Murphy

95. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason only two out of seven joint labour committees are functioning and have produced employment regulation orders; and her plans to ensure that other sectors including agriculture, cleaning and so on are represented by joint labour committees. [50379/19]

Telephone Call Charges

Paul Murphy

157. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to abolish the daily telephone allowance for travel inside the European Union in view of the fact that roaming charges have been abolished. [49736/19]

Oireachtas Members' Expenses

Paul Murphy

158. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason Deputies and Senators continue to be paid enhanced subsistence rates for overseas travel. [49737/19]

Immigration Status

Paul Murphy

250. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the two-year delay for a review by the INIS of the EU treaty rights of a person (details supplied) who has applied for citizenship. [49690/19]

Climate Action Plan

Paul Murphy

13. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will include a four day working week without loss of pay as a measure to significantly reduce emissions in the future climate action plans of his Department. [49324/19]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Paul Murphy

37. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will implement the recommendation made by the Youth Assembly to implement a tiered tax system on large corporations for their emissions. [49323/19]

Forestry Sector

Paul Murphy

61. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recommendation made by the Youth Assembly to guarantee that 10% of agricultural land is reserved for forestry to increase the overall forest cover here, which is below the EU average. [49011/19]

Alternative Farm Enterprises

Paul Murphy

78. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recommendation made by the Youth Assembly to invest in hemp farming and assist farmers in the transition towards more sustainable agricultural practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49010/19]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Paul Murphy

81. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure a general practitioner service is provided in Fettercairn, Tallaght, Dublin 24. [48837/19]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Paul Murphy

125. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that all communities have local access to general practitioner services. [48838/19]

School Expulsions

Paul Murphy

433. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the rates of expulsion in a school (details supplied); and the way in which they compare to rates nationally. [48710/19]

Medicinal Products Availability

Paul Murphy

156. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason there is a continued delay in the access to medication for patients with multiple sclerosis in view of the fact that there are a new drugs recently available and accessible in other EU countries, for example, siponimod; the steps he will take to expedite access of such drugs for patients; and the timeframe for same. [48467/19]

Data Retention

Paul Murphy

325. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the length of time her Department retains data on the route, time and date of journeys taken by individual public service travel pass users in view of the fact that the Secretary General of her Department acknowledged to the Committee of Public Accounts that data is retained. [48108/19]

Public Sector Staff Data

Paul Murphy

133. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the projected cost to transition to a four-day work week without loss of pay in the public sector. [47205/19]

Public Sector Staff Data

Paul Murphy

134. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated number of additional jobs that would be created in the public sector by a transition to a four day work week. [47206/19]

Teacher Data

Paul Murphy

149. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional staff and the role of each required to meet existing demand in the education system; and the cost to hire same. [47196/19]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Paul Murphy

150. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional staff required to reduce classroom sizes in primary and secondary level education to an average of 17. [47197/19]

Private Schools

Paul Murphy

151. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average amount spent each year on subsidies for private education institutions. [47198/19]

Private Schools

Paul Murphy

152. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to bring all private education institutions into public ownership. [47199/19]

Departmental Schemes

Paul Murphy

190. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider removing the ex-gratia scheme implemented in view of the ruling in the O'Keeffe case in 2014 which continues to prevent victims of sexual abuse receiving payments from the State. [47434/19]

Health Insurance Data

Paul Murphy

349. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount the average household spends on private healthcare and private health insurance each year on average. [47217/19]

Health Services Staff Data

Paul Murphy

350. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of new staff needed and the roles to meet existing demand in the health service; and the amount it would cost to fill these roles. [47218/19]

Common Agricultural Policy Subsidies

Paul Murphy

480. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the distribution of CAP subsidies across small, medium and large farmers. [47233/19]

Building Energy Rating Administration

Paul Murphy

505. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the projected cost to retrofit all public buildings to a passive zero carbon standard. [47228/19]

Building Energy Rating Administration

Paul Murphy

506. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the projected cost to retrofit all homes to passive zero carbon standards. [47229/19]

Climate Action Plan

Paul Murphy

513. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the projected cost to rapidly transition Ireland to 100% wind, solar, wave and hydro energy by 2030. [47201/19]

Petroleum and Gas Exploration

Paul Murphy

514. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of persons employed in fossil fuel extraction and energy production. [47202/19]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Paul Murphy

515. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the top 100 companies with the highest emissions. [47203/19]

Public Transport Data

Paul Murphy

536. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average household spend on public transport each year. [47189/19]

Rail Network

Paul Murphy

537. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of electrifying all rail networks here. [47190/19]

Rail Network Expansion

Paul Murphy

538. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of completing the Western Rail Corridor on the basis of electrified rail. [47191/19]

Public Transport Data

Paul Murphy

539. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of additional buses, rail carriages and trams required to meet existing demand for public transport. [47192/19]

Public Transport Fares

Paul Murphy

540. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expected impact of fare-free public transport on consumer demand. [47193/19]

Public Transport Subsidies

Paul Murphy

541. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent on average each year on contracts to private operators for public transport provision; and the operators in receipt of the contracts. [47194/19]

Public Transport Subsidies

Paul Murphy

542. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent on average each year on subsidies to public transport operators; and operators in receipt of the subsidies. [47195/19]

Childcare Costs

Paul Murphy

574. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the average amount the average household spends on childcare each year. [47207/19]

Childcare Services Expenditure

Paul Murphy

575. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent each year on subsidies for private childcare services. [47208/19]

Childcare Services Staff

Paul Murphy

576. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated number of additional childcare staff that would be required to meet existing demand for childcare services. [47209/19]

Childcare Services Data

Paul Murphy

577. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated amount it would cost to establish a national childcare service with all childcare provided free at the point of use, including the hiring of new staff to meet existing demand. [47210/19]

Childcare Services Provision

Paul Murphy

578. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the average amount spent each year to assist low income persons in securing childcare services. [47211/19]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Paul Murphy

595. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated impact on emissions in a transition across the economy to a four-day work week. [47204/19]

Local Authority Housing

Paul Murphy

646. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if any local authorities have commissioned the construction of zero carbon homes. [47230/19]

Construction Costs

Paul Murphy

647. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the projected cost to build a zero-carbon home. [47231/19]

Construction Costs

Paul Murphy

648. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the projected cost to build 100,000 zero carbon homes. [47232/19]

Help-To-Buy Scheme

Paul Murphy

65. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has carried out a study regarding the effectiveness of the help to buy scheme. [45239/19]

Ministerial Allowances

Paul Murphy

105. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to abolish the practice of enhanced mileage rates applying to Ministers who have cars with higher engine capacity in view of the commitment to action on climate change. [46804/19]

UN Security Council

Paul Murphy

54. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council. [43228/19]

Greyhound Industry Data

Paul Murphy

177. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the record of Dáil Éireann regarding the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 15 October 2019 (details supplied) will be corrected. [45888/19]

Social and Affordable Housing

Paul Murphy

42. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will discontinue the strategic housing development scheme. [45238/19]

National Children's Hospital

Paul Murphy

412. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the carbon emissions specifications of the designs of the new national children's hospital and the new national maternity hospital. [45314/19]

Ambulance Service

Paul Murphy

458. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE has spent €7 million on private ambulance services in the first eight months of 2019; and the expected expenditure on private ambulance services for 2019. [44333/19]

Air Traffic Control Services

Paul Murphy

901. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there has been a change made to a flight path above Firhouse, Dublin 24, impacting on areas, including Aylesbury, Knocklyon and Ballycullen, in view of the fact there have been local complaints in relation to early morning disturbance due to increased plane traffic. [44338/19]

Departmental Legal Services

Paul Murphy

1179. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an outside legal firm was employed in the drafting of the Water Services Act 2013; and if so, the name of same. [45333/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Paul Murphy

14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the engagements he has had with the UK Prime Minister. [43229/19]

EU Issues

Paul Murphy

24. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent contacts with the President of the European Council and President of the European Commission. [43230/19]

National Minimum Wage

Paul Murphy

57. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason there has been a delay in the increase of the minimum wage. [43640/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Paul Murphy

76. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason there was no increase of the social welfare basic payment in line with the recommendation by an organisation (details supplied) of a €9 universal increase. [43641/19]

Childcare Services Administration

Paul Murphy

80. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures being taken under the national childcare scheme to assist families that previously would have been on the community childcare subvention programme. [43219/19]

Childcare Services Provision

Paul Murphy

85. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a national childcare service free at the point of use that meets the needs of all children in society will be introduced. [43218/19]

Health Services Provision

Paul Murphy

349. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a place at the Lakeview Unit in Naas General Hospital will be provided for a person (details supplied). [43232/19]

School Accommodation

Paul Murphy

386. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is to carry out a review of its building inspection processes further to the recent revelation that 17 school buildings which were built by a company (details supplied) are in need of remedial work; if details of the inspections will be shared with school management and parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35751/19]

Schools Refurbishment

Paul Murphy

387. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports for, and consultation made with, the management, staff and parents of schools (details supplied) in relation to the remedial works that are being carried out due to structural problems found in the school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35752/19]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

1366. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1067 of 17 April 2018, if he is a member of a syndicate (details supplied) that owns a dog; if not, if he was a member of the syndicate in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34753/19]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

1367. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the members of a syndicate (details supplied) that is involved in greyhound racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34754/19]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

1368. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a dog (details supplied) is being used for breeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34755/19]

Light Rail Projects Provision

Paul Murphy

1605. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a feasibility study will be considered on the extension on the MetroLink project to Templeogue, Knocklyon, Firhouse and Ballycullen in view of traffic congestion in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36108/19]

International Election Monitoring

Paul Murphy

114. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if undertakings were provided to issue a composite reply to concerns and questions raised by Irish election observers early in 2019 in respect of the establishment of the 2018 election observation placement roster; when the reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31755/19]

Commemorative Events

Paul Murphy

3029. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the location and the date of the international Famine Memorial Day in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33247/19]

Famine Artefacts

Paul Murphy

3030. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has considered giving permission to a group (details supplied) to have a specialised company investigate the Woodenbridge Famine site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33249/19]

Commemorative Plaques

Paul Murphy

3031. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to install a memorial stone for the famine at the Custom House in view of the fact the inaugural national Famine Memorial Day was held there in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33250/19]

Taxi Regulations

Paul Murphy

91. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether legislative or regulatory change is needed in order to better protect taxi drivers from violence and antisocial behaviour in the course of their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29114/19]

Civil Defence

Paul Murphy

151. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on reports that the Civil Defence could be prevented from assisting at community events due to issues relating to the licence from the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council and assurances from his Department; if all steps are being taken to avoid same taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28152/19]

Water Charges

Paul Murphy

706. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason Irish Water treats householders as if they are businesses and charges them for water they use in their property if the householder has a rainwater harvesting system which they rely on exclusively for agricultural purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28153/19]

Crime Prevention

Paul Murphy

215. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he plans to protect taxi drivers from violence in the course of their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27051/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Paul Murphy

201. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is only one secondary school with an ASD unit in Dublin 24; his plans to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26497/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Paul Murphy

202. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) has no ASD unit for those in the senior cycle in view of the evident need for one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26498/19]

School Patronage

Paul Murphy

203. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to progress with the patronage process for the new secondary school planned to open in September 2020 in Citywest, Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26499/19]

School Admissions

Paul Murphy

204. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the controversy regarding admissions at a school (details supplied) in which multiple parents missed the deadline for admissions due to a change in the practice in the way notice of the deadline was given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26500/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Paul Murphy

205. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children with ASD in Dublin 24 not in full-time education due to an absence of appropriate supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26501/19]

Water Charges

Paul Murphy

210. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason Irish Water treats householders as if they are businesses and charges them for all water used in their property in cases in which the householder has a rain water harvesting system which they rely on exclusively for agricultural purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25946/19]

School Management

Paul Murphy

203. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider representation on boards of management of primary schools for county and city councillors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25287/19]

Child Protection

Paul Murphy

204. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to a full review of child protection procedures in relation to schools in view of the experience of a person (details supplied) to which his attention has been drawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25288/19]

Tax Exemptions

Paul Murphy

148. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered introducing an exemption for import tax for tools brought into the country by workers returning here to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23447/19]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Paul Murphy

150. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if the motor tax relief and toll free relief available under the disabilities tax relief scheme continue to apply for vehicles being used as taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23452/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Paul Murphy

237. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) will be given an appropriate autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit for the senior cycle of primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23448/19]