Parliamentary questions

Treatment Benefit Scheme Applications

Kathleen Funchion

313. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in authorising the treatment abroad scheme for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39294/19]

Childcare Services Funding

Kathleen Funchion

550. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 227 and 228 of 19 September 2019, the number of registrations of children the total amount of overclaimed funding represents which was identified by Pobal as €3.2 million in CCS and €2.5 million in CCSP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39419/19]

Community Care

Kathleen Funchion

551. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provisions in place for community care homes in County Kilkenny facing a deficit in 2019. [39422/19]

Community Care

Kathleen Funchion

552. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if community care homes are part of Sláinte care. [39423/19]

Community Care

Kathleen Funchion

553. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to set up a national fund to help community care homes with the cost of improvements and upgrades as a result of HIQA visits. [39424/19]

Legal Aid Service Data

Kathleen Funchion

217. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of solicitors, paralegal and administrative staff participating on the free Legal Aid Board by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38414/19]

Childcare Services Funding

Kathleen Funchion

227. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding withdrawn from childcare subvention programme, CCSP, services via Pobal compliance visits during the full contract year from 2018 until the end of August 2019; and the number of services nationwide that have had funding cut during that timeframe accordingly. [38018/19]

Childcare Services Funding

Kathleen Funchion

228. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children that have had their childcare subvention programme, CCSP, funding cut either partially or fully via Pobal compliance visits in the past full contract year 2018 up until the end of August 2019. [38019/19]

Maternity Leave

Kathleen Funchion

237. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full combined cost of increasing maternity benefit by €20, €30, €40 and €50 per week, respectively, while extending maternity benefit by two, three, four, five and six weeks, respectively, based on most recent maternity leave uptake numbers in tabular form. [38017/19]

Schools Facilities

Kathleen Funchion

241. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to install kitchen facilities to all State-run primary schools which do not have those facilities. [36947/19]

Schools Facilities

Kathleen Funchion

242. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to install kitchen facilities to all State run secondary schools which do not have those facilities. [36948/19]

Childcare Services Staff

Kathleen Funchion

1724. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of taking on the cost of all private childcare classroom staff at all levels nationwide; the number of childcare staff employed by private, not community run crèches at level 5, 6 and 7 based on current numbers. [36938/19]

Social Workers Recruitment

Kathleen Funchion

1725. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of an additional ten social workers for one full year of employment on a full-time basis. [36939/19]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Kathleen Funchion

1726. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the average salary of a full-time Tusla social worker; and the number of full-time social workers employed nationwide. [36940/19]

Child and Family Agency Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

1727. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost to increase all full-time social workers pay by 25%. [36941/19]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Kathleen Funchion

1728. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of administrative staff employed to assist Tusla social worker workloads. [36942/19]

Child and Family Agency Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

1729. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of hiring an additional ten administrative staff to assist Tusla social worker workloads. [36943/19]

Social Workers Recruitment

Kathleen Funchion

1730. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent on the most recent Tusla social worker recruitment drive; the length of time the recruitment drive ran for; and the number of social workers employed as a result. [36944/19]

Child and Family Agency Data

Kathleen Funchion

1731. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent on car travel mileage by Tusla crèche inspectors in each of the years 2016 to 2018. [36945/19]

School Meals Programme

Kathleen Funchion

1771. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost in one year to roll out the hot meals programme to all children of State run primary schools which have cooking and kitchen facilities. [36946/19]

Capitation Grants

Kathleen Funchion

355. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of each one point increase in the capitation grant for primary schools. [31655/19]

Capitation Grants

Kathleen Funchion

356. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of each one point increase in the capitation grant for post-primary schools. [31656/19]

School Staff

Kathleen Funchion

357. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to restore guidance counsellors to one per 500 pupils ex-quota at post-primary level. [31657/19]

School Staff

Kathleen Funchion

358. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to restore guidance counsellors to one per 500 pupils ex-quota for DEIS schools. [31658/19]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Kathleen Funchion

359. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of each one point reduction in the pupil teacher ratio at primary level. [31659/19]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Kathleen Funchion

360. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of each one point reduction in the pupil teacher ratio for junior, senior, first and second class. [31660/19]

Special Educational Needs Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

361. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to restore the 15% cut in resource hours teaching. [31661/19]

Psychological Services

Kathleen Funchion

362. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to increase NEPS by 25%. [31662/19]

Psychological Services

Kathleen Funchion

363. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to provide administrative support for each NEPS psychologist. [31663/19]

School Staff

Kathleen Funchion

364. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to reverse staffing cuts to small schools with fewer than 86 pupils to 2011/2012 levels. [31665/19]

Student Grants Data

Kathleen Funchion

365. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to reverse changes to the non-adjacent grant levels. [31666/19]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses Fees

Kathleen Funchion

366. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to remove apprenticeship and PLC course fees. [31667/19]

Third Level Fees

Kathleen Funchion

367. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the student contribution by €250 for students with family income as per levels (details supplied). [31668/19]

Third Level Fees

Kathleen Funchion

368. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the student contribution by €500 for students with family income as per levels (details supplied). [31669/19]

Third Level Staff

Kathleen Funchion

369. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of each one point reduction in the academic staff to student ratio for universities. [31670/19]

Third Level Staff

Kathleen Funchion

370. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of each one point reduction in the academic staff to student ratio for institutes of technology. [31671/19]

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

371. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of extending grant support to part-time students at third level. [31672/19]

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

372. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of extending grant support to postgraduate students. [31673/19]

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

373. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing each rate of the student grant by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively. [31674/19]

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

374. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the special rate of the student grant by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively. [31675/19]

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

375. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the special rate of the student grant by €30 per week for term time. [31676/19]

Capitation Grants

Kathleen Funchion

376. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of a 5% increase in capitation to PLCs, Youthreach and VTOS. [31677/19]

Educational Supports

Kathleen Funchion

377. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the school books grant by 30%. [31678/19]

Private Schools

Kathleen Funchion

378. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full year net saving of withdrawing the annual subsidy to private schools. [31680/19]

Teacher Supply

Kathleen Funchion

379. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full year net saving of using newly qualified teachers for substitution duties rather than retired teachers. [31681/19]

School Accommodation

Kathleen Funchion

380. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full year net saving of replacing all rented prefabs with permanent accommodation, assuming the cost of providing same is already accounted for. [31682/19]

Psychological Assessments

Kathleen Funchion

381. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full year net saving of reducing the scheme for private psychological assessment by 10%. [31683/19]

School Accommodation

Kathleen Funchion

382. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of replacing 100 prefab units with permanent accommodation. [31684/19]

Home School Community Liaison Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

383. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to restore rural co-ordinator service under the home-school liaison service. [31686/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Kathleen Funchion

384. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to create 1,000 additional apprenticeship places. [31687/19]

Student Assistance Fund

Kathleen Funchion

385. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to increase the student assistance fund and support scheme for students with disabilities by 20% each. [31689/19]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Kathleen Funchion

386. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to provide additional classroom accommodation in order to reduce primary school class sizes per each point reduction. [31690/19]

School Enrolments Data

Kathleen Funchion

387. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students at primary and post-primary level, respectively, enrolled for the school year 2019-2020. [31691/19]

School Enrolments Data

Kathleen Funchion

388. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of autistic children enrolled at primary level for the school year 2019-2020. [31692/19]

School Enrolments Data

Kathleen Funchion

389. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of autistic children enrolled at post-primary level for the school year 2019-2020. [31693/19]

Third Level Admissions Data

Kathleen Funchion

390. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of third level students registered in universities for the year 2018-2019. [31694/19]

Third Level Admissions Data

Kathleen Funchion

391. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of third level students registered with institutes of technology for the year 2018-2019. [31695/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Kathleen Funchion

392. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that appealed their SNA allocations for the school year 2019-2020 by county in tabular form. [31697/19]

Special Educational Needs Data

Kathleen Funchion

393. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of SNA hours applied for or sought, by county, for the 2019-2020 school term in tabular form. [31698/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Kathleen Funchion

472. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if new apprenticeship programmes developed since 2017 will receive the same allowances for apprentices attending college as apprenticeships developed prior to 2017. [32370/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Kathleen Funchion

473. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new apprenticeships developed since 2017. [32371/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Kathleen Funchion

474. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices enrolled per apprenticeship programme developed since 2017. [32372/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Kathleen Funchion

475. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will seek equality of allowances for all apprenticeships in budget 2020; and the estimated cost in this regard. [32373/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Kathleen Funchion

496. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the schools waiting on capital funding for future school build works or the completion of ongoing school build works; and the length of time each school in question has been waiting for the full amount of capital funding granted to it by county in tabular form. [32824/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff Data

Kathleen Funchion

517. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants employed for the 2018-2019 school year; and the projected number of SNAs to be employed for the 2019-2020 school year. [33094/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff Data

Kathleen Funchion

518. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number employed of the approximately 950 increased additional special needs assistants announced in budget 2019 for the period 2018-2019. [33095/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Kathleen Funchion

519. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he used the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 to force a school to open an ASD class in an area in which a need has been identified; if not, the reason for not using the powers contained in the Act; his plans to commence using the Act in the immediate future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33096/19]

School Transport Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

581. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent on the provision of school transport nationally at primary level for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years, respectively; and the number of children which both yearly amounts accounted for. [33709/19]

School Transport Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

582. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent on the provision of school transport nationally at post-primary level for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years, respectively; and the number of children which both yearly amounts accounted for. [33710/19]

School Transport Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

583. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated amount of funding expected to be spent on the provision of school transport at primary level for the 2019-2020 school year; and the number of children this amount should provide for. [33711/19]

School Transport Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

584. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated amount of funding expected to be spent on the provision of school transport at post-primary level for the 2019-2020 school year; and the number of children this amount should provide for. [33712/19]

School Transport Administration

Kathleen Funchion

585. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of removing the nearest school clause for the primary and post-primary school transport scheme and to expand the scheme to all eligible children to a school in which a child is enrolled for 2019-2020 regardless of whether it is the nearest national school or not or if it is nearer than the current agreed distance of 3.2 kilometres. [33713/19]

School Transport

Kathleen Funchion

586. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing free school transport to all eligible children at primary level. [33714/19]

School Transport

Kathleen Funchion

587. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing free school transport to all eligible children at post-primary level. [33715/19]

School Transport Data

Kathleen Funchion

588. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to secure transport to current concessionary ticket holders for the duration of their education; and the number of children that obtained concessionary tickets for the 2018-2019 school year by level and class. [33716/19]

School Transport

Kathleen Funchion

589. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to provide free school transport to all children on medical cards. [33717/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Kathleen Funchion

595. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 18 June 2019 and the reply of the NCSE, the clarification made by the SENO in question with a school (details supplied); if the SNA allocation decision is being reviewed; his views on whether the decision should be reviewed in view of the fact that the school management was seeking an immediate review of the decision for cutting the number of SNAs from the school from 3.5 to 3.2 for September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33877/19]

Autism Support Services

Kathleen Funchion

596. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of implementing the recommendations of the National Council for Special Education on supporting children with autism. [33878/19]

Special Educational Needs Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

597. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the low incidence proportion of the special needs allocation to schools by 15%. [33879/19]

Speech and Language Therapy Staff

Kathleen Funchion

598. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of introducing permanent in-school speech and language services for schools; and the estimated cost of the employment of an in-school speech and language therapist for each primary and secondary school for one full school year. [33880/19]

Speech and Language Therapy Staff

Kathleen Funchion

599. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of the permanent employment of an in-school speech and language therapist at primary level on a full-time basis for one school year. [33881/19]

Speech and Language Therapy Staff

Kathleen Funchion

600. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of the permanent employment of an in-school speech and language therapist at post-primary level on a full-time basis for one school year. [33882/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Kathleen Funchion

601. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of employing an additional 100 resource teachers for primary school education. [33883/19]

Psychological Services

Kathleen Funchion

602. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of employing an additional 20 educational psychologists. [33884/19]

School Playgrounds

Kathleen Funchion

603. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of ensuring that future school builds being constructed at present or which are in the planning stages include autism friendly playgrounds. [33886/19]

Schools Building Regulations

Kathleen Funchion

604. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of ensuring that future school builds being constructed at present or which are in the planning stages ensure appropriate wheelchair access. [33887/19]

Respite Care Services

Kathleen Funchion

1117. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in respect of agreed and promised overnight respite for a person (details supplied); the reason no commitment has been given for the transition to take place and agreement on the timeframe under which it should happen has been reached; the reason the recommendation and approval for increasing overnight respite care for the person from two to four nights have yet to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31751/19]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Kathleen Funchion

1422. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the progress made regarding free fertility treatment for couples experiencing such difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32833/19]

School Completion Programme

Kathleen Funchion

2517. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of restoring the school completion programme to 2010 levels. [31688/19]

Childcare Services Administration

Kathleen Funchion

2563. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a payment (details supplied) will be included as part of the reckonable income for the purposes of calculating subsidy rates for the scheme with regard to the ongoing finalisation of the regulations governing the national childcare scheme; if the matter has been given consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33848/19]

Childcare Services Administration

Kathleen Funchion

2564. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if child benefit will be included as part of the reckonable income for the purposes of calculating subsidy rates for the scheme with regard to the ongoing finalisation of the regulations governing the national childcare scheme; if the matter has been given consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33849/19]

School Discipline

Kathleen Funchion

2565. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if Tusla intends to inform schools that a reduced timetable put in place for a child is, under its 2008 guidelines, deemed a suspension and should be recorded and reported to Tusla by schools. [33851/19]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

2642. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the back to school and footwear allowance by €50. [31664/19]

School Meals Programme

Kathleen Funchion

2643. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing funding to the school meals programme by 40%. [31679/19]

School Meals Programme

Kathleen Funchion

2644. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of ensuring that all DEIS schools have access to school meals programme. [31685/19]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

2645. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of restoring the back to school allowance for clothing and footwear to pre-2011 levels. [31696/19]

Disability Activation Projects

Kathleen Funchion

2650. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing funding to the ability programme by 20%. [33885/19]

Childcare Services Provision

Kathleen Funchion

2945. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to an issue (details supplied) regarding the roll out of the national childcare service; the details of the discussions that have taken place with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on the issue; the reason private schools are exempt from rates and private early learning facilities are not; the steps he will take to address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33850/19]

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Kathleen Funchion

685. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of CCS plus services, both community and private, found to be non-compliant due to of the timekeeping rule of her Department; the number of children that have had funding withdrawn as a result of the rule; and the amount of funding withdrawn from these children and or services. [29360/19]

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Kathleen Funchion

686. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount paid to Pobal to carry out compliance visits to early years services both community and private in the past year. [29361/19]