Parliamentary questions

Citizens' Assembly

Bríd Smith

9. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach the expected timeline for the citizens' assemblies committed to in the programme for Government. [4036/24]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

48. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will heed the call of local residents and act to restore a bus service between the Armagh Road, Cashel Road and Clonard Road areas and Crumlin Cross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4412/24]

Legislative Programme

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the legislative programme. [4299/24]

Housing Policy

Bríd Smith

87. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he agrees that appropriate community infrastructure should be included within the geographic bounds of a regenerated Oliver Bond House and that this would not affect Dublin City Council’s ability to honour any prior arrangements regarding the delivery of community services in the wider area; the steps he will take to ensure that this will be accommodated within the regenerated Oliver Bond complex; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4560/24]

Housing Policy

Bríd Smith

88. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of Robert Emmet CDP’s 2021 ‘Environmental Conditions in Oliver Bond House’ report and an independent engineer's report commissioned by DCC, and the very recently launched ‘Respiratory Health Among Residents of Oliver Bond House’, all of which highlight and outline the significant issues in the complex; if he will acknowledge that the ameliorative works required to bring conditions in the complex up to a BR Rating of C3 will cost €4.3 million, in light of the current conditions being in breach of residents’ right to a healthy and habitable environment; if his Department will commit to covering this cost under their existing maintenance or capital budget should DCC be unable to meet these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4561/24]

Housing Policy

Bríd Smith

89. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify if it would have been possible for DCC to apply for Stage 2 approvals recently rather than full Stage 1 Approvals, and what would have been required for this to happen; if he will make inquiries to ascertain if there are any internal difficulties that DCC is facing with progressing regeneration projects in a timely and appropriate manner and offer support to DCC if there are any issues related to resourcing;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4562/24]

Housing Policy

Bríd Smith

90. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider making funding available for a housing officer function to be delivered by a local community organisation; if he will acknowledge that this function would have ten key separate KPIs and that this proposal can be provided to him at his request; if he will signal his support for such a proposal and make funding available to DCC to disburse to a relevant community organisation for this purpose under circular N11/2007 issued by his Department to County Councils entitled ‘Policy Framework for Regeneration of Local Authority Estates’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4563/24]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

128. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if in relation to the provision of accommodation for those seeking international protection, he will take steps to ensure that training for new accommodation providers is not only provided but rigorously applied and tested as much as possible; is he aware that while experienced accommodation providers know the supports and services that are available, there are reports that new providers do not and will he acknowledge that these gaps must be addressed by ensuring appropriate training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4465/24]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that at IPAS accommodation in Inchicore, food vouchers for Tesco are distributed but that there is only a Tesco Express in that area which is limited and expensive; if he will direct the changing of food vouchers to another supplier as the accommodation provider is happy to do so upon his instruction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4466/24]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

130. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide all Members of Dáil Éireann with the contract that is provided to new IPAS accommodation providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4467/24]

Citizens' Assembly

Bríd Smith

176. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if the Citizens' Assembly's final report on older people was ever referred back to the Houses of the Oireachtas for consideration; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4521/24]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

12. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with disability will next meet. [4300/24]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

18. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on Housing for All. [2803/24]

Community Development Projects

Bríd Smith

88. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline the total funding for local community development committees for each of the past five years; if she will commit to significantly increasing it this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4009/24]

Community Development Projects

Bríd Smith

103. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is satisfied with the level of resources available to local community development committees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4010/24]

Joint Labour Committees

Bríd Smith

244. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to clarify when he expects to sign the next Joint Labour Committee Employment Regulation Order, JLC ERO, into law; if he will report on his meeting with the JLC ERO body on 26 January 2024 to go through submission in the WRC; and if he accepts that six months have now elapsed since the signing of the last JLC ERO on 4 September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4148/24]

Abortion Services

Bríd Smith

539. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of recent protests outside of Limerick Maternity Hospital and their impact on women attending the hospital for terminations; if he is also aware that this is still happening in other areas where women need to access healthcare; if he will give a clear indication of when the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 will complete the legislative process and recognise the urgency and necessity of its enactment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3995/24]

European Council

Bríd Smith

5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach to report on the December European Union Council meeting. [2802/24]

Electricity Grid

Bríd Smith

125. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will investigate a potential anomaly around a person’s (details supplied) ineligibility for current electricity credits because the house’s MPRN is designated a low-usage account; if he will ensure that those who may be missing out on the credits will have them applied as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2621/24]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

475. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he believes that the current method of replacing owners names with the wording 'GRI-SALES' on a greyhound's page on the Greyhound Racing Ireland website is to conceal the export of Irish greyhounds to countries where there are inadequate animal welfare protection laws as in the case of greyhounds (details supplied) and if he considers this to be a sufficiently rigorous level of traceability for Irish greyhounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2605/24]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

476. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how a greyhound (details supplied) is accounted for in RCETS considering that their last race in Ireland was 31 March 2023 at Shelbourne greyhound track; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2606/24]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

477. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how an Irish greyhound (details supplied) is accounted for in RCETS considering that their last race in Ireland was 15 September 2023 at Tralee greyhound track; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2607/24]

State Examinations

Bríd Smith

189. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will consider reinstating the adjustments given to students completing the Leaving Certificate politics and society examination until 2022 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2282/24]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason Ireland is not submitting the names and details of the families of Palestinian-Irish citizens for exit from Gaza as other countries have done, including the USA, Canada, Australia, Norway, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, and many others; if he will acknowledge that while these family members are not Irish citizens, their lives are endangered by lack of medication, food and clean water in addition to relentless bombing; if he will acknowledge that they will be accommodated by their family members here, and will not be a burden on the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56429/23]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

24. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will intervene to help secure the release of three persons (details supplied) who were kidnapped by the Israeli army on 13 December 2023; if he will acknowledge their work with traumatised children living in the Jenin refugee camp and how necessary their work is; if he is aware that the IDF took 100 persons from the camp and killed four young people on the same day and that three of the hospitals in Jenin were surrounded by Israeli tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56695/23]

Tax Credits

Bríd Smith

337. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if renters in unregistered tenancies will remain ineligible for the rent tax credit; if he will acknowledge that those in precarious rental arrangements may risk losing their tenancy if they challenge their landlord; if he will recognise that those in this position often are on low incomes and would particularly benefit from the scheme, yet based on eligibility criteria remain locked out of the scheme; if he plans to address this, in order that those who need the credit most will be included in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57330/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Bríd Smith

383. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if any decision has been made or if any discussions have taken place with his Department that would see the current linkage between the salaries of serving members of An Garda Síochána and retired members being altered in any way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56855/23]

Traveller Accommodation

Bríd Smith

779. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 392 and 393 of 12 December 2023, if he will confirm that Dublin City Council has provided the additional information sought in relation to a funding application for temporary improvement works previously carried out in response to the hepatitis A outbreak to his Department on 5 December 2023; if he will confirm that funding will now be furnished to Dublin City Council in respect of this work; when a decision will be made in respect of funding for the additional temporary work that is to be carried out in response to the outbreak of hepatitis A; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57230/23]

Healthcare Policy

Bríd Smith

1592. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of ministerial licence applications and MCAP applications have been made by clinics (details supplied); what products are available from these clinics; which products are available under MCAP and covered for reimbursement; when the MCAP review report is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57098/23]

Exports Growth

Bríd Smith

37. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any consideration or study was undertaken by his Department or any other Department in relation to his recent trip to Korea and the proposed expansion of beef exports, in reference to the climate impact of such an expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51600/23]

General Practitioner Services

Bríd Smith

509. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information regarding the talks between his Department and the Revenue Commissioners to rectify the problematic issues caused by proposed changes to tax laws for GP group practices; (details supplied); if he will outline the outcome of these talks; if GPs concerns will be allayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56189/23]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

214. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the much-needed therapists for ASD children at a school (details supplied) will be in place; when a nurse will be recruited for the school, given that some children cannot attend a full day at school due to the lack of a nurse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55674/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

228. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of recent changes to bus routes in the Dublin 12 area and the cancellation of some routes; whether there has been an increase in scheduled bus departures and in bus-carrying capacity as a result of these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55252/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

229. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will seek an explanation from the NTA for the decision to remove services from parts of Crumlin under the new BusConnects plans, and the decision to leave residents in Ballyfermot with no direct link to the Rathmines area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55253/23]

Traveller Accommodation

Bríd Smith

392. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm when a decision about supplying Dublin City Council with funding for the upgrade of the bays in Labre Park will be made; if he will acknowledge that this upgrade has been promised since the outbreak of Hepatitis A on the site in January 2021 and that after this outbreak in which numerous children and adults were hospitalised, the HSE and the Ombudsman for children were given a commitment that the work to address the poor living conditions would be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54629/23]

Traveller Accommodation

Bríd Smith

393. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that although some work was carried out in Labre Park, half the site is still living in conditions akin to that experienced in developing countries and that this negates the work that has been carried out, as everyone living in Labre Park is still exposed to the risk of Hepatitis A and many other viruses; if he will outline the steps he will take in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54630/23]

Industrial Disputes

Bríd Smith

485. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the reason tripartite talks between her Department, ILDN and Tús co-ordinators have been cancelled repeatedly by a principal officer (details supplied); when urgently needed talks will resume to address the 15% disparity in pay between Tús and CE supervisors, who have been eager to resolve this disparity for the past 18 months; if she will acknowledge the work that Tús supervisors do in supporting essential community services and its similarity to the work of CE supervisors; if she will recognise that a proposed deadline of 8 December 2023 is imminent and that further industrial action is likely in the event of a failure to engage immediately and fully; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54867/23]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

118. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice what schemes are available to Palestinians who are now Irish citizens for their families in Gaza to be evacuated to join them in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53927/23]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

119. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans to assist families in Gaza to be evacuated from the region to join their families already living here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53928/23]

Departmental Data

Bríd Smith

156. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently on the waiting list to be seen by the Children’s Disability Network team in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the length of time they have been waiting; the number of vacancies on the CDNT currently; if the recent HSE staff embargo means that these vacancies are not being advertised to be filled and/or will not be filled until the embargo is lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54198/23]

Property Management Companies

Bríd Smith

376. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will clarify what exactly "a reasonable timeframe" means in the context of the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 (Minimum Standards) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 564 of 2020) (details supplied); what a client should do in the event that their communications are not being replied to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53385/23]

Medicinal Products

Bríd Smith

482. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify why there is a shortage of the ADHD treatment medication tyvense; if he will acknowledge the impact the scarcity of this medication is having on people who are prescribed it, especially children with autism and ADHD, who without the drug are unable to go to school, function at home or have quality of life; if he will outline the steps he is taking to secure a regular and consistent supply of the medication and indicate when this will happen so that patients and parents do not have to make huge efforts every month to try to obtain it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52969/23]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

42. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to bring forward any proposals that address the rights of retired workers in relation to having representation rights concerning their occupational pensions in light of his recent rejection of the proposal to grant retired workers the right to take cases to the WRC in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51599/23]

Trade Data

Bríd Smith

43. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he can detail the total volume and value in euro of Ireland's exports to and imports from the state of Israel; the categories of products exported and imported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51602/23]

Trade Relations

Bríd Smith

47. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on proposals to restrict and ban goods originating from illegal settlements in the West Bank; if his Department can provide any figures for the volume of such goods and their value of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51603/23]

Trade Missions

Bríd Smith

67. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to his recent trip to Korea and proposals for further data centres in this State, if he or his Department officials discussed the State’s energy crisis with his Korean counterparts; if the drain on the State’s energy system from the current number of data centres here was outlined or discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51601/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Bríd Smith

224. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the significant delay at CHI Crumlin’s nephrology/urology department in responding to a GP’s repeated request for an appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50304/23]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

236. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify if HIQA has ordered an urgent evacuation of 68 elderly patients from Cherry Orchard hospital; if he is aware that there was no consultation with families in advance of a decision that will impact on 68 people and their families; if alternative accommodation can be arranged on campus to minimise disruption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50368/23]

Departmental Policies

Bríd Smith

237. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if it would be considered a conflict of interest if an ex-HIQA inspector became a director of a private nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50369/23]

Traveller Accommodation

Bríd Smith

90. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to summarise his Department`s actions on exploring difficulties Travellers might have in opening and retaining social housing applications; if he acknowledges that his Department has given a commitment on this matter as part of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy/NTRIS (Action 130); the steps his Department has undertaken on this matter since 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50052/23]