Parliamentary questions

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]