Parliamentary questions

Early Childhood Care and Education

Anne Rabbitte

32. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that children with additional learning needs cannot access an ECCE place and additional specialist preschool support; her views on whether this is appropriate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37971/18]

Affordable Childcare Scheme

Anne Rabbitte

37. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the roll-out of the affordable childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37968/18]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Anne Rabbitte

1703. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the legal status of children arising from embryos stored in facilities abroad which were created in a clinic in advance of the commencement of the Child and Family Relationships Act 2015; and if the parents of the embryos will be able to apply for parentage of these children. [34325/18]

Child Care Services Regulation

Anne Rabbitte

2352. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 481 of 3 July 2018, her views on whether HIQA should be awarded the power to enforce its recommendations on foster care and child protection services. [34907/18]

Social Workers Recruitment

Anne Rabbitte

2353. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of efforts to recruit additional social care workers and additional administrative staff to assist social care workers. [34908/18]

Guardians Ad Litem

Anne Rabbitte

2360. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount her Department has spent on guardian ad litem services in 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [35405/18]

Waterways Ireland Funding

Anne Rabbitte

2787. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the timeframe in which complete and adequate funding will be provided to Waterways Ireland to fully restore Meelick Weir (details supplied) in its entirety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32920/18]

Child Benefit Data

Anne Rabbitte

855. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated additional cost of providing child benefit for young persons that are over 18 years of age for the duration of their enrolment in second level education. [31042/18]

Child Benefit Data

Anne Rabbitte

856. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated additional cost of providing a 25% payment and a 50% payment of child benefit to young persons that are over 18 years of age for the duration of their enrolment in second level education. [31043/18]

Pension Provisions

Anne Rabbitte

877. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the criteria for qualifying for the TCA; and if a person (details supplied) will qualify. [30741/18]

Schools Mental Health Strategies

Anne Rabbitte

65. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on recent calls for a nationwide primary schools' counselling service. [29344/18]

Affordable Childcare Scheme Data

Anne Rabbitte

480. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in each net income bracket (details supplied) who are in receipt of childcare subsidies under the single affordable childcare scheme. [28870/18]

HIQA Remit

Anne Rabbitte

481. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether HIQA should have the power to enforce its recommendations in childcare services. [28871/18]

Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans

Anne Rabbitte

27. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if the outpatient action plan will contain measures to help children waiting long periods for rheumatology appointments. [28319/18]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Anne Rabbitte

67. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his views on comments made by the Office of the Ombudsman for Children that it is disappointed with the lack of progress in relation to young persons struggling with serious mental health issues that are trying to access the emergency supports they need. [28320/18]

Disabilities Assessments

Anne Rabbitte

382. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the number of initial assessments of need of children with disabilities that are carried out by community healthcare organisation annually. [27826/18]

Disabilities Data

Anne Rabbitte

383. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the qualifications that must be held by assessment of need officers; the number of officer positions nationally; his views on whether this number is adequate in meeting assessment demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27827/18]

Dental Services

Anne Rabbitte

384. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health when the pre-economic crisis budget for the dental treatment services scheme will be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27828/18]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Anne Rabbitte

508. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set out in tabular form the number of social workers hired in each year since 2014. [27743/18]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Anne Rabbitte

509. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of Tusla's recruitment plan for 2018; the position regarding the targets for the additional administrative and ancillary staff planned to relieve the administrative burden on social workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27744/18]

Care Orders

Anne Rabbitte

19. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she has taken to address the fact that many children in foster care are placed under a voluntary care order; and the issues arising from same. [25898/18]

Internet Safety

Anne Rabbitte

21. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she has taken to enact the recommendations of the Internet content governance advisory group, ICGAG; the additional steps that will be taken to ensure the safety of children online; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25899/18]

Legislative Programme

Anne Rabbitte

25. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date by which she plans to have the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 enacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25647/18]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Anne Rabbitte

44. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied with the capacity of the early childhood care and education, ECCE, sector and its ability to deliver a universal service across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25648/18]

Children in Care

Anne Rabbitte

47. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has taken steps to address the fact that many children in foster care are placed under a voluntary care order; and the issues arising from same. [25645/18]

Internet Safety

Anne Rabbitte

48. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she has taken to enact the recommendations of the Internet content governance advisory council; if additional steps will be taken to ensure the safety of children online; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25646/18]

School Completion Programme

Anne Rabbitte

55. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of progress in implementing the findings of the ESRI report on the school completion programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25649/18]

VAT Yield

Anne Rabbitte

210. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Finance the estimated annual losses to the Exchequer which result from retailer VAT reclaims owing to below invoice cost selling of alcohol; the estimated losses to the Exchequer since the repeal of the groceries order in 2006 relating to below invoice cost selling of alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24618/18]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Anne Rabbitte

351. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are other grants available, bar the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, partial grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24738/18]

Garda Data

Anne Rabbitte

475. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of reports of section 12 of the Children's Act recorded on the PULSE system in 2016 and 2017, by each district in tabular form. [24556/18]

Garda Data

Anne Rabbitte

476. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of reports of section 13 of the Mental Health Act recorded on the PULSE system in 2016 and 2017, by each district in tabular form. [24557/18]

Health Care Policy

Anne Rabbitte

590. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his plans to roll out a national scheme to allow children who do not need medical or surgical management to be examined in the community by optometrists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24271/18]

Health Care Policy

Anne Rabbitte

591. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his plans to roll out the Sligo cataract scheme nationally with optometrists and hospital eye departments working together; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24272/18]

Alcohol Pricing

Anne Rabbitte

668. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his plans to amend the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 to include a ban on below invoice cost selling in view of the fact that minimum unit pricing will be delayed pending the formation of a power sharing executive in Northern Ireland in order to ensure the practice of retailing cheap alcohol at below cost cannot continue in the short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24617/18]

Alcohol Pricing

Anne Rabbitte

669. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his views on introducing a ban on below invoice cost selling of alcohol to augment minimum unit pricing in view of concerns that minimum unit pricing will not impact the pricing of premium branded alcoholic products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24619/18]

Alcohol Pricing

Anne Rabbitte

670. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his views on introducing a ban on below invoice cost selling of alcohol in view of the fact that minimum unit pricing would still legally allow for a six pack of beer to be discounted by as much as €4.50 from its invoice cost which could not happen if there was a ban on below invoice cost selling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24620/18]

HSE Data

Anne Rabbitte

671. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the average height of children here aged between 6 to 18 years of age according to Irish data or comparative international data which his Department has access to by age bracket and gender in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24621/18]

Alcohol Sales Legislation

Anne Rabbitte

672. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the selection of a 1.2 metres separating barrier contained under section 22 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015; if this was developed using scientific best practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24622/18]

Alcohol Sales Legislation

Anne Rabbitte

673. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his views on the reason a 1.2 metres separating barrier contained under section 22 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 will reduce the visibility of alcohol to children in view of the fact that the height of the barrier equates to the height of a seven year old according to recent UK statistics (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24623/18]

National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan

Anne Rabbitte

674. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the budget set aside for the roll-out the three-year action plan for the NDS from 2017 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24626/18]

Veterinary Inspection Service

Anne Rabbitte

978. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the amendment in January 2018 to section 10.4 of the certificate of suitability for a veterinary premises; his views on the change; the cost implications of same; the reason there was not a standard lead time to such alterations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24912/18]

Veterinary Inspection Service

Anne Rabbitte

979. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the number of licences that have been refused in 2018 (details supplied) due to the changes to section 10.4 of the certificate of suitability for a veterinary premises under the new rules set out by the Veterinary Council of Ireland, VCI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24913/18]

Veterinary Inspection Service

Anne Rabbitte

985. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on issues being faced by an organisation (details supplied). [25048/18]

Road Safety

Anne Rabbitte

1050. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department received applications from Galway County Council to extend the speed limit at a school (details supplied) on the grounds of speed and health and safety for persons locally using the school in each of the years 2010 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24589/18]

Road Safety

Anne Rabbitte

1051. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Galway County Council roads department applied to the Department of Justice and Equality or the local Garda division for a reduction in the speed limit on the N17 at a school (details supplied) due to health and safety concerns outlined by the board of management, parents and teaching staff; if so, when the application was submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24611/18]

Road Improvement Schemes

Anne Rabbitte

1052. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a detailed design has been carried out by Galway County Council and submitted to TII for funding on the R333 at Claretuam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24690/18]

Road Improvement Schemes

Anne Rabbitte

1053. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a design plan has been completed by Galway County Council and submitted to TII for the upgrade of the N54; when it will be part of the funding allocation by Galway County Council in 2019 for major road works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24739/18]

Road Improvement Schemes

Anne Rabbitte

1054. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a design plan being completed by Galway County Council and submitted to TII for the upgrade of the N17 at a school (details supplied); if it will be part of the funding allocation by Galway County Council in 2019 for road safety realignment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24740/18]

Child Abuse

Anne Rabbitte

1138. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of Garda division headquarters that are collaborating with Tusla in relation to dealing with cases of child abuse in view of the recommendations by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24541/18]

Child Protection

Anne Rabbitte

1140. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on amendments made to section 22 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 from a child protection perspective in view of he fact that the separation barrier must only be 1.2 metres in height, the average height of a seven year old according to recent UK research (details supplied); if she was consulted in the drafting of this legislation from a child protection perspective; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24624/18]