Parliamentary questions

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

611. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current position in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to end the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26005/23]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

612. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current position in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to end the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26005/23]

Regulatory Bodies

Bríd Smith

642. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to include athletic therapy in the CORU regulation process and in the provision of HSE care services; when this will happen; the rationale for its exclusion to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25550/23]

Medicinal Products

Bríd Smith

663. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the current status of the drug vyepti (details supplied), following its completion of the approval process; if he will acknowledge that there are many migraine sufferers who are resistant to current drugs available and who are desperate to access this new drug in an effort to relieve their pain; the proposed timeline for the drug to be available to those who need it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25684/23]

Third Level Fees

Bríd Smith

788. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing the HEA contribution towards graduate entry medicine tuition fees by €5,000 and €10,000 per student, respectively based on the latest available student numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25552/23]

Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell

Bríd Smith

31. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); the status and expected date for publication of the scoping report; the actions he intends to take; if he will clarify the reason for the ongoing delays in acting on the wishes of the person's family for a full public inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25243/23]

Construction Industry

Bríd Smith

108. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department or any agency under the aegis of his Department has any responsibility to ensure the safety or environmental integrity of residents from the effects of construction works in their area; if the EPA has any statutory or legal role in ensuring construction works operate in a safe and environmentally appropriate manner (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25394/23]

Housing Policy

Bríd Smith

182. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify his Department’s position on four housing issues (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25393/23]

Defence Forces

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of the high-level action plan for the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. [24735/23]

Departmental Strategies

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department’s Strategy Statement 2021-2023; and if he plans to update those goals. [24733/23]

An Garda Síochána

Bríd Smith

28. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the work of the policing reform implementation programme office in his Department. [24734/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

9. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will next meet. [22823/23]

Economic Policy

Bríd Smith

21. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [22824/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

33. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on a humanitarian response to Ukraine will next meet. [22825/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

102. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the numbers of applicants to date in 2023 for exceptional needs payments, by category of the exceptional need (for example, energy bills, and so on); the number of those that were successful in receiving a payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24651/23]

Energy Prices

Bríd Smith

122. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that are or will be available for older people facing higher energy bills, in particular, high gas bills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24650/23]

Energy Prices

Bríd Smith

179. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify the responsibilities and duties of energy providers when dealing with and identifying vulnerable customers, including four particular aspects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24600/23]

Cost of Living Issues

Bríd Smith

483. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that people dependent on disability benefit are living significantly below the poverty line; the measures she will take to protect them against increases in the cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15768/23]

Departmental Reviews

Bríd Smith

561. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he will clarify when the familicide and domestic homicide review commissioned by the Government will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24765/23]

Health Services Staff

Bríd Smith

761. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the promised return of nursing staff to Curlew Road health centre; if he will clarify whether staffing levels have increased; when the health centre will have a full complement of staff back to deliver much-needed health services to the population of Drimnagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24253/23]

Housing Schemes

Bríd Smith

155. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can clarify the measures that he intends to take in situations where a landlord or property owner is refusing to engage with councils or approved housing bodies on the sale of a property with in-situ tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23479/23]

Rental Sector

Bríd Smith

172. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can outline his plans to address the crisis in elderly accommodation in the private rental market in light of a recent reports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23480/23]

After-School Support Services

Bríd Smith

419. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 532 and 533 of 9 May 2023, if he can detail the steps his Department takes in cases where a service provider has beached the terms of the core funding agreement; If a company (details supplied) has broken the terms of core funding by imposing a charge on parents for afterschool/out-of-term services, regardless of whether parents use this service and by making payment of this charge a condition of the continued use of the regular service, where previously parents who did not avail of out-of-term afterschool hours were not charged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23771/23]

Abortion Services

Bríd Smith

456. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he can clarify when legislation will be in place to ensure there are safe zones to protect women and medical staff in health settings facilities to ensure they can access or provide abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23807/23]

Education Policy

Bríd Smith

256. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on a report (details supplied) which highlighted that one in four employees stating they suffered from moderate levels of burnout, vicarious trauma and moderate or high levels of “compassion fatigue”; if he will acknowledge the disparity between contracts for teachers and coordinators and managers of the organisation, with the former having clearly defined roles in terms of time, pay and conditions, while the organisation’s coordinators’ work is not specified in their contracts and their pay is lower; if he plans to examine this with a view to recognising the diversity of work that the organisation’s workers carry out; if he will consider establishing equivalent levels of pay, conditions and status as their secondary education, further education and training sector colleagues; if he will outline a timeframe for such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23383/23]

Schools Building Projects

Bríd Smith

69. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she can clarify, in relation to delays with certain school building projects, when a project is at the stage where a tender report is under review by her Department; if consideration is given during this review of the possibility of builders or other contractors pulling out of the project because of protracted delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22846/23]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

181. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide clarity on three issues concerning legislation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23131/23]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

254. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he can clarify whether the TFI Real Time information app will have the same coverage and scope as the current Dublin Bus app; if he will further clarify whether route-60 will have real-time information on the TFI app; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23140/23]

Defective Building Materials

Bríd Smith

393. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the position on defective building materials; the agency responsible for oversight in this area; if he will further clarify the protections that are available to new homeowners in terms of current house building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22424/23]

Employment Schemes

Bríd Smith

468. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to increase the rate of pay for those working on jobs initiative schemes in light of significant increases in the cost of living, given that most of these workers are doing substantial work in their communities and are struggling to make ends meet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23082/23]

Foreign Conflicts

Bríd Smith

481. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he can clarify, given the crisis in Sudan, the pathways that exist for family reunification for Irish citizens with family members still trapped in Sudan; the efforts being made to support the relatives and families still there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22395/23]

Industrial Relations

Bríd Smith

71. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of recent actions by a company (details supplied) which are aimed at unilaterally changing the work contract of senior staff and separately the changing of hours and remuneration of delivery staff; if he will meet with worker representatives on foot of these moves to examine their concerns on the limitations of current legislation that governs protection of workers contracts and earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22142/23]

Foreign Conflicts

Bríd Smith

231. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he has any plans to help evacuate the relatives of Irish citizens still trapped in Sudan; if the State will fast-track applications for family reunification or issue emergency visas to ensure family members can come to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22304/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

3. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with the circular economy will next meet. [19918/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

18. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [21536/23]

Departmental Policies

Bríd Smith

12. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social policy and public service reform division of his Department. [21534/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

21. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on European Union and international affairs will next meet. [21535/23]

Schools Building Projects

Bríd Smith

262. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will urgently complete the stage 3 tender review currently with her Department (details supplied) and allow the school to progress the building programme as soon as possible; if she will acknowledge concerns about rising building costs affecting tenders meaning further delays for schools if tenders are not responded to quickly; if she will take into consideration that the disrepair of the prefabs in question is worsening daily including asbestos issues; when a decision will be forthcoming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21058/23]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

532. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a company (details supplied) has signed up to the core funding model for childcare and in doing so agreed to freeze fees at 2021 levels. [21145/23]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

533. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if recent moves by a childcare provider (details supplied) are a breach of any undertaking not to increase child care fees under the core funding model; if the attempt by the company to charge parents for after-school fees while the child is out of school term represents a back-door way to increase fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21146/23]

Cycling Facilities

Bríd Smith

26. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he can detail any plans to provide funding for the installation of bike bunkers in urban areas; the funding that might be allocated to such schemes; if there are any plans to roll out such projects; if the recent withdrawal of plans by Dublin City Council can be reversed by Department policies aimed to encourage active travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20794/23]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

32. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether a report (details supplied) on free public transport is correct in its estimate of the impact of free public transport; the reason similar fare-free public transport schemes in other cities and regions have had a significantly greater impact than that suggested by the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20793/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

79. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he can detail the position in relation to public transport companies hiring bus drivers; if shortages in staff are being addressed; the current number of staff shortages affecting Bus Éireann, Go Ahead and Dublin Bus; if he or his officials have had any discussion with these companies on plans to attract and retain staff, specifically in relation to improvements in pay and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20796/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

82. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that the ongoing collapse of bus services in the lower Ballyfermot area, specifically the Number 60 route, is driving people away from public transport options and undermining confidence in public transport; if he is further aware of the refusal of the NTA to revise its failed plans; the issues that have arisen with BusConnects in relation to similar withdrawn or reduced services in other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20795/23]

Disability Services

Bríd Smith

260. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the reason that the community neuro-rehabilitation team in CHO7 has not progressed, despite funding being made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20937/23]

Legislative Reviews

Bríd Smith

285. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if the review (details supplied) of the effects of the Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2020 has been published and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas; if not, if he will clarify what the delay was, given that he has replied several times that the review was imminent; if he will now clarify the date for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20425/23]

Legislative Reviews

Bríd Smith

297. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he has plans to amend Article 19A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, which allows for the provision of counselling therapy records of a victim of sexual abuse to be made available to the accused abuser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20609/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

325. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 474 of 8 February 2023, if an exclusion order against a named person (details supplied) remains in place; if it was in effect on 3 February 2023 when the person was photographed at Shelbourne Park Stadium with a representative of Greyhound Racing Ireland after their greyhound finished first in a race; if this constituted a breach of the exclusion order which prohibits the excluded individual from being on any greyhound track; if so, the action that will be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20757/23]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

461. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to introduce legislation in the area of safeguarding for vulnerable adults; the status of the legislation; when it will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20654/23]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will call in the Israeli ambassador to Ireland to establish the steps that are being taken in relation to the escalating violence by Israel on Palestinians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19618/23]

Energy Policy

Bríd Smith

71. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can clarify the position in respect of proposals to build a liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminal in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20127/23]

Energy Policy

Bríd Smith

84. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify reports on the Government support for LNG of some sort in the State and specifically how such a proposal is compatible with the State's climate obligations and targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19782/23]

Electric Vehicles

Bríd Smith

89. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if current Government policy which sees large tracts of the State licensed for mining for rare elements and minerals in order primarily to facilitate the electrification of the private car fleet is sustainable or environmentally sound; if any reappraisal of the one million EV targets would result in a changed policy with regard to licensing mining operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19785/23]

Energy Policy

Bríd Smith

137. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can detail proposals to increase the staff numbers and expertise working in the Commission for Regulation of Utilities specifically in order to deal with the administration of a proposed windfall energy tax on profits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19786/23]

Energy Conservation

Bríd Smith

142. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if recent statistics released by the SEAI on retro fitting programmes are compatible with the targets for deep retro fitting previously announced by the Government; if he has any concerns on the nature of most of the work that has been carried out; if such work will result in any substantial or verifiable reduction in CO2 emissions from energy use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19784/23]

Environmental Policy

Bríd Smith

143. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will explain the rationale for granting ten prospecting licences to an Australian mining corporation in east Mayo in view of the potential negative impacts this could have on water quality in the area. [19783/23]

Job Losses

Bríd Smith

241. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has been notified about proposed layoffs at a company (details supplied) in Dublin; if he will meet with representatives of the company in relation to these layoffs; the supports available for the workers facing redundancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20145/23]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

299. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made on proposed new legislation which would give workers who have been laid off a higher rate of jobseeker's allowance depending on their previous income in the period following their loss of employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20146/23]

Citizenship Applications

Bríd Smith

314. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1097 of 21 March 2023, if the e-vetting of applicants for 2023 is being processed ahead of applicants for 2021 and 2022; the reason this is happening; the length of time the e-vetting process will take for 2021 and 2022 applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20111/23]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

340. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can clarify the reason an application for the building blocks grant from (details supplied) was rejected; if such service providers have any right to appeal such decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20132/23]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

341. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can detail in relation to the building blocks grant scheme, the total number of applicants who applied for these supports; the number of applicants who failed to receive the grant; the number of successful applicants, in tabular form, per county council area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20133/23]

Child Poverty

Bríd Smith

11. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the proposed child poverty unit in his Department. [19377/23]

Departmental Strategies

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the current situation in regard to the development of a national security strategy. [18283/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy and investment will meet next. [18284/23]

European Council

Bríd Smith

26. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the recent meeting of the European Council. [18285/23]

Traveller Accommodation

Bríd Smith

317. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that a park (details supplied) has been promised regeneration since the first Traveller Accommodation Plan was introduced 23 years ago in 1999; the status of a funding application for the regeneration of the park which was made by Dublin City Council to his Department on 3 December 2022; if a response to DCC is imminent given that it is over 19 weeks since the application was submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19061/23]

Legislative Reviews

Bríd Smith

18. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he can report on the review of the legislation on the Termination of Pregnancy Act; if he will bring proposals to Cabinet on foot of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17654/23]

Health Services Staff

Bríd Smith

33. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he can detail the position in relation to public health teams; if the number of public health doctors have been increased; the plans to ensure same are resourced to deal with any future public health crisis such as a pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17655/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the President of the United States. [15158/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach how often every Cabinet committee meets, with particular reference to the committees on health, housing and education. [15434/23]

Immigration Policy

Bríd Smith

41. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he can clarify, in cases where a Border Management Unit decides to refuse permission to an intending visitor to this State, and the visitor has all the appropriate documentation for such a visit, what rights to appeal or to question such decisions exists; how such refusals are recorded and documented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17653/23]

Immigration Policy

Bríd Smith

59. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he can clarify the procedure in relation to decisions by the Border Management Unit to refuse permission to board for visitors intending to come into the State, specifically if the Garda National Immigration Bureau keeps a record of such refusals; the reason for such refusals; and if he will detail the number of such refusals in the last year. [17652/23]

Energy Conservation

Bríd Smith

167. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of homes that had retrofit work undertaken supported by SEAI grants under the various schemes operated, in each of the years 2015 to 2022, and to date in 2023; the number of homes that as result of SEAI support reached a B2 BER in this period, in relation to recent figures which show over 27,000 homes retrofitted in 2022; and the energy rating achieved in those homes which did not reach the B2 rating, in tabular form. [16082/23]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

480. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to transfer of undertakings protection offered to workers who are changing employer as a result of such transfers, if current legislation guarantees that such workers being transferred to a new employer shall suffer no diminution of their pay or conditions in the first year after such a transfer takes place; if he can further clarify if TUPE legislation has any implications in situations where a company has won a State tender/contract and is now transferring its work to a new company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16719/23]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

481. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a worker who has opted out of a company pension and receives an increase in salary instead is entitled to retain the same salary with a new employer under TUPE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16908/23]

Private Security Authority

Bríd Smith

485. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason the regulations issued by the PSA have been altered to remove the previous clause in relation to adherence to EROs; if he will clarify his Departments legal strategy in relation to the current court case and legal action that has blocked the ERO in the security sector; if the State will, and is actively contesting the case by certain security companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17197/23]

Schools Building Projects

Bríd Smith

526. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she can clarify whether a school (details supplied) is among the schools affected by the stalled school building programme; if the approval letter from her Department for the proposed works at the school will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17135/23]

School Facilities

Bríd Smith

632. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the impact of her Department’s decision to stall a much-needed second prefab block installation at Riverview ETNS; if she will acknowledge that children with additional needs are being particularly impacted as a result of building delays with the ability to provide small group teaching and other necessary interventions being severely curtailed (details supplied); if she will reconsider the stalling of the second prefab block installation and take steps to deliver what was sanctioned as a matter of priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16383/23]

Defective Building Materials

Bríd Smith

791. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position in relation to the proposed scheme for defective apartments and remediation works needed; the timescale for implementation of this scheme; if residents of such apartments who face immediate demands for levies from management companies to fund needed safety works will be fully compensated for any outlay they face in the coming weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17196/23]

Housing Policy

Bríd Smith

823. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when assessing income from earnings for access to a local authority social housing waiting list, if local authorities have the discretion to disregard one-off overtime earnings in any given year; if not, if such thresholds have no flexibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17648/23]

Housing Policy

Bríd Smith

824. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify current income thresholds from earnings in relation to social housing waiting lists; when these thresholds became operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17649/23]

An Garda Síochána

Bríd Smith

998. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that gardaí are informing victims of racist abuse and attacks that An Garda Síochána cannot deal with such crime because of the lack of hate-speech laws in the State; if he can clarify that the Garda is aware and trained in current legislation when dealing with attacks on people that are compounded by racist motivation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17675/23]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

1439. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if there will be any State-funded fertility treatment programme available in the State in the coming period; if his Department has plans in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16721/23]

Health Services Staff

Bríd Smith

1497. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason healthcare assistants who come from abroad to work here, with qualifications above QQI level 5 will only be given renewed employment permits if they complete the QQI level course for healthcare assistants in Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the NARIC Ireland international qualification comparison requirement (details supplied) that those who are qualified above QQI 5 level in the health sector, do not need to repeat the QQI 5 level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16905/23]

Medical Cards

Bríd Smith

1533. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when free GP-visit cards for children aged six and seven years of age will commence as announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17096/23]

Research and Development

Bríd Smith

1810. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details (details supplied) in relation to a research centre hosted by University College Dublin. [16712/23]

Disability Services

Bríd Smith

7. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures his Department is taking to inform all public bodies of their immediate obligations under the convention to prioritise disabled persons' organisations in all consultations affecting disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15766/23]

Emergency Accommodation

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will revisit his emergency accommodation policy published on 24 January that announced a pause in provision of emergency shelter to international protection adults arriving to Citywest; the number of international protection adults who are currently without accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15764/23]

Domestic Violence

Bríd Smith

20. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that advocates for domestic violence sufferers are very critical of his failure to offer full pay to victims while out on leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15767/23]

Disability Services

Bríd Smith

47. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what supports he will put in place for people with disabilities facing eviction after the lifting of the eviction ban this week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15765/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bríd Smith

119. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will detail all carbon credits purchased by the State or its agencies under any scheme since 2015 to date; if the CO2 equivalent totals of such credits and the monetary costs involved will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15980/23]

Rail Network

Bríd Smith

124. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the timeframe for commencement and completion of the DART+ South West project and its infrastructural works; if he will provide the details of the proposal for a station in Ballyfermot; the timeframe for the delivery of same; if Irish Rail has a dedicated liaison office to liaise with residents in areas such as Kylemore in Ballyfermot whose property may be affected by the works involved; if CPOs on gardens have been issued to these residents; if negotiation and consultation will take place with these residents ahead of any such CPO or proposed works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15925/23]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

126. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if the authors of a report (details supplied) commissioned by the NTA on fare-fee public transport can provide a figure for CO2 emission savings from a 1% decline in car usage; and if the authors can provide a figure for the total reduction in kilometres travelled by car users as a result of a 1% decline in car usage. [15981/23]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

127. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the total cost of a report (details supplied) on fare-free public transport. [15982/23]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

128. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will itemise or detail the potential categories of internalised benefits that were not part of the report (details supplied) into fare-free public transport; the reason such benefits did not form part of the scope of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15983/23]

Irish Prisoners Abroad

Bríd Smith

178. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on his efforts to secure the release of a person (details supplied) who is currently being held in an Iranian prison; if he is aware of the declining health of the person and the urgency this poses in terms of the person's release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16009/23]

Gender Equality

Bríd Smith

232. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on his plans for improving gender equality. [12865/23]

Disease Management

Bríd Smith

323. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will acknowledge that approximately 300,000 people in Ireland are currently living with a rare disease; if he will provide adequate resources for genetic services in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15963/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

3. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [11608/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he is planning to publish a Housing for All report with the final figures of housing delivered for the whole of 2022; and when he expects to do this. [15433/23]