Parliamentary questions

HSE Staff Recruitment

Bríd Smith

254. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the turnaround time between job advertisement and hiring of persons for different grades of HSE staff. [30171/19]

Palliative Care Services

Bríd Smith

407. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of fully resourcing a clear timetable and process for the implementation of the Palliative Care Services Three Year Development Framework 2017-2019 and the ring-fenced development funding outlined in the Sláintecare report [29434/19]

Taxi Regulations

Bríd Smith

619. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if proposals to operate a service (details supplied) in the taxi industry that uses mobile apps and shared ridership has been examined by the National Transport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29358/19]

Government Pay Policy

Bríd Smith

705. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of paying childcare workers across the sector directly by her Department on a pay scale in line with primary school teachers. [29794/19]

Free Travel Scheme Data

Bríd Smith

759. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the free travel scheme to persons that are visually impaired or blind and are unable to obtain a driver licence (details supplied). [29277/19]

Disability Support Services

Bríd Smith

760. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the workplace adaptation grant to those that are blind and vision impaired for a second year on community employment schemes. [29278/19]

Bereavement Grant

Bríd Smith

781. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of restoring the bereavement grant. [29432/19]

Jobseeker's Transitional Payment

Bríd Smith

803. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to extend jobseeker's transition from when the youngest child is 14 to 18 years of age. [29756/19]

Working Family Payment

Bríd Smith

804. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to reduce working family payment qualification criteria of 19 hours to 15 hours a week. [29757/19]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

805. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to introduce a weekly allowance for children living in direct provision in line with the rate for a qualified child including the higher rate for children over 12 years of age. [29758/19]

Jobseeker's Transitional Payment

Bríd Smith

806. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to allow those on jobseeker's transition to receive both the jobseeker's transition payment and the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29759/19]

Child Benefit Eligibility

Bríd Smith

807. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to reinstate child benefit for children living in direct provision. [29760/19]

Jobseeker's Allowance

Bríd Smith

808. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to restore the full adult rate to persons under 26 years of age on jobseeker's allowance. [29761/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Bríd Smith

809. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to link income and the income and earning disregard means test to the income of national minimum wage for social protection payments that have an income and earnings disregard. [29762/19]

Offshore Exploration Licences

Bríd Smith

13. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if all rental acreage fees paid to his Department fall due to be paid at the same time; if not, if this depends on the date of issue of the licence; and if the fees are paid in advance for the coming period or retrospectively. [28536/19]

Better Energy Homes Scheme

Bríd Smith

20. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the budget for SEAI grants for improvements in home energy efficiency; and his plans to expand the budget in 2020. [28537/19]

Exploration Licences Data

Bríd Smith

24. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the applications for petroleum leases, undertakings and licences refused by his Department since 1995 to date; and if application fees were returned to the unsuccessful applicants. [28534/19]

Exploration Licences Applications

Bríd Smith

25. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a decision will be made on outstanding applications for petroleum licences, leases and undertakings; and if in the event of refusal to grant a licence, it is practice to return application fees. [28533/19]

Exploration Licences Applications

Bríd Smith

27. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason one application in relation to applications for lease undertakings is outstanding for a number of years; the reason for a such delay; and when a decision will be made. [28535/19]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

71. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commission an independent investigation into the greyhound industry on foot of evidence of practices of widespread abuse and cruelty in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28215/19]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

72. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all funding to the greyhound industry will be suspended in view of a television documentary (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28214/19]

Hospital Beds Closures

Bríd Smith

55. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the planned closure of beds and units at St. Mary's Hospital; the rationale for the closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27926/19]

National Cervical Screening Programme Inquiry

Bríd Smith

103. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the laboratories from which the 221 false readings came in the CervicalCheck screening programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27925/19]

Nursing Home Accommodation Provision

Bríd Smith

166. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 of 18 April 2019, when the ward in a nursing home (details supplied) will be reopened; and the number of similar beds closed in the system nationally [27020/19]

Climate Change Policy

Bríd Smith

591. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has instigated, or will instigate, an independent audit regarding the amount of carbon emissions to be mitigated by the Climate Action Plan 2019 to tackle climate breakdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26433/19]

Exploration Licences

Bríd Smith

179. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 180 of 13 June 2019, the details of the companies in two lease undertakings identified in his reply; the standard exploration licence the applications are related to; when an application for a lease undertaking was first made; and when his Department was first notified of a discovery at the site. [25980/19]

Exploration Licences

Bríd Smith

180. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the two lease undertakings identified in correspondence are for sites (details supplied); when these lease undertakings were first issued; and the licensing terms under which they were issued, that is, 1992 or 2007. [25981/19]

Exploration Licences

Bríd Smith

181. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is considering an application for a lease undertaking at Hook Head under a site (details supplied); when the application was first made; and when a decision will be made. [25982/19]

Exploration Licences

Bríd Smith

236. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 180 of 13 June 2019, the status of the licences; when they were applied for; the category of each; if the cost of the repayment of acreage rental fees identified in the same correspondence estimated at €1.5 million relates to all existing licences or specific licences; the category of the licences; if the figure of €1.5 million is for repayment in 2019; and if not, if it is for a defined period. [25793/19]

Exploration Licences

Bríd Smith

180. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address matters (details supplied) relating to applications for licences. [24690/19]

Witness Protection Programme

Bríd Smith

353. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 26 of 16 May 2019, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the information (details supplied) was previously sent to his office by email on 1 March 2019; and if he will follow up this matter with An Garda Síochána and ensure that contact is made with the person. [23794/19]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

41. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to ensure representative organisations of retired workers can have access to forums that will decide or discuss their pension entitlements and benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20566/19]

Back to Education Allowance

Bríd Smith

44. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter regarding issues arising with the back to education allowance in relation to adult education (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23042/19]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

139. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of vehicles in the Dublin Bus fleet and a company (details supplied) to date; and the number in the Dublin Bus fleet in each of the years 2009 to 2018, in tabular form. [23007/19]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

140. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of buses removed from service during the summer period in both Dublin Bus and a company (details supplied). [23008/19]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Bríd Smith

281. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the entitlements to dental benefits and cover of older persons in receipt of a full medical card who are full-time residents in nursing homes and covered by the fair deal scheme; if his attention has been drawn to some nursing homes charging the full costs of dental treatments to these residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22666/19]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

284. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if accommodation at a centre (details supplied) includes three bunk beds in one room for six applicants; the amount paid for this accommodation; and his views on whether this is humane and adequate accommodation for the persons there. [21352/19]

Witness Protection Programme

Bríd Smith

26. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to correspondence sent to him on 1 March 2019 by this Deputy and further to Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 30 January 2019, the arrangements he has taken to contact the person involved; the general supports available to such persons in the State witness protection programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21136/19]

Public Inquiries

Bríd Smith

30. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an individual (details supplied) has met the family of a person; the progress of the scoping exercise; the likely date for conclusion; if he will commission an independent inquiry into all aspects of the case following same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21137/19]

Protected Disclosures

Bríd Smith

70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he took when a protected disclosure from a teacher in an education and training board (details supplied) was received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21338/19]

Protected Disclosures

Bríd Smith

71. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the case of a teacher that submitted a protected disclosure and has since been dismissed by an education and training board (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21339/19]

Departmental Circulars

Bríd Smith

72. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 206 of 19 February 2019, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an education and training board (details supplied) has failed to follow agreed disciplinary and grievance mandatory procedures; and his views on the failures of the education and training board to follow mandatory circulars in matters concerning its workforce and disciplinary proceedings. [21340/19]

Workplace Relations Commission

Bríd Smith

64. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if recent changes in the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018 with regard to contracts of employment and so on will see extra resources allocated to the WRC to ensure compliance with the new laws and increased protections for workers affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20567/19]

Industrial Relations

Bríd Smith

244. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to amend the Industrial Relations Act 1990 to ensure retired workers have representation at State arbitration services, especially in situations in which their pension schemes are affected by decisions taken by negotiations between employers and employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15649/19]

Nursing Home Accommodation Provision

Bríd Smith

310. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 of 18 April 2019, when a reply will issue from the HSE. [20514/19]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

398. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the role of his Department in the provision of supports, including SNAs for children with autism, in primary and secondary schools; his plans to enhance the supports available; his plans to ensure children have access to such supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20117/19]

School Patronage

Bríd Smith

399. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure children and students in the Dublin 8 and 12 areas have access to a secondary Educate Together facility; the rationale for excluding students from these areas from the facility at Harold’s Cross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20118/19]

Gaelscoil Issues

Bríd Smith

400. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will meet with parents and students who are campaigning for Gaelscoileanna in Dublin 10 and 12 in view of the fact that these are the only areas in Dublin without such a facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20119/19]

Animal Welfare

Bríd Smith

1169. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legislation under which persons can obtain a licence to run a dog kennel. [19186/19]

Animal Welfare

Bríd Smith

1170. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the checks carried out on dog kennels to ensure a minimum standard of care for animals; and the checks carried out to ensure that animals are not being neglected or treated cruelly. [19187/19]