Parliamentary questions

Qualifications Recognition

Joan Collins

202. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will confirm the qualifications which will replace the QQI certificate for driving instructors; the body that will have responsibility for same; the comparable educational value that this new certification will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61450/22]

Commemorative Events

Joan Collins

25. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the latest update on the progress of the planning application for the new commemorative bridge and entrance plaza linking the Irish National War Memorial Gardens to Conyngham Road and the Phoenix Park; if the planning application has been lodged; if funding has been made available for a full procurement process; and if work will commence on the site before the end of 2023. [61202/22]

Urban Development

Joan Collins

37. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the progress with the City Edge project, funded under call 1 of the urban regeneration and development fund; the way the project has evolved in a statutory plan; the level of financial and other support from him; and the level of commitment from various State agencies to deliver key infrastructure. [61235/22]

Social Welfare Schemes

Joan Collins

75. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a specific clothing allowance as an exceptional needs due to the energy and cost-of-living crises (details supplied). [59202/22]

Social Welfare Rates

Joan Collins

80. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if social protection incomes will be raised by €20 instead of €12 given the high cost of living and in view of buoyant tax revenue (details supplied). [59200/22]

Community Welfare Services

Joan Collins

84. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will re-allocate community welfare officers back into the community in which they were originally placed, if not full-time but at least for two to three days a week (details supplied). [59203/22]

Ukraine War

Joan Collins

241. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current estimated cost of supporting Ukrainian refugees in Ireland, noting that Ireland has contributed over €20 million to humanitarian aid to Ukraine and has also committed the EU to almost €1 billion in further aid; and the financial support available to Ireland from the EU to reimburse the cost of supporting Ukrainian refugees in Ireland given that the EU has also committed to billions more in lethal military aid. [58924/22]

Social Welfare Offices

Joan Collins

408. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection further to parliamentary question Nos. 614 of 5 July, 617 of 12 July, 1212 and 1259 of 26 July 2022, if she will provide an update on the status of the Navan Road social welfare office. [58925/22]

Education Costs

Joan Collins

529. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is any further education funding that a person (details supplied) can access. [59099/22]

Drug Dealing

Joan Collins

552. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice number of drug dealing convictions under mandatory minimum sentencing provisions for possession of drugs over a value of €12,500 as set out in section 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (as amended by the Criminal Justice Acts 1999, 2006 and 2007) during the years 2011 to 2016. [58919/22]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Joan Collins

639. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm whether any capital funding or supports have been contributed to the construction or maintenance of the primary care centre on the Navan Road; and if he can confirm any ongoing supports currently available to the centre. [58914/22]

Health Promotion

Joan Collins

640. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the details of the results of the HSE investigation into the recreational use of nitrous oxide canisters by young people; the programmes that are currently available to tackle the issue; and the measures that are being considered to ban the sale or use of these canisters. [58916/22]

Special Educational Needs

Joan Collins

63. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education his views on whether updated special needs reports should be ceased given that schools are still seeking updated reports for children with special needs, particularly for secondary schools, and the fact that parents are stressed attempting to access private assessments to obtain a place for their child. [58413/22]

Schools Building Projects

Joan Collins

86. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education the status of the new build for a school (details supplied); and if an autism class will be open for the 2023 school year. [58414/22]

School Costs

Joan Collins

103. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education her views on reports that some secondary schools are charging parents to have their child put on a waiting list for the school. [58417/22]

Special Educational Needs

Joan Collins

118. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education if schools (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will have classes open for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58392/22]

Community Development Projects

Joan Collins

802. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development where a group (details supplied) can source funding to assist in the running and maintenance of a community hall; if funding will be put in place for increased energy costs; and the way that the group can apply for same. [57296/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Joan Collins

728. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons aged 70 years and over receiving the household benefits package; and the number of that cohort who are also in receipt of fuel allowance.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55544/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Joan Collins

729. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the fuel portion of the household benefits package has not increased at all in budget 2023, to ensure that recipients of same would not be at risk of fuel poverty this winter. [55545/22]

Health Service Executive

Joan Collins

948. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied). [54334/22]

Disability Services

Joan Collins

981. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will be placed on an “active list” with the CDNT. [54453/22]

Health Service Executive

Joan Collins

982. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when a matter (details supplied) will be resolved. [54454/22]

Hospital Admissions

Joan Collins

994. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason that the next-of-kin of a person (details supplied) was informed of the revocation of their admission to a hospital for reasons which have yet to fully transpire. [54501/22]

Electric Vehicles

Joan Collins

204. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport the progress that has been made to date in the roll-out of fast charging points for electric vehicles across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53131/22]

Bus Services

Joan Collins

690. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to a bus service. [53439/22]

Bus Services

Joan Collins

691. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if funding is available for services (details supplied). [53440/22]

Special Educational Needs

Joan Collins

420. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education if she will intervene to support a special school (details supplied) to keep its classes open for children with autism. [51278/22]

Independent Review Mechanism

Joan Collins

810. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will remove any roadblocks by Government Departments to the setting up of the independent radiation therapist review (details supplied) in addition to his commitment to implement any recommendations which could emanate from the review dealing with the crisis in recruitment and retention of radiation therapists and or service improvements like advanced practice and safe and adequate staffing levels. [51843/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Joan Collins

5. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection when she will publish the child maintenance review (details supplied). [50612/22]

Social Welfare Rates

Joan Collins

27. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the evidence on which she based the increase of €2 per week, 30 cent per day for the qualified child increase for children under the age of 12 years. [50621/22]

Budget 2023

Joan Collins

34. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has read a post-Budget 2023 analysis (details supplied) that highlights that after the Q4 2022 cost-of-living measures are implemented, a one-parent family with two children, one in primary and one in secondary will face a shortfall of €9.40 and for those with an older child, this rises to €82.73; and if she will address same. [50640/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Joan Collins

38. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the fuel allowance has not been extended to working family payment recipients. [50629/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Joan Collins

86. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will re-organise community welfare officers back into the community for at least two to three days per week, but preferably permanently (details supplied). [50624/22]

Departmental Correspondence

Joan Collins

452. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied). [50972/22]

Special Educational Needs

Joan Collins

84. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that each school (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will have an autism class; the status of same; and if she is prepared to initiate the 37A process. [49616/22]

Special Educational Needs

Joan Collins

109. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the shortage of teachers which results in classes including special education classes not going ahead (details supplied); the steps she is taking to address this ongoing issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49783/22]

Fire Safety

Joan Collins

148. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and his Department will intervene to assist homeowners in an area (details supplied) in relation to payment of bills of €68,000 to rectify the absence of fire and safety regulations in the buildings. [47404/22]

Health and Safety

Joan Collins

562. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when a health and safety inspection was carried out on a premises (details supplied); and if he will request the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to visit the premises and to advise this Deputy of same. [47224/22]

Wildlife Protection

Joan Collins

275. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to help halt the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) by applying the Precautionary Principle and ordering an immediate cessation of all shooting and hunting including driven shoots; if he is of the view that at this critical moment, every effort must be made to eliminate all risks to wild birds, many of whom are already under threat and categorised as amber and red-listed. [45819/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Joan Collins

71. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason for the delay with the final-sign off for the 2% increase that has been due since 1 January 2022 to An Post pensioners (details supplied); and the date on which the payment will be made to these retired members. [39867/22]

Disability Services

Joan Collins

1640. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied). [39634/22]

Mental Health Services

Joan Collins

1824. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason that autistic persons and their families are excluded from the upcoming audit of the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS (details supplied). [40641/22]

Health Services

Joan Collins

1887. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the relevant HSE personnel to read the testimony of a person (details supplied) in relation to their experience of giving birth to their daughter 17 years ago; if he will request the HSE to furnish all documents and files relevant to the case; and if he will indicate the services being offered to them. [41008/22]

Disability Services

Joan Collins

81. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to amalgamate four grants (details supplied) into one overall scheme, similar in structure to the access to work scheme in the UK. [38601/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Joan Collins

86. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider setting up a cost-of-living hardship fund to be distributed by community welfare officers in the community and accessible by families and persons who are deeply affected by the cost-of-living increases in food, medical bills, essential clothing and back-to-school costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34877/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Joan Collins

112. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have made applications for the rent supplement or supplementary welfare allowance or exceptional needs payments from 1 May to 24 June 2022 from the Intreo Offices in Cork Street and Bishop Square, Dublin; and if there has been an increase in applications since her Department advertised the service. [34874/22]

Social Welfare Appeals

Joan Collins

113. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection further up Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 29 June 2022, if the new regulations in the appeals office prevent appeals officers from making the decision for any oral hearings even if requested by the person making the appeal appellant or a Deputy; if they will need to obtain permission from senior management given that previously they were able to make them themselves; if the independence of the appeals officer has been made redundant given that the appeals officer can overturn a medical decision; if this has been changed; if the training for appeals officers has been curtailed in relation to the regulations that allow them to take a holistic approach in respect of an application (details supplied) [38357/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Joan Collins

131. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the back-to-school allowance to assist families with the cost-of-living. [34873/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Joan Collins

159. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of introducing a cost of disability payment to the Exchequer, in line with the recommendations set out in the recent report (details supplied) published in December 2021; and if she is producing an implementation plan in relation to same. [34986/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Joan Collins

520. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of introducing a cost of disability payment in line with the recommendations set out in the recent Cost of Disability Report published in December 2021 (details supplied). [34022/22]