Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the most recent meeting of the Cabinet committee on health took place. [12867/23]

Departmental Offices

Bríd Smith

17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international division of his Department. [11607/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Bríd Smith

78. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to increase welfare rates for those on disability payments in light of additional costs and rising cost-of-living pressures; if any consideration is being given to the provision of a universal non means-tested payment for those suffering from long-term disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15453/23]

Social Welfare Code

Bríd Smith

98. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has made any provision for an increased budget for additional needs’ payments in light of the ending of the eviction ban and the likelihood of additional expenses being faced by people made homeless; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15160/23]

Community Employment Schemes

Bríd Smith

112. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to change the eligibility criteria for CE schemes to include persons in direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15164/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

134. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify that people in district heating systems who have faced large increases in their energy bills can access additional needs’ payments; if any instruction has been issued from her Department to community welfare officers in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15162/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Bríd Smith

146. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the last occasion when there was an increase in the energy part of the household benefit package; if she has any plans to raise this allowance in light of the ongoing energy crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15163/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

216. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide the cost of installing an electronic timetable with real-time arrival times at bus stops that currently only have a sign; the estimated cost of installing a roofed shelter at bus stops that currently only have a sign; if he will clarify the process for applying for both, for a particular bus stop; if he will outline his Department’s and Dublin Bus’s plans to install both across Dublin city and county over the coming year; if Dublin Bus will consider installing both at stop 2380, Cork Street and Ardee Street servicing routes towards the city, in the same fashion as the stop directly opposite going in the opposite direction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15133/23]

Housing Policy

Bríd Smith

312. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 494 of 21 March 2023, if he will provide more specific information on the existing internal complaints and appeals systems within local authorities, particularly in relation to appealing decisions regarding medical priority for housing applications; if he will consider implementing a standardised and transparent appeal mechanism at the national level to ensure consistency and fairness for all applicants seeking medical priority for housing support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15248/23]

Education Policy

Bríd Smith

365. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify why the procurement process for a contractor for a school (details supplied) has been halted; if she will acknowledge the need for an ETSS in this area to accommodate the significant number of children who want to continue their education in an ETSS; if she will reconsider the stoppage on the procurement process and allow this necessary secondary school be progressed as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14659/23]

Register of Electors

Bríd Smith

466. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will acknowledge the importance of encouraging young people to participate in the democratic process by becoming a registered voter; if she is aware of some of the difficulties young people have in trying to become a registered voter for the first time (details supplied); if there are plans to streamline the process to make it more accessible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15262/23]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

658. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he has listened to and consulted with the trans community in relation to their healthcare needs and the provision of that care currently; if he will consider reviewing the National Gender Service in terms of international best practice and how it is currently working from the trans community’s perspective; if he will listen to the trans community’s call for an informed consent model that is led by GPs in local communities and respond accordingly; if he will consult with the trans community, in addition to consulting with medical professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14817/23]

Church-State Relations

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on recent engagements with church leaders. [12860/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [12866/23]

Departmental Inquiries

Bríd Smith

171. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that the scoping inquiry into historical sex abuse in schools will not be restricted to Roman Catholic religious orders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14180/23]

Northern Ireland

Bríd Smith

11. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [12858/23]

Departmental Meetings

Bríd Smith

17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the climate action delivery board, co-chaired by his Department. [12859/23]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

99. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he had any discussions on the impacts of Israel’s continued aggression and illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and its destabilising effects on the region during his recent trip to Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5133/23]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

182. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he expects to approve a proposed increase in the pension entitlements of An Post workers; if the S.I. to give effect to this will be ready soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12951/23]

Legislative Process

Bríd Smith

211. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason his Department has not issued a money message or a reasoned response in relation to the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 despite being requested to do so by the Bills Office in May 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13602/23]